Glenbard West Linemen Rise to Top of the Class

The victory bell at Glenbard West High School has been getting a workout over the past two seasons, given the Hilltopper football team’s combined 23-3 record which includes appearances in the Class 7A state title game (2009) and the 7A quarterfinals (last season).

College football coaches, scouts and recruiters are getting a workout, too. They’ve been routinely climbing up the hill to Glenbard West to offer players either scholarships or spots on their team.

Several seniors from last season’s 10-2 team agreed to play at colleges and universities across the country. Offensive lineman Jordan Walsh, now at Iowa, was the biggest signee, while defensive lineman Zack Marshall landed a scholarship to Illinois State. Running back Nick Burrello and safety Mike Laning went to the Ivy League (Harvard and Penn, respectively). Mark Hiben, who set a state receiving record with 319 yards and four TDs during a playoff victory over Lincoln-Way East last November, will be starting his freshman year at Wheaton College.

These days, college recruiters are hot on the trail of two Hilltopper seniors—all-state defensive tackle Tommy Schutt and offensive lineman Johnny Caspers, who’s moving from guard to tackle this fall.

Rivals.com, perhaps the nation’s most popular college recruiting Web site, lists Schutt and Caspers in its preseason Illinois Top 30 recruits from the Class of 2012.

Rivals has Schutt tabbed as the state’s top recruit, while Caspers is ranked 30th.

“It’s something that’s an honor,” said Schutt, referring to his Rivals ranking. “I feel very blessed for that opportunity, and I’m looking forward to the season coming up.”

Here’s a short list—scratch that; a long list—of universities that already have scholarship offers on the table for Schutt and Caspers:

Schutt: Every Big Ten school (that's correct; every Big Ten school), Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Miami Florida, Oregon, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Caspers: Akron, Arizona, Bowling Green, Colorado State, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan.

Caspers said he received his first scholarship offer back in February from Toledo.

“It’s pretty sweet,” the 6-3, 275-pound Caspers said. “I didn’t see myself at this point (getting scholarship offers) two or three years ago, but it’s been an eye-opening experience.”

Just as sweet for Caspers—and for his parents, Scott and Cindy—was seeing his name among Rivals.com’s Top 30 Illinois recruits.

“When I saw that list, I never expected my name to be on it,” he said. “I thought it was pretty cool to be on something like that. They’re (his parents) pretty happy about it. It’s been a fun ride for them as well.”

Schutt, who wants to make his college decision before Glenbard West starts its 2011 season, says where he ends up will be based on four factors:

• If he’s comfortable with the school;
• If he’s comfortable with that school’s coaching staff;
• If he has a good rapport with his new defensive line coach; and
• Academics.

Schutt, who will be playing in the U.S. Army all-American Bowl in January, has been able to keep the recruiting process in perspective despite a deluge of interested suitors.

“It hasn’t been too bad,” he said. “I’m just staying in contact with the coaches (at the schools) I’m interested in, and getting a feel for every school.”

While both Schutt and Caspers are taking all the attention they’re receiving from college recruiters in stride, they do seek the counsel of their families, as well as from head coach Chad Hetlet and his staff—among them offensive line coach John Sigmund, who played for a big-time Big Ten school, Wisconsin.

“We try to keep them grounded, and they do a good job. We’ve had a good run of them,” said Hetlet, referring to the many Glenbard West players who have been recruited in recent years. “I tell them (players being recruited) to stay grounded, worry about academics first, and football will take care of itself.”

Asked what advice the Glenbard West coaching staff has given him during the recruiting process, Caspers said. “They’re just real honest with me and just tell me not to worry about it too much.”

“They said just go with your gut feeling,” Schutt added. “Choose the one you’re most comfortable with and the place that will make you the most successful.”

Hetlet said it’s easy to see why major universities are giving Schutt and Caspers so much attention.

“Tommy is a very large athlete, and at 300 pounds, he moves extremely well,” he said. “You don’t find too many kids his size and his age that are as athletic as he is.

“Johnny is a great team leader. He’s a physical, offensive lineman. He has good size and has a great attitude. He’s always positive.

“I think they’ll provide great leadership, and I think we’ll have a very successful football season.”

The Hilltoppers 2011 campaign begins Friday night, Aug. 26, with a rematch of last November’s Class 7A quarterfinal playoff game against Wheaton Warrenville South at Red Grange Field.

The Tigers have ended Glenbard West’s season each of the past two years. Last year, WWS defeated Glenbard West 40-20 en route to the Class 7A state title. Two years ago, the Hilltoppers suffered a heartbreaking double overtime loss to the Tigers in the 7A championship game.

Schutt and Caspers have revenge on their minds, but their ultimate goal in 2011 is to dethrone the defending champion Tigers and become the new 7A champs.

“We go up against each other in practice,” Caspers said. “We played freshman ball together and were brought up (to varsity) as sophomores together. Hopefully, we can match what we’ve done in the past years and hopefully get back to Champaign.”

Schutt said, “I’m just personally working more on pass-rush moves, and as far as a team (goal), go and win a state championship.”

New Cross Country Coach Named at DGN

John Sipple, Downer Grove North’s boys track and field coach, is taking over as the new boys cross country coach this season.

He replaces longtime coach , who retired at the end of the 2010-11 school year. Kupisch also worked with Sipple as an assistant track coach for several years.

Sipple takes over a program that is one of the best in the West Suburban Conference and in DuPage County. The Trojans have placed in the top 20 as a team at the Class 3A state meet each of the past three seasons. DGN has finished as high as third at state (2000) and was fifth in 1999.