Hilltopper Seniors Taking Their Game to the Next Level

This year’s senior class played a huge roll in catapulting Glenbard West’s football team to new heights over the past two seasons.

Several members of the Class of 2011 who had already made verbal commitments to colleges and universities across the country throughout 2010 have put those commitments in writing by signing national letters of intent.

Offensive lineman Jordan Walsh (Iowa), defensive lineman Zack Marshall (Illinois State), wide receiver Mark Hiben (Wheaton College), running back Nick Burrello (Harvard), safety Mike Laning (Penn) and linebacker Justin Mesch (Wisconsin-Whitewater) made up the core of a Hilltoppers squad that advanced to the Class 7A quarterfinals last November and the Class 7A championship game in 2009.

“I think they’ve been a big part of our success and our program’s success, doing the right things and working hard,” said Glenbard West head coach Chad Hetlet. “They’ve put in a lot of work and dedication for our program.”

The seniors spearheaded a two-year stretch in which Glenbard West went a combined 23-3, won 18 consecutive West Suburban Silver contests, captured the 2009 WSS title and shared the 2010 conference crown with York and Lyons Township.

Here’s a look at each of the six aforementioned recruits:

Nick Burrello—The running back/wide receiver did it all for the Hilltoppers. He accumulated over 1,100 yards rushing and 253 yards to go along with 16 touchdowns. In 2009, Burrello accumulated 1,867 all-purpose yards. He’ll join a Harvard squad that’s coming off a 7-3 season—the 10th straight year in which Harvard has won at least seven games.

Coach Hetlet says: “Nick is an outstanding kid; one of the best leaders that I’ve had an opportunity to coach. He has a tremendous upside being a receiver or a running back.”

Mark Hiben—Lining up in an offense that’s predominantly run-oriented didn’t prevent Hiben from catching 14 touchdown passes and piling up more than 1,100 receiving yards in 2010. Hilltopper fans won’t soon forget Hiben’s state-record performance of 12 receptions for 319 yards and four TDs during Glenbard West’s second-round playoff victory over Lincoln-Way East. He turned down a handful of Division I offers to play at Wheaton College, which was 10-2 last fall and went to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Coach Hetlet says: “Mark was a kid who worked his way into stardom. Mark made his decision (to attend Wheaton) based on what he felt was best for him, and I have a lot of respect for him. The bigger the game, the better he performned.”

Mike Laning—Laning has a nose for the football and was just a few tackles shy of 100 for the 2010 season. He also had five interceptions. Penn, one of Harvard’s top rivals in the Ivy League, won the league with a 9-1 record in 2010.

Coach Hetlet says: “Mike was the best safety I’ve coached, and I’ve coached some good ones. He’s a very talented, very physical safety. He was a big part of what we did defensively.”

Zack Marshall—Marshall lined up at defensive end for the Hilltoppers, but his speed enabled him to run down opposing ballcarriers anywhere on the field. As a junior, Marshall recorded 14 sacks to help Glenbard West reach the Class 7A title game. Illinois State went 6-5 during the 2010 season.

Coach Hetlet says: “He’s a kid that’s got a great motor. He’s another kid that’s worked extremely hard in the weight room, and has gotten bigger and stronger. He’s been a big part of our defense the last two years.”

Justin Mesch—The Green Bay Packers are at the top of the pro football world, and Wisconsin-Whitewater—where Mesch will play his college ball—has no equal in Division III. Wisconsin-Whitewater (15-0 in 2010) is the two-time defending Division III national champion. Mesch teamed up with Beau Warden to give the Hilltoppers a devastating one-two punch at linebacker.

Coach Hetlet says: “He’s very athletic and physical. He’s a no-nonsense kid who has a lot of upside and is one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached.”

Jordan Walsh—A three-year starter for the Hilltoppers, Walsh was selected to the Rivals.com all-American second team as a senior, and was an Illinois Coaches Association first-team all-state pick. In Walsh’s three seasons, Glenbard West compiled a 35-4 record. He didn’t allow a sack his entire prep career. Walsh’s new team, Iowa, was 8-5 in 2010 and won its third straight bowl game with a 27-24 win over 12th-ranked Missouri Dec. 29.

Coach Hetlet says: “Jordan has been part of our success here for three years. He’s just an unbelievable kid, a quiet kid, a great teammate and he deserves all the accolades he gets.”

Other developments

Hetlet said senior cornerback/wideout CJ Watson will be playing football at Augustana College in Rock Island this fall, while defensive lineman Johnny Morales is heading to North Park University. Beau Warden has not yet decided which college or university he would like to attend, according to Hetlet.

Next year at this time, Glenbard West’s football program will undoubtedly be making more headlines. Schools are already in hot pursuit of junior linemen Tommy Schutt and Johnny Caspers.

Schutt, a defensive lineman, has offers on the table from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Boston College and Toledo. He’s been invited to play in the 2012 U.S. Army all-American Bowl.

Meanwhile, Michigan and Wisconsin have shown interest in Caspers, an offensive lineman.