Journal & Topics Media Group

Football All-State History For Journal Teams


Each year the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association (IHSFCA) announces its list of All-State football players. And each year, at least a few Journal-area athletes are selected.

This list includes 166 players from the Journal-area over the last 28 years who were first-team All-State selections, including 12 athletes who were two-time selections.

Here’s a look at IHSFCA first-team All-State selections from the Journal-area since 1994:

 

Buffalo Grove:

Brendon Doyle (1994), QB

Kevin Holm (1995), TE

Dan Czarnecki (1997), LB

Carl Erickson (1998), OL/DL

Eric Andino (2002 & 2003), LB

Tom Zbikowski (2002), QB/DB

Matt Klein (2006), LB

Marc Damisch (2007), OL

Ayden Anderson (2020), WR/LB
Trystan Anderson (2021), DL/OL

Note: Scott Murray (RB) was an honorable mention in 2021.

 

Conant:

Paul Berge (1996), DL

Robert Pendergast (1996), RB/LB

Russ Michna (1998), QB

Dave Francioni (2001), LB

Joe Rizzo (2001), WR/DB

Kevin Koski (2002), DB

Leon Wiggins (2003), FB

Tyler Rice (2004), RB/DB

Tim Manczko (2012), WR/DB

Danny Modelski (2013), QB

Conant QB Danny Modelski gets some good protection as he sets himself to throw.

 

Elk Grove:

Tim Podulka (2004), QB

Jeff Moore (2004), DL

Nick Meyer (2010), QB/DB

Greg Johnsen (2011), DL

Mike Maize (2012), LB

Ian Ridge (2019 & 2020), RB

Palatine’s Chaka Kelly (28) takes off as Elk Grove’s Mikey Maize (27) tries to bring him down in Friday’s game.

Elk Grove’s Ian Ridge (2) pops to the outside on a run.

 

Fremd

Lou Sponsel (1995), FB/LB

Andre Duncan (1997), WR/DB

Patrick Brown (1998), QB/DB

Ken Kemeny (1999), LB

Paul Daou (2001), OL/DL

Jamil Walker (2003), RB

Scott Tolzien (2005), QB

Jake Smith (2006), RB

Mark Tolzien (2007), QB

Jonathan Diegel (2008), LB

Christian Lombard (2009), OL/DL

Jack Walsh (2020), OL/DL

 

Glenbrook South:

Andy Lee (1995), DL

Kevin Taylor (1995 & 1996), RB/DB

Dave Splithoff (1999), QB/DB

Devin Henderson (2007), TE/DL

Sean Cascarano (2008), OL

Michael Hirsch (2009), RB

John Strickland (2010), RB/DB

Mike Demos (2011), OL

Brett Laurie (2013), RB/DB

Note: Tommy Corbett (DL) was an honorable mention in 2021.

Glenbrook South’s Brett Laurie (23) goes in for a TD as the game went back and forth all night, Friday, Aug. 24, 2012. Prospect won in the end, 55-41.

 

Hersey:

Brendon Reilly (1998), RB

Owen Goldsberry (2017), QB/DB

Ryan Justice (2018), QB

Jordan Hansen (2019), QB/DB

Ryan Gudaitis (2020), OL/DL

Jimmy Makuh (2021), QB

Hersey’s Owen Goldsberry gets the pass off as Prospect’s Sam Stolidakis brings the pressure.

Hersey QB Ryan Justice throws a pass in the first quarter of a game during his senior season.

Jordan Hansen of Hersey blows by the Prospect defense. (Bill Bostrom/for the Journal)

Hersey QB Jimmy Makuh (10) is lifted in the air by his teammate in the end zone after a passing touchdown as offensive lineman Ryan Gudaitis (75) runs in.

 

Leyden:

Jon Kowalyshen (1998), DE

Jeff Cascella (2009), DL

 

Loyola Academy:

Pat Naughton (1995), LB

Bill Pragalz (1998), RB

James Bradley (2000), RB

Jim Suehr (2001), LB

Tom Bufalino (2003), LB

Brian Mulroe (2007), OL

Chance Carter (2008), DL

Patrick Dougherty (2009), LB

Mark Sullivan (2010), DL

Eric Hauser (2011), LB

Malcolm Weaver (2011), QB

Peter Pujals (2012), QB

Mark Nichol (2014), LB

Emmett Clifford (2015), QB

Ben Leroy (2015), DL

Jake Marwede (2016), QB/WR

Quinn Boyle (2017), QB

Marty Geary (2017), DL

Jake Gonzalez (2018), DB

Brandon Svets (2020), DL

James Kreutz (2021), LB/RB

Note: Jake Stearney was an honorable mention in 2021.

Loyola’s Peter Pujals just gets the pass off for a completion downfield as teammate Julius Holley (34) fends off a Simeon defender on Aug. 25, 2012 in Wilmette.

Quarterback Malcolm Weaver scoots into the end zone for Loyola’ssecond touchdown of the night back in 2011.

Loyola’s Emmett Clifford takes it up field for a long run as Loyola goes on to beat Marquette, 35-0, in Saturday’s home opener.

Palatine defender Elvin Lama Sosa (21) leaps high, but not high enough as taller Loyola wide-out Jake Marwede (14) comes up with a huge TD catch late in the playoff game.

Loyola QB Quinn Boyle runs toward the sidelines against Hinsdale Central in the second round of IHSA playoffs.

Loyola’s James Kreutz (10) heads to the sidelines after a score with offensive lineman John Michael Talanges (60).

 

Maine East:

N/A

 

Maine South:

Jason Loerzel (1994), RB

Brim Schmitz (1995), P/K

Rick Tosch (1996), WR

Dino Gardiakos (1997), RB

Phil Lamonica (1997), LB

Steve Natali (1999), OL/DL

Jim Magiera (2000), OL

Mark Ori (2001), WR/DB

Mike Zande (2001), OL

Neil Sherlock (2002), RB/DB

Sean Price (2003), QB

Tony Colletti (2004), OL/DL

Tyler Knight (2005), QB/K

Jimmy Coy (2006), QB

Danny Benson (2007), WR

Zach Timm (2008), OL/DL

Charlie Goro (2008), QB

Matt Perez (2009), RB/LB

Tyler Fahey (2010), LB

Matt Alviti (2012), QB

Luke Durbin (2013), DL

Justin Fahey (2014), RB/DB

Kevin Jarvis (2015), OL

Fotis Kokosioulis (2017), RB

Peter Skoronski (2019), OL/DL

Mike Sajenko (2020 & 2021), RB

Note: Teddy Gianaris was an honorable mention in 2021.

MS QB Matt Alviti (10) tucks the ball as he senses the defensive pressure of the WWS front four.

Maine South running back Justin Fahey (20) breaks four tackle attempts on his way to another Hawk first down.

Naperville Central defensive back Justin Agema (25) has himself a certain interception, but Maine South’s Fotis Kokosioulis (41) snares the ball from his grasp — good for a Hawk first down!

Maine South’s Peter Skoronski (76) leads his team out.

Maine South’s Mike Sajenko celebrates his second TD Saturday at Marist. (Joe Cukierski/Special to the Journal)

 

Maine West:

Andy Lightfoot (1997), OL

Victor Gomez (2002), RB

Tyler Ladendorf (2004), WR/DB

Jake Bellizzi (2018), RB

Jaden Dolphin (2019), TE/DB

Maine West’s Jake Bellizzi picks a few yards up on a carry.

Maine West WR Jaden Dolphin (2) lines up before a play.

 

Niles Notre Dame:

Peter Jenkinson (1995), LB

Brian Brosnan (2000), RB/DB

Paul Szczesny (2001), LB

Connor Flahive (2005), LB

Rick Szukala (2007), DL

Jeremy Burgos (2010), LB

Nick Pieruccini (2011), QB

Chris James (2012), RB

Ty Gavin (2018), RB/DB

Running back Chris James (3) bursts through Prairie Ridge’s line and fights for yardage en route to racking up 142 rushing yards Saturday, Aug. 31.

Notre Dame QB Nick Pieruccini rolls left as he scans the field for an open target Friday vs. St. Patrick.

ND ball carrier Ty Gavin (27) makes the turn as he heads up-field for the Dons.

 

Niles West:

Eric Eastman (1995), FB/LB

Alex Filin (2001), RB/DB

Rashard Mendenhall (2004), RB

 

Palatine

Mike Burden (1994 & 1995), FB/LB

Bubba Mariani (1996), RB

Ken Stopka (1996), QB

Sergio Lund (1997), QB/DB

Matt Rossi (2008), QB

Cody Bobbit (2010), QB

Jesse Bobbit (2011), DB

Lucas Rago (2012), LB

Zach Oles (2015 & 2016), QB

Palatine ball carrier Jesse Bobbit (31) breaks away from Panther defender Shaquille Pittman (6).

Palatine QB Zach Oles avoids the rush as he sneaks the ball into the end-zone for another Pirate TD.

 

Prospect:

Jared Dali (2002), QB

Ric Redcliffe (2003), QB

Evan Daniel (2005), RB

Markus Zusevics (2006), OL/DL

Miles Osei (2008 & 2009), QB

Peter Bonahoom (2010), RB/DB

Devin O’Hara (2012), QB

Luke Zardzin (2020), RB/LB

Ben Sahakian (2021), DL/K

Prospect QB Devin O’Hara spots an open Knight.

Prospect’s Luke Zardzin follows his blockers against Elk Grove during the 2018 season. (Bill Bostrom/Journal photo)

 

Rolling Meadows:

Abe Jones (1999 & 2000), RB

Mike Garoppolo (2006), LB

Joe Okon (2007), LB

Colin Buscarini (2010), LB

Nate Pedraza (2018 & 2019), DL

Note: Ethan Groark was an honorable mention in 2021.

Rolling Meadows All-State lineman Nate Pedraza checks with the officials to make sure he is in a good position.

 

St. Viator:

Mike Cortese (2004), WR

Jared Funk (2005), QB

Dante Warren (2006), QB

Hugh Masterson (2012), OL/DL

Ben Dickey (2014), WR/DB

Cole Kmet (2016), TE

Jeremiah Pittman (2020), DL/OL

Carson Eggebraten (2021), LB

St. Viator WR Cole Kmet (9) makes the catch despite a double-team by a pair of Notre Dame defenders in a 2016 game.

Prospect QB Gary Moeller looks to escape St. Viator lineman Jeremiah Pittman (55) during Friday’s season opener at Forest View in Arlington Heights. (Tom Wessell/Journal photo)

 

Stevenson:

Jeff Skibitsky (1995 & 1996), LB

Josh Kilker (1997), OL

Chris Rucks (1998), OL

Drew Mormino (2001), OL

Bob Giannini (2002), QB/DB

Alex Rucks (2003), OL

Mike Morrissey (2005), LB

Marc Weisman (2009), RB

Brion Wood (2010), LB

Matt Morrissey (2012 & 2013), WR/DB

Cameron Green (2013 & 2014), WR/DB

Jason Vravick (2014), LB

Jack Sorenson (2015), QB

Aidan O’Connell (2016), QB

Maema Njongmeta (2018), LB

Stevenson’s core four of Cameron Green, Jason Vravick, Willie Bourbon and Nick Dillon. Green went on to play football at Northwestern, while Bourbon played baseball at Northwestern. Dillon signed to play football at Eastern Michigan.

Stevenson quarterback Aidan O’Connell fades back to pass during practice on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Stevenson wide-out Jack Sorenson (15) makes a sure catch of a Willie Bourbon toss to make it an early 13-0 lead as Barrington defender Terry McGovern (27) looks on.

Stevenson’s Maema Njongmeta poses during the preseason of his senior year in 2018.

 

Wheeling:

Scott Preusker (1994), TE

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