Year in Review: Lemont Athletic Programs Shine in 2011

One thing's clear about Lemont sports in 2011: there's a lot to talk about and remember, especially when it comes to making runs to the state finals.

From helmets to singlets, clubs to kicks, the Indians excelled in several arenas this year. The football team was the talk of the town as they went 12-1 this fall, but it was the cheerleading squad that brought back yet another state title to .

Also turning in strong performances in IHSA playoffs this year were golfers, wrestlers and the boys and girls soccer teams.

There may even be moments we've forgotten from last year. Let us know by commenting on this article, as well as supporting the teams and players we've chosen to highlight here.

Last year is almost in the books—what will 2012 bring?

Football

The Lemont High School football program—under the direction of head coach Eric Michaelsen—has become a perennial IHSA Class 6A powerhouse, and that certainly was the case again in 2011.

The Indians (12-1) completed a perfect regular season, reeling off 12 straight wins before falling to Peoria-Richwoods in the Class 6A semifinals. Lemont ended the 2011 season one victory shy of the school's season record for wins, and finished among the state's top four teams for the third time in five years.

“I was proud of them,” . “We tell our players that if they give it their best effort, no matter the win/loss outcome, they can look at themselves in the mirror with a sense of pride.”

The team was characterized by a hard-hitting defense and a run-oriented offense—along with proficient passing—that ran behind a strong offensive line.

Lemont has won at least 10 games five straight seasons, and now has reached at least the second round of the IHSA playoffs eight consecutive years. In Michaelsen's 10-year tenure, the Indians are 92-25, including a 19-8 mark in the playoffs. Lemont won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division crown for the fourth straight year in 2011. The Indians are 31-2 in SSC Blue play since 2006, and have five SSC Blue titles in six years.

Lemont racked up more than 4,500 yards in total offense this season:

Senior running back Mike Anzalone had 1,657 yards rushing and a team-leading 20 touchdowns. Junior running back Chris Giatras had just under 1,000 yards from scrimmage and totaled 17 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Damon Aleman threw for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns, with senior Tyler Jay being his favorite target; he finished with 611 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. Junior offensive lineman Ethan Pocic to the Class 6A All-State team in 2011.

The Indians' defense was outstanding, posting six shutouts in 13 games:

Senior linebacker Kyle Krull had a team-best 102 tackles, as well as five sacks. Senior linebacker Brad Uher led the squad with eight sacks, senior defensive lineman John Tomala totaled 16 tackles-for-loss, and senior linebacker Vince Letizia was second on the team both with 92 tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss. Junior defensive back Jake Lemming was among the area's leaders with nine interceptions.

Cheerleading

Back in February, the Lemont cheerleaders built on success of years past,

The varsity cheerleading squad — the only team in Lemont history to win a state title — earned a final score of 91.18 at the IHSA Medium Division State Championship, narrowly beating state runner-up Antioch High School (91.10).

The team has finished in the top three in the past six IHSA State Finals. The team placed third in 2006, and was runner-up in 2007 and 2008.

Under the leadership of head coach Brittany Glowa, who took over during the 2008-2009 school year, the team captured back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

"We work on the routine all year long,” Glowa told Patch earlier this year. “A lot of people assume (cheerleading) is not a sport because they see the girls on the sidelines at the games but never see the competitions."

With the state competition only weeks away, the cheerleaders are focused on bringing a fourth straight championship home to Lemont.

Wrestling

Making his third trip to the IHSA State Finals, senior Derek Nagel posted a in the 160-pound weight class at the 2011 IHSA Class 2A Wrestling Individual State Finals, which were contested at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in February.

Nagel (41-2), the third-ranked wrestler at 160 pounds in 2A, placed second after dropping a 10-4 decision to Montini's Dimitri Willis.

The title match was the second time Nagel and Willis had faced each other in as many weeks. After being outlasted by a 6-3 decision in the sectional final, Willis turned the tables and topped Nagel 10-4, in the state title match. This is the third straight season Willis has beaten Nagel in the IHSA State Finals. In 2009 (152 pounds) and 2010 (160 pounds), Willis was the third-place finisher in his weight class, and defeated Nagel in the consolation round each year.

Three of head coach John St. Clair’s wrestlers advanced from the IHSA Class 2A Lincoln-Way West Sectional to compete in this year’s state finals. Nagel advanced by winning his second straight sectional crown, and was joined at the event by junior Glen Malecki (125 pounds) and sophomore Chris Giatras (189 pounds), each of whom finished third at the sectional and were making their first appearances at the IHSA Wrestling Individual State Finals.

Nagel joined a long list of state medalists from the Lemont wrestling program. 

Golf

Making its fifth straight state finals appearance—and sixth in seven years—Lemont’s boys golf program is accustomed to success, having finished among the state’s top 10 each year from 2007 to 2010.

Head coach Mark Hollatz’s team enjoyed its best state finals showing ever at the 2011 IHSA Class 2A Boys’ Golf State Finals, which were contested at Illinois State University in Normal. The Indians posted a third-place finish among 12 competing teams, marking the program’s best finish in state competition.

, playing in his third state finals, earned all-state honors by finishing third in the individual standings.

Purtle entered the final round in a three-way tie for first place, thanks to a first-round 1-over 72. He ended the tournament with a 9-over 151, finishing third behind Marion's Jaret Brewer and Marian Central Catholic's Luke Waggoner, who both shot a 6-over 148. Brewer earned the state title by winning the first hole of a sudden death playoff.

Junior Joe Paloian tied Purtle for the team's best round on the second day, shooting an 8-over 79. He tied for 27th overall with an 18-over 160.

Senior Stephen Kling tied for 38th overall with a 20-over 162. Junior Ray Cepele tied for 75th with a 30-over 172, while senior Eric Gruber tied for 81st with a 32-over 174. Senior Brian McMahon shot a 15-over 86 over the final 18 holes, while senior Brian Zabiegly shot a 19-over 90 in the first round.

Lemont qualified for the IHSA State Finals by winning its own sectional at Broken Arrow Golf Club on Oct. 8. The team also captured the South Suburban Conference-Blue and IHSA Joliet Catholic Regional crowns this fall.

Soccer

Girls: The girls finished third at the .

For the second time in three years, the girls soccer teams received a berth into the IHSA Class 2A State Finals at Naperville Central High School.

Although the Indians lost a tough 3-0 match to Marian Central Catholic on Friday morning, they bounced back quickly with a 2-0 win over Wheaton Academy in the third-place game Saturday.

Lemont freshmen midfielder Kim Jerantowski and goalkeeper Kelly Fritz led the way for the Indians' finish. Jerantowski scored both goals, while Fritz notched her 16th shutout of the season. Junior midfielder Sydney Goushas added an assist on Jerantowski’s first goal.

“The girls believe in each other,” said Lemont head coach Rick Prangen. “I think we had a lot of character this year getting third place. It’s hard to win that.

Boys: The Lemont boys soccer team  Oct. 28 with a 1-0 win over Bremen. The team advanced to the l, where they lost 1-0 to Peoria Notre Dame.

The Indians finished the season with 20-4-3 record.

On Nov. 1, the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association released its award winners for the 2011 boys soccer season. Lemont senior Nick Tiedt, a midfielder, was named to the All-State team, while goalkeeper Andrew Putna and defender Kyle Hamann—both juniors—received All-Sectional honors.