DuPage Sports Wrap

Impact Players Ready to Take the Field

Dan Vitale of Wheaton Warrenville South is one of several area players to watch as the 2011 high school football season kicks off Friday night.

Reilly O’Toole, Matt Rogers, Titus Davis, Travis Kern, Caleb Bednarz and Sparty Chino became household names at Wheaton Warrenville South and around the community last fall as the Tigers marched to an undefeated season and their second straight Class 7A state title. Dan Vitale? Not so much. Vitale more or less flew under the radar most of his junior year. Although listed as a running back, he wasn’t an every-down back like Rogers last year. “That’s why you don’t remember him,” head coach Ron Muhitch said. “He played ‘S’ receiver in a package that came on the field when I needed him at fullback.” When Vitale did take the field, however, good things happened for the Tigers. Oftentimes, O’Toole would swing a short pass out in the flat to …

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Downers South Captures West Aurora Regional

Jerron Wilbut and Ziggy Riauka combined for 42 points to lead the South boys basketball team to the Class 4A West Aurora regional.

Downers Grove South guard Jeron Wilbut did not have much time on the clock as he raced to the Wheaton Warrenville South end Friday night in Aurora. “Coach (Jay Baum) wanted me to take it hard to the rim, but I ran out of time,” Wilbut said. “So I did the step-back (three-pointer) instead.” The shot found nothing but net as the second-quarter horn sounded, giving the Mustangs the lead for good. “It gave us a lot of momentum going into the second half,” Wilbut said. The Wilbut buzzer-beater, one of four Downers South would score in the championship game of the Class 4A West Aurora boys basketball regional, concluded an 11-0 run for the Mustangs. Wheaton Warrenville South, the No. 10 seed in the East Aurora sectional complex, never recovered …

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