The annual Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic football game between the Naperville Central Redhawks and the Naperville North Huskies is a mixture of one part tradition and one part rivalry stirred together with fundraising for a common cause.
Friday’s battle for bragging rights between Naperville School District 203’s two high schools starts with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at North Central College’s Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, 455 S. Brainard St. The sophomore matchup is at 5 p.m. The football game is one of the largest events hosted by North Central drawing 10,000 people to the stadium on a single night.
The rivalry between Central and North began in 1975 when the two high schools first faced each other on the field of play; the game moved to North Central College in 2000. A year later, the matchup at North Central College was named in honor of Wes Spencer, who taught and coached at both District 203 high schools for 32 years and was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1985. Spencer also played football at North Central College, earning his degree in 1943.
Naperville North Athletic Director Bob Quinn said the football game is a great rivalry for a number of reasons. “First of all, it is a great community event. The game is held in the middle of town, and it has been marketed to be a community event,” Quinn said.
He said the game has come to transcend Naperville North and Naperville Central. “It is about Naperville and the larger community. I would also tell you that the game is about Naperville kids and parents who have grown up together. They have been neighbors, schoolmates and teammates their entire lives. This game allows for renewed friendships for kids and parents. Earning those Naperville bragging rights is a big deal,” Quinn said.
He also said the excitement of the matchup is enhanced, in part, because of the type of community Naperville is.
“The two high schools are highly respected and great American high schools of which the community is deservedly proud. It will be a great night as always,” Quinn said.
Naperville Central sophomore Allea Noren said the Crosstown Classic game is special to the student body because of the friendly rivalry between the two schools. “NCHS and NNHS have are always very competitive no matter what sport, but to see it in a real college stadium makes it extra special for anyone either at North or at Central,” Allea said.
She said she likes to prepare by dressing up in whatever the theme school leaders choose. “It makes the game a whole lot more fun,” she said.
Central’s Ashley Hornig said Friday’s game is one of the many events that brings the most excitement. “Being able to represent your school in a fun and enthusiastic environment is something that really makes students feel proud to be a Redhawk. The inter-city rivalry gets everyone really excited to participate,” Ashley said.
She said the school’s Red Rage pep club is preparing for their biggest tailgate of the year, starting at 5 p.m. when they will hand out hot dogs, hamburgers, and spirit items – Redhawk foam fingers, and pompons – to students. After the tailgate, staff, students, parents and everyone walks together to North Central College.
“Clubs have been selling T-shirts and making signs in preparation, and everyone works to make sure that Central is well represented,” Ashley said.
Even parents get into the rivalry.
Casey Piper, president of the Naperville Central Booster Club, said the football game is a chance for parents to reconnect. He said parents get acquainted over the years through sports and activities offered by local youth organizations or the Naperville Park District.
While they might be sitting on opposing sides of the field now, Piper said the atmosphere remains neighborly. “In the game itself there is a lot of enthusiasm,” he said. “For me it’s a friendly competition with fun community banter. But in the end, it’s just a game.”
The game also is a chance for both schools to join together to raise money and awareness of services Easter Seals provides.
With Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget calling to slash funding for early childhood intervention, it’s even more critical to get out the word, said Theresa Forthofer, president at CEO of Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region. “Honestly, it’s one of the best events for us. It’s an extremely great awareness event,” Forthofer said.
Since 2010, the schools have hosted a Blackout for Easter Seals program which has raised more than $30,000 for Easter Seals. While it started with fans purchasing matching black T-shirts to show team support, the color scheme has expanded in recent years to include camouflage and tie-dye.
The money raised benefits Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley’s mission to enable infants, children and adults with disabilities to achieve their maximum independence and to provide support for the families who love and care for them.
“We could not be more appreciative of the efforts of the teams, students, staff and parents,” said Forthofer. “Their generosity is helping raise awareness and funds for local children with developmental disabilities.”
She said having a school support a group that focuses on early childhood intervention is a perfect pairing.
Forthofer said 10 to 20 percent of children have some type of developmental delay. By working with professionals on the delays, many of those children can be on the same playing field by the time they are ready to enter kindergarten.
The loss of state funding, Forthofer said, means the most vulnerable population could lose valued services families cannot afford. Without adequate preschool support, school districts, and ultimately local property taxpayers, are saddled with the higher cost to provide the necessary therapies, she said.
“The burden doesn’t go away; it’s just shifted,” and costs seven times more, said Forthofer.
