Naperville North will try to defend its DuPage Valley Conference title against challengers Naperville Central and Waubonsie Valley. Will Benet earn another state trophy?
Benet
The 2025 Class 3A state runner-up Redwings (27-13) look to reload after earning the first trophy in team history. The pitching staff should be solid with senior left-hander Lucas Kohlmeyer (Johns Hopkins) and junior left-hander Quinn Rooney (Notre Dame) at the top of the rotation. Senior right-handers Ben Clevenger, Jonathan Giedraitis (Augustana) and Giovanni Calandriello (Loras) also are strong arms.
Seniors Nathan Cerocke (Illinois Wesleyan), Jack Garechana (Wisconsin-Stout), Max Glimco and Luke Doyle (Lafayette football) bring plenty of talent to the lineup.
Metea Valley
The Mustangs (13-23) return five starters, including junior pitcher/outfielder Tyler Gluting (Oklahoma). An all-conference selection as an outfielder, Gluting headlines a young pitching staff. Also back are seniors Ethan Singer and Kayden Nimer, who will pitch and play in the infield; senior catcher Michael Willhite; and senior outfielders Owen Goeb and Carter Behrns.
Top newcomers are juniors Diego Gutierrez, Griffin Lavery, Tyler Darche and Logan Phelan.
Naperville Central
The Redhawks (20-16) are confident entering the season with a strong senior class, which is led by third baseman Grant Umbright (John Logan), shortstop Cooper Page, outfielder Michael Page (North Central), and pitchers Casey Cooperkawa and Ryan Marker. All are returning starters. Umbright and Michael Page are expected to be offensive leaders, and Michael Page anchors the defense.
Seniors Ashton Feldott (DuPage), Max Henson (DuPage), Tommy Manker (Milwaukee Area Tech) and Jack McCotter (Augustana) add depth.
Naperville North
Senior Max Steele (Benedictine) is a fourth-year starter on the mound and in the outfield for the DuPage Valley Conference champion Huskies (17-16), who are looking to defend that title. Six starters return, including Steele’s brother, Sam, a sophomore outfielder. Senior outfielder Caden Vorwick and junior pitcher/shortstop Brady Marino are third-year varsity players, and sophomore Lawton Close has contributed as a pitcher and infielder.
Top newcomers include senior pitcher/infielder Jack Ruderman, junior pitcher/infielder Noah Tumpane and junior outfielder Paxton Freeborn.
Neuqua Valley
The inexperienced Wildcats (13-17-1) get a boost from senior right-hander Christian Lott (Southern), a Simeon transfer who was the Chicago Public League pitcher of the year. Lott, senior right-hander Caden Kojak (Kishwaukee) and junior right-hander Joshua Repmann will lead the pitching staff.
Repmann, senior outfielder Andrew Barkley and sophomore infielder Sam Widloe are the top returning hitters. Senior Colton Maita, junior Emmitt Briner and junior Zach Chiz will see larger roles.
Waubonsie Valley
Many of the stars from Class 4A sectional champion graduated, but the cupboard is far from bare. The Warriors (23-13) still have junior catcher Shane Torres (Oakland), a third-year starter, and senior infielders Nate Cerilli (Quincy) and Ryan Lucas, both third-year varsity players.
Senior right-handers Cole Ruggeri (Missouri), Aidan Kornak (Illinois Tech) and Cooper Chapple (Morton) lead the pitching staff, which also welcomes backs junior right-hander Cameron Delahoussaye from Tommy John surgery.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
