In the span of a year, Joliet Catholic’s TJ Schlageter truly took the whole “be a champion” slogan to heart.
He won a Class 4A state title in football as a backup quarterback. The ace pitcher followed that up by winning a ring in the spring as the Hilltoppers rolled through Class 2A in baseball.
This summer, he also was on the Team Illinois baseball team that played on two ESPN channels in a tournament. He verbally committed to Louisville for baseball in July.
Now, he enters his senior year looking for more.
“Hopefully, we can make this last year the best year,” Schlageter said.
That journey begins at 7 p.m. Friday as Joliet Catholic (14-0) — No. 4 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings — opens up the season in Wisconsin against Waterford.
The left-handed Schlageter, who also plays basketball, would love to be in the driver’s seat for this championship attempt in the fall rather than watching from the sideline.
“That would be a dream come true,” Schlageter said. “Growing up, you see the guys before you like John Ruettiger. He was a left-handed, three-sport athlete and a quarterback on a state championship team.
“Now, I want to be in the position to carry on the winning tradition.”
With Aidan Voss calling the signals last season, there wasn’t a lot of playing time for Schlageter in football. But on Oct. 15, Voss was injured in the first quarter on the road against Benet, with the Hilltoppers trailing 13-0.
Schlageter stepped in behind center and was one of the key figures in helping Joliet Catholic pull off a 42-20 victory in Lisle.
“We got to see what he could bring to the table,” Hilltoppers coach Jake Jaworski said. “Even coming into that game 0-0 would be tough, but to come in down 13-0 and lead us to victory showed us what kind of competitor he was.
“It also showed what kind of leader he was to have the gall and the confidence to step into that situation.”
Since his freshman year, Schlageter has spent a ton of time as teammates in football and baseball with Trey Swiderski, and that won’t end any time soon.
Both will be heading to Louisville for baseball.
Swiderski, an outfielder and pitcher, made his commitment to the Division I power as a freshman. Baseball demands took their toll on him as a junior, so he didn’t play football.
Due to the pandemic, the Illinois High School Association had to make adjustments to the 2020-21 season, moving football to the early months of the year, followed by baseball.
Swiderski took a break from football, checking out some games from the stands.
“It wasn’t a good feeling sitting in the student section while watching everyone play,” Swiderski said. “I was at the state championship game. It’s always on the back of my mind that I could have been on that team.
“This year, it would be awesome if I could come out of JCA with three rings. That would be a very good feeling.”
Schlageter will be doing his best to try to boost Swiderski, a strong safety, to the first of those three rings while guiding the other side of the ball.
Although Joliet Catholic graduated an army of talented players, Schlageter is confident the Hilltoppers will continue to build upon the program’s mystique.
“We have the physicality to win another state title,” Schlageter said. “With our makeup, we’re going to look good. People may think because we graduated 16 out of 22 starters we won’t be as good, but we have been competing hard against each other and that’s only made us better.
“Come Friday, we’re going to surprise a lot of people. We’ll open a lot of eyes.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Team: Joliet Catholic
2021 record: 14-0.
Offensive leaders: Anthony Birsa, senior, offensive lineman; Justin Bonsu, senior, wide receiver/running back; TJ Schlageter, senior, quarterback.
Defensive leaders: Jeremy Johnson, senior, defensive end; Billy Burke, senior defensive end; Hunter Powell, senior, defensive tackle; Dillan Johnson, junior, defensive tackle.
X-factor: Patrick Durkin, junior, kicker.
