The ILN Contender Series highlights the top teams we believe have a serious chance to win the state title in 2025. Each installment will break down a team’s strengths, weaknesses, key players, and what it will take for them to be the last team standing at the end of the year.

Glenbard West made an impressive run to the state championship game in 2024 before losing the to Lake Forest. Do the Hilltoppers have what it takes to return to the top in 2025?

2024 Record: 24-2 (State Runner Up)

2024 Key Wins:

• 3/23 Lake Forest – 8-7
• 4/20 New Trier – 12-8
• 4/24 St. Viator – 12-11
• 5/11 Loyola – 6-5
• 5/28 Wheaton Academy (State Quarterfinals) – 9-2

Key Departures

• Jack Moellering- Attack (Denison) – 2024 All-State
• Ben Cesario – Midfield – 2024 All-American
• Eli Limouris – Defense – 2024 All-State
• Logan Mcdougal – Attack (Western Reserve)
• Aidan Nelson – Defense – 2024 All-American

Key Returners

• Sam Clark – Attack (Class of 2025 – Providence)
• Cooper Kinney – Midfield (Class of 2025 – Depauw)
• Jacob Quintos – Defense – (Class of 2026)
• Nile Woods – Defense (Class of 2026)
• Drew Crosby – Goalie (Class of 2025)
• Cole Glascott – Faceoff/Midfield (Class of 2025)

Season Outlook:

Glenbard West appeared in their first state championship in school history in 2024. Their dominant season included 24 wins, while their two losses came to Lake Forest, including a 4-1 loss in the state finals. They return a number of impact players and will be led by Coach Nuss, who has over 20 years of experience and state final appearances at two separate schools. The Hilltoppers are primed for another deep postseason run.

Scouting Report

Over the past five seasons, Glenbard West has forged a reputation as a difficult team to game plan for. They deploy a mix of both a high-pressure zone and high-pressure man defense that keeps even the best offenses in the state uncomfortable. On offense, they run a mix of set plays that rely heavily on picks coming across the middle while often initiating the offense from behind the net. Over the past few seasons, Glenbard West has had the luxury of a deep stable of midfielders that are difficult matchups and were heavy shooters. This season, they will be tasked with replacing six starters from last year’s team, including 2024 All-American Ben Cesario. This season, teams will be spending much of their time game planning for returning All-State and All-American selection Sam Clark. Clark’s Division-1 ready game will make slowing him down a challenge on offense. Clark will be the top priority for opposing coordinators while preparing to play the Hilltoppers. With the defense returning two of their four long pole starters and their starting goalie, it will be interesting to see how similar their defense is to last season and any new wrinkles they may throw at opposing offenses.

Why They Won’t Win:

The biggest question that the Hilltoppers must answer is replacing the production of the players in their class of 2024. They graduated two starting attackmen, as well as their leading scorer out of the midfield. The Hilltoppers’ season ended with a one-goal performance against Lake Forest in the state championship. Will they be able to score enough points on the state’s top defenses to win it all this year? They must quickly find out who is going to help shoulder the offensive load alongside Clark in order to stay in the state championship conversation.

Why They Will Win:

Glenbard West is returning a number of key starters at important positions like faceoff, goalie, and attack. Sam Clark is one of the top scorers in the state and will find a way to produce even as he becomes the main focus of every defensive game plan. The Hilltoppers have one of the most experienced coaches in the state and a proven winner in Coach Nuss. Combine great coaching with the massive talent they have at key positions, and the Hilltoppers are once again in a position to make another run at the state title.