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.

After a championship season in 2023, Wheaton Academy remained a serious contender in 2024, but exited the playoffs in the state quarterfinals to Glenbard West. This season, they look to take a step forward with a young core and reestablish themselves as the top team in the state.

2024 Record: 15-6

2024 Key Wins:

• 3/20 SSSA (VA) – 13-4
• 4/24 York – 10-6
• 5/2 – St. Ignatius – 13-4
• 5/11 New Trier – 13-7

Key Departures

• John Carrington- Goalie (Siena)
• Tyler Sommer – Midfield
• Jake Miller – Midfield
• Mitchell Carik – Defense (University of Indianapolis)
• Ristan Tomich – Defense (Blueridge Prep School)

Key Returners

• Charlie Foley – Attack (Class of 2025 – Lafayette)
• Zach Moravec – Midfielder (Class of 2025)
• Cooper Miller – Attack (Class of 2025)
• Grant Adams – Attack (Class of 2027)
• Hudsen Hall – Midfield (Class of 2027)
• Jett Yaros – Midfield/Attack (Class of 2027)

Season Outlook:

With a state championship run in 2023, Wheaton Academy positioned themselves as a perennial top 10 team in Illinois. The Warriors finished an up-and-down 2024 with a quarterfinal exit to Glenbard West, their first time not appearing in the state’s final four since before the COVID season. Wheaton returns a young core, and the question will be if state championship-winning coach, Geof Weisenborn, can have this young core step up for a number of key departures and return Wheaton to their championship ways in 2025.

Scouting Report

Above all else, Wheaton Academy is disciplined on both sides of the ball and does not make sloppy mistakes or commit bad penalties. Since their run began in 2021, Wheaton has built a reputation for being well-coached and prepared for nearly every situation. This season, the offense will feature a heavy dose of attackman Charlie Foley, who has built a reputation as a premier shooter and finisher. One underrated aspect of Foley’s game is his vision as a passer, which we expect to be on full display as defenses around the state make him the primary focus of their game plan. This should allow sophomore Grant Adams to take another step forward playing next to Foley on attack. Wheaton’s offense is built around speed and ball movement, and Foley’s passing will make it important for defenses to be disciplined and on the same page when playing Wheaton or risk giving up goals on skips and slow rotations. On defense, Wheaton will need to replace their starting goalie as well as every starter from their 2024 season. Luckily for them, Coach Weisenborn is a defensively minded head coach and has been an exceptional defensive game planner since taking over as head coach. By blending different man and zone looks, as well as unconventional slide packages that can change from game to game, Weisenborn makes his defense very difficult to plan for. Expect Wheaton to win enough face-offs to get the ball in the stick of their talented offense and for Coach Weisenborn to have a young and inexperienced defense in positions to make plays.

Why They Won’t Win:

Wheaton’s inexperience will be a major theme as they enter 2025. They lost every starter on defense, including star goalie Johnny Carrington and Providence commit Ristan Tomich. While there is doubt, their group of underclassmen is one of the most talented in the state. Will they have what it takes to win three big games in a row in May? As highlighted by Lake Forest last season, defense still wins championships, and unfortunately for Wheaton, theirs is a major question mark coming into the season.

Why They Will Win:

Wheaton is loaded with talent, including two stars on attack, and they are led by a coach who has proven he can elevate a team. Coach Weisenborn is an elite talent developer who has continually produced players who were under the radar until they were winning games for Wheaton. Wheaton’s young core is also very talented, and under Weisenborn’s guidance, will have a chance to develop into a dangerous unit very quickly.