Top 5 Sports Stories of 2024 in Kane County

It was a calendar year of outstanding achievements for many Kane County athletic programs and individuals. Teams recording historic seasons. Record-setting accomplishments. Individual glory on the greatest of stages.

Here are the Top 5 Sports Stories of 2024 in Kane County.

St. Charles East wrestler Ben Davino wins fourth state title

St. Charles East senior Ben Davino made history in February when he became the 15th four-time state champion in the 88-year history of the state tournament.

“It’s been fun,” Davino said. “It’s been a fun ride. This is my last time in high school. To end 50-0 in my individual season is great.

St. Charles East’s Jayden Colon and Marmion’s Nicholas Garcia and Zach Stewart also won individual state titles. At team dual state, St. Charles East finished third.

St. Charles North softball team wins state title

The St. Charles North softball team did it again.

Ginger Ritter’s three-run home run capped a five-run sixth-inning rally to help St. Charles North to a 7-2 victory over defending state champion Marist to win the Class 4A state title in June at the Louisville Sluggers Sports Complex in Peoria.

It was St. Charles North’s second state title in program history and the second title in three seasons. The North Stars (26-6) beat the RedHawks 3-2 in the 2022 state title game.

“Our girls were ready,” St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. “They’ve had a purpose since the beginning and it was to work toward this. And I cannot tell you how proud of them I am. This is the reward you can get when you buy into a team concept.”

St. Charles North pitcher Paige Murray, who closed out the 2022 state title game, went 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA and struck out 55 batters over six games during the North Stars' postseason run in 2024 with a no-hitter in the supersectional.

Batavia wrestler Sydney Perry wins third IHSA state title

Batavia senior Sydney Perry capped a decorated and dominant high school wrestling career with her third IHSA state championship in February.

Perry completed her high school career with the 145-pound state championship to finish an undefeated 41-0 season with a win by technical fall in the final.

“It just means a lot to be a part of the sport, to be a part of the history, becoming a trailblazer,” Perry said.

Perry was one of two girls wrestling state champions from Kane County.

Kaneland freshman Angelina Gochis became the Knights’ first state champion, winning the 105-pound crown. Gochis beat Huntley’s Janiah Slaughter by an 8-2 decision in the title match.

“I feel really good,” Gochis said. “Doing this for all my friends, family, all my coaches. It’s really nice.”

Geneva, Batavia football teams take second in state

It was quite a fall for Tri-Cities football teams.

Geneva continued its recent rise by snapping a 13-game losing streak to Batavia during the regular season. The Vikings, led by senior receiver Talyn Taylor, continued that success in the playoffs. Geneva quarterback Tony Chahino threw for 388 yards as the Vikings knocked off Cary-Grove in the Class 6A semifinals to reach the program’s first state championship game since 2008.

“This is everything I dreamed for as a little kid,” Chahino said. “I grew up in Geneva, I was born in Geneva and I wanted to be a Viking. There were opportunities for me to leave and go to another school but I stayed here.

“I always thought of this moment right here.”

At Batavia, sophomore quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren authored comeback playoff wins on the road at Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way Central, the latter an 85-yard drive in the final two minutes to lead the Bulldogs to the Class 7A state championship game – Batavia’s fourth state finals appearance since 2013.

Vander Luitgaren capped a spectacular playoff run by throwing for a Class 7A finals record 390 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-34 loss to Mount Carmel.

“It’s really a good feeling,” the sophomore said. “I’m just looking forward to trying to break more records, but mainly my goal is to get back here.”

Rosary swimmers repeat as state champs

Rosary senior swimmer Becky Rentz had quite a week in mid-November.

She first signed to swim at Notre Dame and then she showed the Fighting Irish what kind of athlete they are getting.

Rentz helped the Rosary Beads capture a second straight state title by winning the 200 freestyle and 100 free individual races and swimming on Rosary’s championship 200 free relay squad that set a state record with a time of 1:31.69. She also helped the Beads to a blazing time of 3:20.25 in the 400 free relay, second to St. Charles North, which set a state record with a 3:19.43 time.

Rosary needed every high finish it could muster in Westmont to compile a winning total of 290 points to hold off New Trier (272) and St. Charles North (251) in one of the fastest state meets ever.

“There’s so much talent here. There always is at this meet,” Rentz said. “We knew it was going to be a really tough battle.”