Falcons' Butler Stays Close to Home

Wheaton North football fans need only go south on Main Street, then take a left on College Avenue to see their old quarterback in a college uniform next year.

Reece Butler will be attending Wheaton College and suiting up for the Thunder, a second-round NCAA Division III playoff team in 2010.

Whether Butler gets some playing time during the 2011 season remains to be seen. Jordan Roberts, who passed for 14 touchdowns and over 1,500 yards last fall, is the incumbent quarterback at Wheaton. (Roberts will be a junior in the fall.)

That said, if Butler eventually becomes the starting QB, one of his favorite targets may be incoming Wheaton College freshman Mark Hiben, a Glenbard West product who set a single-game Illinois high school state record by catching 12 passes for 319 yards and four TDs during Glenbard West’s second-round playoff victory over Lincoln-Way East last year.

Butler joins five other Falcon seniors who signed letters of intent on National Signing Day: Offensive linemen Mike Biegalski (Butler) and Rafe Kiely (Wyoming), tight end Garrett Rietfeld (Wisconsin-Whitewater), defensive lineman Montrell Williams (Western Illinois) and defensive back John Bloss (Drake).

“This year’s group was just a real enjoyable group to coach,” said head coach Joe Wardynski of his senior class, which led the way to a second-round playoff appearance in 2010.

As juniors, the Class of 2011 also was instrumental in the Falcons’ remarkable run to the 2009 Class 7A quarterfinals after the team was on the brink of not making the playoffs at all.

“They had pretty good talent and were as coachable a group of kids that I’ve ever been around,” Wardynski said. “They’re going to go on and be successful in life.”

Here’s a closer look at each of the Falcons’ six aforementioned college-bound players:

Mike Biegalski—Biegalski, who was named to the last fall along with teammates Butler, Bloss, Kiely, Mike Caponi and Shaniel Katariwala, kept Butler safe in the pocket at the all-important left tackle position. Also a member of the Wheaton North basketball team, Biegalski received a non-scholarship offer to join the football team at Butler University, which competes in the Pioneer League and went 4-7 in 2010.

Coach Wardynski says: “Mike was a two-year starter for us. Left tackle is an important position, and he’ll be tough to replace. He’s been a very solid player for us.”

John Bloss—The Falcons’ top cornerback—a second-team all-state pick—was always pitted against an opponent’s best wideout. Nonetheless, Bloss intercepted a team-high nine passes last year (no other Falcon DB had more than two picks). Bloss and Biegalski may butt heads in college at some point because Drake and Butler are Pioneer League opponents. Drake finished 7-4 last season and interestingly defeated Butler in last year’s season finale.

Coach Wardynski says: “He was the only returning starter in our secondary. We had a plus-11 in out turnover margin (in 2010), and a big part of that was because of John.”

Reece Butler—As a junior, Butler took over for injured senior QB Taylor Graham and led the offense to a berth in the , where the Falcons knocked off previously undefeated Rockford Boylan in the first round and Prospect in the second round. The mobile Butler didn’t miss a beat in 2010, passing for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for six TDs. Last November, the Falcons bowed to eventual Class 7A state champ and crosstown rival Wheaton South in a second-round playoff game.

Coach Wardynski says: “Wheaton (College) is getting a high-quality kid, no doubt. He’s a good student, a hard worker and a good person; he’ll fit right in with them. He’s the kind of a kid you want to have around your program.”

Rafe Kiely—The 6-3, 288-pound lineman was recruited by Illinois, Kansas and Northern Illinois. He turned down a scholarship offer from Army and signed with the Wyoming Cowboys, who are trying to improve following a 2-10 season. Last spring, Kiely placed 10th in the shot put at the boys Class AA state track meet.

Coach Wardynski says: “Rafe has a big upside to him. He improved a lot from his junior to his senior year. With his size, a lot of Division I schools felt he can compete at that level, and I think he will. I look for him to have a great career in college.”

Garrett Rietveld—The Green Bay Packers are at the top of the pro football world, and Wisconsin-Whitewater—where Rietveld will play his college ball—has no equal in Division III. Wisconsin-Whitewater is the two-time defending Division III national champion, and went undefeated (15-0) in 2010. The 6-6, 250-pound tight end will be teammates with Glenbard West linebacker Justin Mesch.

Coach Wardynski says: “With him, he’s got the frame and the size that a lot of schools are interested in. I don’t foresee him being an intricate part of any passing game; he’s there to block. A school like Wisconsin-Whitewater is going to take a chance on a kid like that.”

Montrell Willams—Named co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in the DVC, Williams had 11 tackles for loss (which included six sacks) and registered 70 tackles overall. In addition, he forced four fumbles and recovered three. He’ll be joining a Western Illinois squad that posted a 7-4 record in the Missouri Valley Conference last year.

Coach Wardynski says: “Montrell is as explosive a defensive lineman as I’ve coached. He’s very strong and has good hands and good feet. He’ll be very difficult to replace. Western Illinois got a good one. He’ll be a productive player at the next level.”

Other Wheaton North recruits

Wardynski said defensive back Mike Caponi, along with wide receivers Richard Finley and Shaniel Katariwala, are all interested in resuming their football careers in college. However, neither player has chosen a school as of yet.