2001 Football State Champs Among Those to be Inducted into DGS Athletic Hall of Fame

On Saturday, Jan. 28,  will welcome new members to its Athletic Hall of Fame. A social hour will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria, followed by the sophomore basketball game in the main gym. The induction ceremony will be held in the main gym at 7 p.m., followed by the varsity boys basketball game.

Those being inducted into the Class of 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame include:

Rudy Boker- Coach ’79-95

o   Team won 270 games while he was at the helm.

o   Won 3 WSC titles, 4 District/Regional titles, and 2 Sectional titles.

o   3x coach of the year Illinois Baseball Coaches Association.

o   Numerous improvements to the facilities including the dug outs, outfield fence, indoor batting cages, and the score board.

o   Coached several pro players.

 Dave Kalal-Athlete ‘87

o   3 year varsity letter winner in Baseball and 1 varsity letter in Basketball.

o   As a starting pitcher over 3 years accumulated 25 wins and 5 losses.

o   2x All Conference player, 2x all area team, and was named All-State his junior and senior year.

o   Received a full ride to Lewis University to play baseball, where he helped the team to two consecutive national place winning performances.

o   Dave continues to coach baseball at the high school level.

 Meghan Macdonald-Athlete ‘03

o   4 year Volleyball starter from 1999-2003. Team qualified for state all 4 years.

o   3 year varsity Basketball player.

o   Member of 2 state champion teams in 1999 and 2002.

o   Captain and MVP her senior year, she also earned All-Conference and All-State in her junior and senior years.

o   Name player of the year in 2002 by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association and was a finalist for the national player of the year.

o   Full scholarship to the University of Illinois.

o   Meghan is currently teaching at a local middle school.

 Ellen O’Brien-Athlete ‘82

o   Ellen was a three-sport athlete at DGS and earned All-Conference honors in all three—Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball.

o   In Volleyball, Ellen received numerous tournament honors and was named the Volleyball MVP at DGS her senior year.  She received several college scholarship offers including one from Louisville.

o   During her Basketball career she was a three year varsity player and again gained all-area honors.  Ellen’s team won the conference every year that she played.

o   She was once again named MVP of Basketball and went to have a great collegiate career at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

o   Ellen also distinguished herself on the softball field.  A three-year varsity starter, she played on the state tournament team in 1980.  The softball teams won conference titles in ’80 and ’81 and Ellen received All-Conference honors once again as well as numerous all-area awards.   Ellen received the softball MVP—her third in as many sports-her senior year.

o   Ellen is currently teaching and coaching in District 99 and is the Fall Assistant Athletic Director and Head Girls Basketball Coach.

2001 State Champion Football Team

o   The football team under head coach John Belskis won the first male team state championship Downers Grove history.

o   It was the very first state title in the newly expanded 8A classification.

o   The team set numerous records including most offensive plays in a game

o   2 team members were selected All-State: Mike Cuzzone and Martin O’Donnell 

“We are pleased to honor these people for their athletic accomplishments,” says South High School Athletic Director Randall Konstans. “Each one of them has set an example for all of us and a foundation of athletic success at our school.”

To nominate an athlete to the Athletic Hall of Fame, please go to the South High athletic website at http://www.athletics2000.com/dgs. Nominations may be made at any time; a final vote by the committee is taken every October.