State Swimming Champ, Best College Football Player and More

2012 Year in Review: We look back at some of the biggest sporting moments in the Darien and Woodridge that were covered by Patch this year.

We all know there's a lot of talent that comes from the Darien and Woodridge area. In 2012, our headlines highlighted some of the best and brightest youth our towns have to offer: Girls Swimming: Downers Grove North's Gabby Sims Wins State Title Downers Grove North junior Gabby Sims won her second individual state title in dramatic fashion Saturday, breaking the pool record in the 100-yard freestyle at the IHSA girls swimming and diving finals in Evanston. Four Downers Grove South Students Earn Perfect ACT Scores Seniors Emma Chaplin, Marjorie Fera, Ammar Kalimullah and Samarth Malhotra each received a perfect composite score of 36 on the exam, which is administered to high school juniors nationwide. Woodridge Native Finalist for Most …

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Elmhurst College Running Back Wins Gagliardi Trophy

Downers Grove South alum Scottie Williams re-wrote Elmhurst College's record book in 2012, achieved academic success in the classroom and volunteered on projects that changed lives.

It's official. Elmhurst College running back Scottie Williams has been named the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III. Williams was presented the Gagliardi Trophy Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Salem, Va. The award is presented by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John's University in Minnesota. Williams, a senior at Elmhurst College, is a graduate of Downers Grove South High School. He is the first Elmhurst player to earn the prestigious award, which honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service. He also is just the fifth running back to receive the honor over the past 20 seasons. Williams led the Bluejays to their best season ever, with 10 wins and their first share of the College Conference of Illinois and …

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Mark Thoman

8:33 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012

A class act. Deserved!   more ›

Voting Open for Gagliardi Trophy; Downers Grove South Alum Among Finalists

Elmhurst College running back Scottie Williams is one of 10 finalists for the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.

Woodridge Native Finalist for Most Outstanding College Football Player

The Downers Grove South alum has been announced as one of 10 finalists for the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.

Elmhurst College running back Scottie Williams, a Woodridge native and 2009 graduate of Downers Grove South, has been announced as one of 10 finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy, the award that recognizes the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.  Named for St. John’s football coach John Gagliardi, the recently retired winningest coach in college football history with 489 wins, the Gagliardi Trophy has been awarded annually since the 1993 season, according to a press release. The trophy is presented by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John’s University in Minnesota for excellence in football, academics and community service. Williams is the first Elmhurst player to be selected as a finalist for the prestigious award, school …

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