![Fall 2025 Athletics Wrap-Up]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1746554741/jcaonlineorg/j9jfeqzhlubvgerwmdnk/Brown-Victory-Light-JCA.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1746554741/jcaonlineorg/j9jfeqzhlubvgerwmdnk/Brown-Victory-Light-JCA.jpg","width":294}])
By: Dick Goss
The Joliet Catholic Academy football program is among the most successful in state history. The Hilltoppers entered the 2025 season with 15 championships, trailing only Mount Carmel’s 16, and tied for the state lead in title-game appearances and total playoff appearances.
But this season figured to be daunting. The schedule, featuring a bevy of larger schools that are quality programs themselves, made even playoff qualification an uncertainty.
JCA found a way, however. After starting 0-3 and 1-4, then 2-5 after a loss to Mount Carmel, the Hilltoppers were 3-5 entering the season finale against rival Providence Catholic, which was 6-2 and about to embark on a long run through the Class 5A playoffs. Coach Jake Jaworski’s team knew a victory over Providence would not be a playoff guarantee, but it would secure the CCL/ESCC Catholic League title with a 3-0 league record.
For most of the night, JCA was at its dominating best, leading 30-7 in the fourth quarter. Only a wild and crazy comeback on the Celtics’ part tightened the final score as the Hilltoppers prevailed 30-27. The next night came the official IHSA announcement. JCA, with its 51 playoff points (opponent victories) was in the 6A playoff field as a four-win team and would travel to face unbeaten Chatham Glenwood in Round 1. The Hilltoppers fell to top-seeded Glenwood 17-12 to end their season 4-6, but they had competed and earned their accustomed playoff berth.
As for CCL/ESCC postseason awards, JCA dominated. The Most Valuable Player was Hilltoppers senior wide receiver Jayden Armstrong, who also was a first-team All-State selection. Junior linebacker Derrick Pomatto, an honorable mention All-State pick, was Defensive MVP. Jaworski was the Coach of the Year.
Five seniors were first-team All-Conference: Armstrong, defensive end/tight end Ian Campbell, quarterback Lucas Simulick, defensive back Steve Martin and offensive lineman Connor Ahoyt. Juniors named to the first team were linebacker/running back Pomatto, defensive lineman Frankee Piechonka and kicker Vinny DiNovo. Senior defensive end Kingston Dunagan, senior defensive back Parker Mores, junior offensive lineman Jack Lynch and sophomore linebacker/ tight end Ryker Czubak were honorable mention selections.
Of note statically, Simulick completed 96 of 201 passes for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he also rushed for 273 yards in 27 carries. Armstrong caught 39 passes for 623 yards and six TDs and rushed 21 times for 132 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Anthony Finnegan was the leading ground gainer with 439 yards in 96 carries.
Girls Volleyball
The Angels’ girls volleyball program boasts a strong championship tradition. That often results in an outstanding regular-season record and a long run through the playoffs.
This season, however, heavy graduation losses from a year ago combined with a typically rugged schedule to make things more difficult. The Angels finished 6-22 overall and with Bronze bracket finishes in all three of their tournaments. One highlight was knocking off rival Providence in a mid-season match when the Celtics, who eventually finished third in the Class 3A state tournament, came in unbeaten.
“JCA had only two starters returning from last season,” coach Emily Brown said. “We also graduated 11 seniors this past year. We have a freshman in our current starting lineup. We went through numerous lineups to find something that worked, and we also had a high strength of schedule. Our success we can reflect on is defeating Providence for their first loss.”
Senior Katie Selinger was among the statistical leader with 37 aces and 179 digs. Freshman Ella Horn had 175 kills. Junior Maggie Tibbott chipped in 133 kills, 233 assists and 167 digs. Senior Emma Beattie contributed 294 assists, junior Ella Godeaux had 23 aces and 290 digs and junior Maddie Samolis finished with 198 digs.
Boys Soccer
Considering the high level of competition and the many positive accomplishments, the Hilltoppers’ 8-9-1 boys soccer record is a keeper. As coach Tom Cranmer pointed out, JCA “won three games in the extremely competitive ESCC, a conference where we had not won a game since 2021.”
Senior captains Charlie Czerkies, Marco Heald and Diego Rios provided leadership, junior Adan Verdin scored eight goals on the season and Rios led the team with nine assists. The defense, which allowed JCA opponents the fewest number of goals since 2011, was anchored by senior centerback Jiuliani Verdin along with senior Lukas Klein, junior Liam Condron and senior goalkeeper CJ Munger. Czerkies, Rios and Jiuliani Verdin earned ESCC All-Conference honors. Rios was named IHSSCA All-Sectional and Jiuliani Verdin was All-Sectional honorable mention.
The Hilltoppers reached the regional final for a fourth straight year. Among the regular-season highlights were two memorable comebacks. JCA trailed Nazareth 3-0 with 20 minutes left but came back to tie in regulation, then won on penalty kicks. In the regular-season finale, Westmont held leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before JCA rallied to win 5-4.
Girls Tennis
The JCA girls tennis team enjoyed such a successful season that coach Tyler Eakle took a spin through whatever school history records he could find. “Our team went 17-6, the best record in school history that I could find,” he said. “We had a very good team with a lot of depth, led by our 10 seniors.”
The Angels finished second in the Jacobs Invitational. Their doubles team of Megan Ardaugh and Alondra Espino, both seniors, qualified for state where they won three matches, played on Day 2 and earned All-State recognition by finishing in the top 25.
Despite the loss of the 10 seniors, the cupboard is not bare. “We are looking forward to our junior class having an opportunity to step up and lead us to another great season,” Eakle said. “Juniors Addison Farnaus, Caroline Leeders and Giuliana Espino played in our conference lineup and will look to build on this season’s success.”
Cross Country
The JCA cross country program under coach Jason Midlock had two runners, junior Mary Kate Moran for the Angels and senior Chris Corsi for the Hilltoppers, receive All-Conference recognition. The Angels, led by Moran, finished sixth at the Metamora Regional and advanced to the Geneseo Sectional. The team also traveled to Dayton, Ohio to compete in the Midwest Catholic Championships.
Moran, who advanced as an individual to the state meet, where she finished 68th, posted a long list of highlights. She placed fifth in the regional, second in conference, second in the
Tinley Park Invite, fifth in the Will County Championships and fourth in the Midwest Catholic Championships. She moved up to second on JCA’s all-time list for three miles and is first on the 5K list.
Moran’s teammate, junior Haylie Bernhard, placed sixth in the Tinley Park Invite and ninth in the Will County Championships. Sophomore Kate Munday was third in the frosh-soph race at the Will County Championships and seventh in the frosh-soph race at the ESCC Meet.
Corsi claimed 15th place at the Tinley Park Invite and led the boys’ team. Juniors Jack Skole and Dan Michel were other top runners.
Girls Golf
The Angels’ golfers fell a mere one stroke short of qualifying as a team for the sectional tournament, but other than that disappointment, it was a successful 2025 by every account.
Team captain Taylor LePore, one of eight seniors on the roster, led the charge as the Angels finished 7-5 in regular-season dual meets. She notched several medalist finishes including a quadrangular meet in Ottawa where she topped a field of 32. The Angels also received notable performances along the way from senior Lindsey Alcantar and juniors Jennie Lenard and Katie Rzasa.
Then came the postseason. “We went to the regional at Woodruff hoping to make sectionals as a team but fell one shot short,” coach Matt Adler said. However, LePore, Rzasa and Lenard did qualify for the sectional as individuals.
“We fell short of making it out of sectional qualifying for state but wrapped up a great 2025 season,” Adler added.
Boys Golf
Inexperience was the telling word for the Hilltoppers’ golf team, which finished 1-7 overall, 1-3 in the ESCC and eighth among nine teams in the conference tournament.
“It was a very young and inexperienced Hilltopper team for the 2025 season,” coach Dave Mondrella said. “We had only three seniors, two of whom had varsity experience last year, and one junior. They were complemented by four sophomores. The outlook for next season is brighter as the experience obtained by the young Hillmen should help them grow.”
Sophomore Carter Heiden shot 80 to finish ninth and medal at the Lemont Invite. He shot 87 at the JCA Regional at Inwood but lost in a playoff to advance to the sectional at White Pines.
Senior Zach Zabel did advance to that sectional after shooting 84 in the JCA Regional. He shot 89 at the sectional but did not advance to state.