By Randy Whalen

When both Joliet Central and Joliet West have a state champion in the 2024-25 school season, it's a special one for the District 204 athletic programs.

Those Class 3A boys wrestling champions, Charles Walker at 215 pounds from Joliet Central and Carson Weber at 150 pounds, were honored. 

So were many others on Thursday, April 17, at the 19th Annual Night of Champions at the IBEW-176 Hall in Joliet.

For nearly two decades, the event has celebrated individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to JTHS athletic programs while raising funds to support athletics.

"We have been able to distribute $4,000 in scholarships this school year to Joliet athletics," Joliet Township Athletic Booster Club President Tonya Rico said in her introduction. "We appreciate our wonderful sponsors and everyone's help with the event."

JTHS Activities Director Steve Locke echoed those thoughts.

"This is by far one of my favorite JTHS events," Locke said. "We have raised so much for JTHS High School, and credit to Glen Marcom."

Joliet Central Athletic Director Kevin Fitzgerald introduced the first honoree of the evening. That was the 1986 badminton team.

"The badminton team had a great coach in Ed Lewandowski," Fitzgerald said. "They were sectional champions and placed seventh in the state, with Terry Hibner placing fourth in the state."

Lewandowski and many members of the 1986 team then got up.

"It's been 39 years," Lewandowski reflected. "Our motto was 'Do the work when no one is around so that you'll be ready when everybody is around.'"

Wrestling was a theme of the evening, and the first honoree was Jarrett Hubbard, who placed first in the state at 145 pounds for Joliet West in the single-class tournament in 1970. 

Hubbard then attended the University of Michigan, where he achieved many notable successes, most notably winning the Big 10 Championships and finishing as a runner-up. He placed 4th in the NCAA Division I as a freshman. As a sophomore, he was a Runner-Up, and as a Junior and senior, he won National Collegiate Titles. For these achievements, the Wrestling Team elected him Captain, and the Michigan Student Body named him the Most Valuable Athlete on campus in both his Junior and Senior Years

"I was picked as one of the Top 5 athletes in the USA," Hubbard reflected. "In 1975, I got hugged by then-President Gerald Ford. 

"I didn't start wrestling until my freshman year of high school. I had gone out for cross country, so I didn't have a lot of experience."

But he gained that experience at Joliet West, and so did the next honoree, Jeff Dillman, who placed fifth at 155 pounds in Class AA in 1978.

"Thanks to those that honored me," said Dillman, who wrestled at the University of Nebraska and later became an All-American at Eastern Illinois University. Congrats to Charles and Carson on winning their titles.

"My parents never missed a meet of mine and always had encouraging words. My first wrestling was going 5-12 in seventh grade. So I credit my coaches. I'm proud to say that I'm from Joliet."

Both Hubbard and Dillman also made sure to credit Joliet wrestling coaching legend Henry "Hank" Pillard, who was in attendance.

Next up was the annual awards for Tiger and Steelmen of the Year.

Joliet West Athletic Director Steve Millsaps wasn't in attendance because he was at a family function. But he had a video message introducing The Tiger of the Year: boys basketball coach Jeremy Kreiger.

"Jeremy is not just a coach, he's a mentor for kids," Millsaps said. "He puts all his efforts into everybody. He teaches more than plays, he teaches accountability. He just cares."

For Kreiger, it's just what he does.

"Thanks to everyone and thanks to Steve Millsaps," Kreiger said. "I don't look at it as an award, I look at it as a responsibility. I want to be a beacon of hope for the people in front of me. 

"Iron sharpens iron. We're in this together. Thanks to all the JT coaches and administrators for their support. My greatest achievement will always be the relationships."

Brian Reed was then honored as the Steelmen of the Year. Reed, the head boys' track and field coach at Joliet Central, grew up with his dad, Marvin, as the head girls basketball coach. He's a Steelman through and through. 

"Brian was born and raised on the East side of Joliet," Fitzgerald said in his introduction of Reed. "He was a member of the 1989 Sweet Sixteen basketball team. He ran track and field for Joliet Central and was prom king. As head track coach, he enjoys seeing the guys succeed not only on the track, but off of it too."

Reed was very appreciative of the award.

"I thank everyone for tonight, and I want to thank my parents," he said. "I grew up at Central with my dad, Marvin. Joliet Central shaped me. What you see is what you get. It's never about me, it's about we."

Brian Shaw was honored as the 2025 Glen Marcum Legacy Award recipient. That is awarded to someone who made a difference in Joliet Township athletics. It's named after Marcum, a long-time Joliet-area community leader, who passed away in 2016 and was very active in the community with his dedication and support.

"I'm proud to give this year's Glen Marcum award to Brian Shaw," Locke said in his presentation. "Brian was a 1986 Joliet Central graduate. At Dirksen Junior High, he was a state champion wrestler at heavyweight. In high school, he had 70 varsity wins and was a vital contributor to both the 1985 (Class AA state champion) and 1986 (Class AA second place) wrestling teams. I can't think of anyone more deserving."

Shaw, who recently received the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Lifetime Service Award and is retiring from JT after 32 years in education, was humbled to receive the award.

"I want to thank the athletic boosters and Steve Locke for the nice introduction," he said. "Receiving an award with Glen Marcum's name is amazing. Coach Marcum would tell me that I was his hero. My coaches at JT and at SIU - Edwardsville (where he is a Hall of Famer) would all push me to do better. 

"Guys like Mac (Eural McLaughlin) and the late Pat O'Connell. I've tried to make a difference in the lives of those around me, and I'm truly honored to receive this award."

The Joliet West Fan of the Year award went to Andrea McNair. She had a trio of student-athletes go through JT as Tigers. Football coach Dan Tito couldn't be in attendance, but he introduced McNair via video and appreciated all that she did.

"I want to thank the boosters and Andrea," Tito said. "She did a great job providing dinners and getting contributions from local businesses. I'm so glad you were part of our program."

McNair was happy to be a part of it.

"I want to give all honor and glory to God," she said. "I wouldn't be able to do this without these blessings. I credit my husband for standing alongside me, and he should be up here, too. To all my children, Destiny, Justus, and Micah, it's been a fun time at Joliet West.

"I want to thank Coach Tito for allowing me to be a football mom. It wasn't about wins or losses; it was about relationships. Even though I went to Joliet Central, I'll forever be a Tiger. Thank you, and I love you guys."

The Joliet Central Fan of the Year was Ryan and Christina Eggert. Their son, Xavier, has been a 3-sport athlete, playing football, wrestling, and baseball. He will attend the Air Force Academy to study aeronautical engineering and become a developmental engineer.

"Christina and Ryan Eggert are a constant presence at Joliet Central and not only when Xavier is participating," Fitzgerald said in his introduction of the couple. "Their dedication is outstanding."

The Eggert's were very appreciative of the award and time with the Steelmen for their son.

"We're thankful for this award and thankful for all the opportunities," Ryan Eggert said. 

"Ryan and I would like to thank the Steelmen athletic programs for all the opportunities for our son," Christina Eggert added.

The final two recognitions of the evening went to Weber and Walker. It was only appropriate that the Night of Champions ended with a pair of state champions. 

Their titles were the first time both Joliet Central and Joliet West had a state champion since Mark Trizzino won the first of his two titles for the Steelmen at 105 in Class AA in 1977-78. Trizzino joined Joliet West's Dane Nasenbenny (98, in Class AA in 1977-78) and Curt Phelps (167, in Class AA in 1977-78) to give Joliet a trio of champions that season. 

 Awais "Waz" Arain, who is also a trainer at the school, stepped in as head coach for the Tigers this past season. He got up and, after congratulating all the other award winners from earlier in the evening, he relayed stories of Weber's determination to be a champion.

"As the head athletic trainer, I was able to follow the previous state tournaments," Arain said of seeing Weber wrestle at state in his sophomore year. "He was up 7-1 in a quarterfinal and then lost and lost in the blood round to miss placing at state.

"But one of the biggest things in life is responding to setbacks. He fully committed to wrestling after that. Carson didn't need my help, but he wanted it. There was a big difference. Carson found it wasn't going to be easy. But because of hard work and dedication, he's a state champion."

Weber placed third in Class 3A at 144 pounds last year. This season, in the 150-pound state title match, on Saturday, February 22, at the Illinois High School Association State Finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Weber edged Lockport Township junior Justin Wardlow 1-0. 

It was the third Saturday in a row that the two had squared off in the postseason. Weber fell in the regional and sectional title matches, but he won the one that counted the most to become the first Joliet West wrestling state champion since 1981. 

"I'm very thankful for this opportunity, and I'm honored to represent Joliet and win a state championship," Weber said. "I want to thank my coaches for all that you've done for me. My friends, who pushed me to do better, and my family, who drove me all over the state and the country.

"All the late nights and early mornings were worth it. I'll cherish this opportunity the rest of my life. Thank you."

Next up was Joliet Central wrestling coach Patrick McGovern, who spoke about all the things that Walker did to become a state champion.

"What a job to have to be a teacher and coach for moments like this," McGovern said. "I met Charles in October of 2021 as he was shooting a basketball. I handed him a wrestling brochure and said I would see him at practice."

Walker came to practice, but his freshman season on the varsity was anything but stellar. He went 4-9 that season. In the next three years, however, he made it to state. This season, he capped off his amazing journey by upsetting top-ranked and undefeated Kai Calcutt (37-1) from Loyola Academy 7-5 to capture the 215-pound title.

Then came a very unique victory celebration. Walker ran over to McGovern and not only embraced him, he picked him up and, to use professional wrestling terms, "Rock-Bottomed" him. Which is when you slam your opponent on their back in a finishing move. Walker then displayed his athleticism by doing a cartwheel and a backflip to cap the celebration.

"I told Charles his sophomore year that if he won state, he could rock-bottom me," McGovern said. "As a Steelman, he's shown the younger athletes a path to success. I go to the grade schools, and the kids there are all talking about Charles Walker.

"His work ethic is as good as anyone I've ever seen. He's authentic to the heart. He's brought this community together in so many ways that he doesn't even know."

Yes, he has, but Walker knows that it all came with determination. He went 138-34 in his career at Joliet Central, and his 50 wins (50-2) this season were the most in a single season in Steelmen history. 

"I've learned that success doesn't come with talent, it comes with heart and the people behind me," Walker said. "I want to thank my family for everything. All the rides, and also thank you for putting up with me cutting weight. 

"I've won many matches, and I'll never forget my time as a Steelman. I will carry this honor on and off the mat forever. Thank you."