State Final Teams: Maroa (M.-Forsyth) | Palos Heights (Chicago Christian)
Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) Knights (12-1)
School Information
Name: Chicago Christian High School
City: Palos Heights
County: Cook
Classification Enrollment: 316
Nickname: Knights
Colors: Collegiate Gold/Purple
Conference: Chicagoland Christian
Superintendent: Mark Hamstra
Principal: Mike Drury
Dir of Athletics & Experience: Mike Johnson
Athletic Director: Mark Zylstra
Head Coach: CJ Cesario
Assistant Coaches: Sam Caldwell, Michael Biasco, Joseph Cabrera, Bob DeCarlo, Brendan Coughlan, Jarrell Williams, Curt Fiedler
Athletic Trainer: Hannah Doyle
Captains: Caden Boersma, Chase Sytsma, Christian Flutman, Brock Sperling, Kenny Jager, Niko Griggs
Managers: Timmy McKee, Scott Fiedler
Last Year's Advancement: Lost to Maroa (M.-Forsyth), 42-6, in First Round
Team Photo
Roster
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
1 |
Harrison Yonker |
RB DB |
5-9 |
140 |
So. |
02 |
Caden Boersma |
WR DB |
6-0 |
155 |
Sr. |
03 |
Josh Crawford |
WR DB |
5-7 |
150 |
Jr. |
04 |
Eddie VanDellen |
WR DB |
6-2 |
160 |
Sr. |
05 |
Jake Kargol |
WR DB |
5-10 |
150 |
Fr. |
06 |
Christian Flutman |
QB DB |
5-10 |
145 |
Sr. |
07 |
Tyce Hamstra |
QB WR LB |
5-8 |
140 |
So. |
08 |
Demo Griggs |
TE DL |
6-2 |
180 |
Sr. |
09 |
Jared Hall |
WR DB |
6-1 |
160 |
Sr. |
10 |
Spencer McCarthy |
LB H |
5-8 |
145 |
So. |
11 |
Ben Boersma |
DB WR |
5-5 |
130 |
Fr. |
12 |
Levi Jager |
DB WR RB |
5-7 |
140 |
Fr. |
14 |
Luke Kracinski |
LB RB WR |
5-9 |
155 |
Fr. |
15 |
Blake Denman |
LB H |
5-8 |
185 |
Sr. |
18 |
Emmett Van Dellen |
DB WR |
6-0 |
150 |
Fr. |
20 |
Kenny Jager |
RB DB LB |
5-7 |
180 |
Sr. |
21 |
Riley Samp |
WR DB |
5-10 |
150 |
Jr. |
22 |
Niko Griggs |
TE LB |
6-3 |
225 |
Sr. |
23 |
Isaac Workman |
TE LB |
5-8 |
145 |
So. |
24 |
Kerry Teague |
H LB |
5-8 |
190 |
Sr. |
25 |
Henry Jager |
RB DB |
5-6 |
150 |
So. |
27-35 |
Collin Swieszcz |
DB WR |
6-1 |
170 |
Fr. |
28 |
Luke Verstrate |
LB WR |
5-10 |
150 |
Fr. |
40 |
Tommy Gouwens |
WR DB |
5-8 |
150 |
Jr. |
44 |
Jonathan Bonnell |
WR DB |
5-9 |
150 |
Fr. |
50 |
Jake Verstrate |
OL DL |
6-2 |
200 |
Sr. |
52 |
Heath Sisk |
OL LB |
5-11 |
165 |
Jr. |
55 |
Josiah Loerop |
OL DL |
5-7 |
200 |
Jr. |
56 |
Chase Sytsma |
OL DL |
5-11 |
225 |
Sr. |
59 |
Brock Sperling |
OL LB |
6-1 |
235 |
Sr. |
72 |
Caleb Vande Werken |
OL DL |
6-0 |
270 |
Sr. |
74 |
Jacob Conners |
OL DL |
5-10 |
220 |
So. |
75 |
Sean Fiedler |
OL DL |
6-5 |
300 |
Jr. |
77 |
Nathaniel Walter |
OL DL |
6-2 |
225 |
Fr. |
90 |
Brendan O'Malley |
OL DL |
5-10 |
230 |
Jr. |
Specialists
Kickoff Specialist: Jared Hall
Kickoff Returners: Eddie Van Dellen, Jared Hall
Punter: Christian Flutman
Punt Returners: Jared Hall
Placekicker: Jared Hall
Placekick Holder: Christian Flutman
Starters
Offense
No. |
Position |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
Year |
52 |
C |
Heath Sisk |
5-11 |
165 |
Jr. |
24 |
H |
Kerry Teague |
5-8 |
190 |
Sr. |
59 |
LG |
Brock Sperling |
6-1 |
235 |
Sr. |
72 |
LT |
Caleb Vande Werken |
6-0 |
270 |
Sr. |
06 |
QB |
Christian Flutman |
5-10 |
145 |
Sr. |
20 |
RB |
Kenny Jager |
5-7 |
180 |
Sr. |
56 |
RG |
Chase Sytsma |
5-11 |
225 |
Sr. |
50 |
RT |
Jake Verstrate |
6-2 |
200 |
Sr. |
08 |
TE |
Demo Griggs |
6-2 |
180 |
Sr. |
09 |
WR |
Jared Hall |
6-1 |
160 |
Sr. |
04 |
WR |
Eddie VanDellen |
6-2 |
160 |
Sr. |
Offense Averages
Backs: 5-8, 185
Line: 6-0, 219
Backs: 5-10, 145
Receivers: 6-2, 167
Defense
No. |
Position |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
Year |
06 |
CB |
Christian Flutman |
5-10 |
145 |
Sr. |
09 |
CB |
Jared Hall |
6-1 |
160 |
Sr. |
08 |
DE |
Demo Griggs |
6-2 |
180 |
Sr. |
50 |
DE |
Jake Verstrate |
6-2 |
200 |
Sr. |
59 |
DT |
Brock Sperling |
6-1 |
235 |
Sr. |
72 |
DT |
Caleb Vande Werken |
6-0 |
270 |
Sr. |
22 |
MLB |
Niko Griggs |
6-3 |
225 |
Sr. |
24 |
OLB |
Kerry Teague |
5-8 |
190 |
Sr. |
04 |
S |
Eddie VanDellen |
6-2 |
160 |
Sr. |
23 |
S |
Isaac Workman |
5-8 |
145 |
So. |
20 |
S |
Kenny Jager |
5-7 |
180 |
Sr. |
Defense Averages
Defensive Backs: 6-0, 152
Line: 6-2, 222
Linebackers: 5-9, 169
Statistics
View Team Statistics (PDF)
Scores
Date |
Opponent |
W/L |
Own |
Opp |
8/30 |
Herscher |
W |
34 |
14 |
9/6 |
Elmwood Park |
W |
49 |
16 |
9/13 |
West Chicago (Wheaton Academy) |
L |
7 |
27 |
9/20 |
Woodstock (Marian) |
W |
27 |
6 |
9/27 |
Chicago (C. Hope Academy) |
W |
35 |
12 |
10/4 |
Elgin (St. Edward) |
W |
41 |
6 |
10/11 |
Kankakee (McNamara) |
W |
56 |
13 |
10/18 |
Chicago (Christ the King) |
W |
42 |
0 |
10/25 |
Aurora (Christian) |
W |
28 |
21 |
IHSA Playoffs |
11/2 |
Carthage (Illini West) |
W |
53 |
16 |
11/9 |
Downs (Tri-Valley) |
W |
24 |
14 |
11/16 |
Bismarck (B.-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) |
W |
34 |
13 |
11/23 |
Farmington |
W |
34 |
20 |
11/29 |
Maroa (M.-Forsyth) |
|
|
|
Head Coach CJ Cesario
Year |
W-L |
Palos Heights (Chicago Christian) |
2024-25 |
12-1 |
Tournament History
1997-2A 8 30 1-1 (9-2) DNP Mike Laneve
W 42 7 Pearl City
L 8 30 Aledo
2000-2A 9 14 0-1 (7-3) DNP Mike Laneve
L 9 14 Westville
2001-3A 28 33 0-1 (7-3) DNP Mike Laneve
L 28 33 Clifton (Central)
2002-4A 17 28 0-1 (9-1) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
L 17 28 Lisle (Sr.)
2003-3A 7 28 1-1 (9-2) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
W 31 14 Melrose Park (Walther Lutheran)
L 7 28 Wilmington
2004-3A 28 35 0-1 (7-3) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
L 28 35 Hampshire
2005-3A 6 32 1-1 (8-3) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
W 21 12 Poplar Grove (North Boone)
L 6 32 Elmhurst (Immaculate Conception)
2006-4A 6 14 0-1 (9-1) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
L 6 14 Mendota
2007-4A 7 48 2-1 (10-2) DNP Mark Vander Kooi
W 40 6 Chicago (Leo)
W 28 0 Mendota
L 7 48 Addison (Driscoll)
2008-4A 21 35 0-1 (8-2) DNP Joe Hamstra
L 21 35 Kankakee (McNamara)
2018-2A 14 48 1-1 (7-4) DNP Nick Cook
W 41 12 Chicago (Collins)
L 14 48 Lanark (Eastland)
2019-2A 0 41 0-1 (6-4) DNP Nick Cook
L 0 41 Aledo (Mercer County)
2022-2A 7 41 0-1 (5-5) DNP Tom O'Connor
L 7 41 Wilmington
2023-2A 6 42 0-1 (5-5) DNP Dan Chiarito
L 6 42 Maroa (M.-Forsyth)