By Patrick McGavin-Photos by Lauren Gray
ORLAND PARK— The moment is an annual rite of mid-summer passage governed by a persistent theme of renewal.
Every late July, the preparation and training of the Orland Park Pioneers’ football program begins anew with the start of two-hour evening practices.
The moments of recognition are telling—the bodies in motion, the byplay and chemistry between the players, the feeling of being part of something larger than themselves.
The Pioneers program is composed of four competition levels—the Super Lightweights, the Lightweights, Junior Varsity and Varsity.
“It has become part of my lifestyle,” AJ Richardson said. He has grown up in the program.
His father, Pat, is the former coach of the Super Lightweights who is now helping out the Junior Varsity, where AJ is a second-year kicker and defensive lineman. On this radiant night, the younger Richardson is moving gracefully at the state of the art practice facility at Michael Schofield Field at Schussler Park.
“With each level you go up, it gets more difficult, and it requires more work,” Richardson said. “That’s how I became myself.”
The Pioneers kick off the start of River Valley Youth League Football action on Sunday, August 23 at Sandburg High School.
The continuity is key, with the significant majority of players with at least four years of experience with the Pioneers taking their rightful place.
Something else stands out, not just the different age groups and four programs.
Popularity is a cool thing, and the numbers have surged.
As the Pioneers begin a historic 50th season, the intensity, enthusiasm and passion have never been so acute.
The players are just one part of the equation. The cheerleading squads that bring so much to the games with their enthusiasm and the precision and beauty of their routines are also a hallmark.
Jill Lenzen and Rhea Sternberg are the Athletic Directors. Susan Parisi is the Varsity cheer coach, with Darcy Scharpf directing the Junior Varsity. Sternberg is also directing the Lightweights.
Taylor Rossi is orchestrating the Super Lightweights program. Kelly DeValle is organizing the third year of the flag program.
On the players’ side, everywhere you look, the numbers have swelled from a year ago.
Last year the four teams had 161 total players—30 in the Super Lightweights, 44 apiece in the Lightweights and Junior Varsity, and 43 in the Varsity.
Now the Pioneers boast 187 players—with significantly an entire new team designed to accommodate the rise.
The Lightweights underscore that explosive growth with a staggering 65 players. The sheer volume brought about an unprecedented bifurcated group.
The Pioneers now sport five complete teams with two separate color-shaded Lightweight programs.
The Red team is coached by Dan Kolodziej. The Blue team is directed by Adam Maurella, who was on the staff of the Super Lightweights last year.
“We’ve had that interest for a while, with a waitlist, and we finally hit the point where it made sense to split the teams,” Kolodziej said.
The 65 players are set to practice together for the first 10 days. A special committee has been formed that will evaluate the entire roster and break the players into separate teams.
”It’s not going to be done by us,” Kolodziej said. “There won’t be an A team, and a B team.
“These are two evenly split Pioneer teams. There will be some kids I coached last year who I will not coach this year.”
Maurella has the advantage of working with many of the players during their time with the Super Lightweights.
The early chaotic nature brought about by the sheer numbers is mitigated by the long term positive developments.
“In the long play, we have more kids coming in, we have more kids getting on the field, and a lot of kids getting more playing time,” he said.
“Instead of having 45 players, we’ll have 32 or so, and that just means more reps for the kids who are starting out.”
Kolodziej estimates more than a third of the 65-player roster, about 20 players, are new to the program. That infusion of talent is like a goldmine.
“Some played flag, and maybe one or two were with other organizations,” Kolodziej said. “Some have never played at all, but we’re very excited by the new talent in the program.”
Al Krokos is always balancing the micro and macro in his dual capacities as the president of the program and the coach of the Junior Varsity.
“We expanded the flag program last year, and it gave some kids who were on the waitlist or were not sure if they wanted to play another chance,” he said.
“Out of those 65 kids there is a very high number, in the 40s, who are 10-year olds.”
The change, interestingly, has been more varied the top of the organization. With Pat Richardson now part of the JV staff, Paul Bertucci is taking over as coach of the Super Lightweights.
“This is my first year with tackle,” he said. “I was in the flag program for five years. I’ve been around football forever. We have 35 kids, and I coached a lot of them in flag. They’re getting their first taste of tackle, and I think they’re ready for it.”
The Super Lightweights return 10 players, showcasing an impressive balance of speed, athleticism and size.
“We have a lot of speed, but we also have a lot more size than what we’ve had in the past few years,” Bertucci said. “We should be able to push some kids around, and also get around people.”
The key, Bertucci said, is fusing together their development and a pleasure for the game with a sharp competitive instinct.
“We’re building them up to play for the Pioneers for the next eight to 10 years,” he said. “We’re working on fundamentals and skill level. They’re already coming together as a team, and having a lot of fun.”
The enthusiasm is palpable, connecting every vine and molecular structure of the program.
“I’ve been coaching here nine years, and in our first practice yesterday, we had all 44 kids show up,” Krokos said.
“That never happened before.”
Each program has a staff of seven or eight coaches, meaning there is a coach for roughly every 5.5 players. That translates to a lot of individualized instruction.
Adam Sutter is the new Varsity coach. His two sons are in the program. The camaraderie is not the exclusive province of the players. The coaches have their own shared connections.
“These coaches have been with me for three years, and we have a lot of veterans,” Sutter said.
Nicholas Peisker has matriculated through all four levels of the Pioneers—elevating his play and adjusting to the shifting demands. Now he is a first-year Varsity player.
“You always have to be working hard,” he said. “Varsity is a lot more physical style of ball, and you can’t take any days off. You have to work as hard as possible, or somebody else is going to be there in front of you.”
He excelled at the lower levels as a rangy and hard-hitting linebacker. On the JV last year, he showed off new talents, playing tight end and expanding his impact. Now he is going a step further with a planned shift to running back.
The Pioneers have always done a great job of optimizing the versatility of their best players.
“I’m really excited to get to know everybody, and see what everybody has and get into the season,” Peisker said. “We’ve grown up playing together, and we have really good chemistry. We’re all thinking the same thing. When that happens, you both know what to do at the right time.”
Players like Richardson and Peisker personify growth and development moving vertically through the program.
It is a thrill ride the players are never tired of taking.
“I think we’re going to have a really good season,” Sutter said. “With what we’re seeing, I think we’re going to be really good.
“We have some new kids to work into the mix. This is the culmination of all of those years of hard work before these players go off to high school.”
