WW South 7-on-7 not just for fun

Updated: July 1, 2011 11:48AM

Ron Muhitch wanted to establish the premier 7-on-7 tournament in the state when he organized the inaugural Red Grange Classic at Wheaton Warrenville South.

He’s hoping the long hours he’s put into coordinating the event proves worth it.

“It’s kicking off this year, so I will tell you later whether I like it or not,” he said.

But Muhitch is anxious to find out.

Host Wheaton Warrenville South will be one of three state champions at the eight-team event July 13. All eight teams made the playoffs and finished with a combined 77-19 in 2010.

Not all 7-on-7s are created equally, and Muhitch set out to separate his tournament from the others. Some ore instructional; others keep track of wins and losses.

He cultivated the idea after taking his teams to day camps at Illinois at Notre Dame. The three-time state champion coach wanted a competitive tournament close to home, using certified officials and keeping score.

“Some schools shy away from these,” he said. “I can understand that. Others see the value in the competition. This was something I was persuaded to do in the past, and now we are hosting one.”

New Trier coach Dan Starkey looks forward to the opportunity to take his team — one of only two at the tournament not to make the second round of the state playoffs last year — to the western suburbs. Starkey, formerly the coach at Glenbard South, also can’t wait to test first-year quarterback Jack Nykaza.

“The two 7-on-7s we’ve been to were mostly instructional,” said Starkey, who was an assistant coach at Wheaton South from 1994-2002 and spent nearly 20 years coaching in DuPage County before taking the job at New Trier last year. “They’ve been a fantastic way to get better and give our players an opportunity to learn. But it’s nice to be going to one that is competitive, with a winning and losing team. I want our kids to have a healthy balance of it all.”

The host Tigers (Class 7A) join state champions Maine South (8A) and Montini (5A) at the tournament. Glenbard West, an Elite Eight team three years running, is the fourth invitee to win 10 games last season.

“With the 25 contact days, you try to plan out some kind of teaching format,” said Muhitch, who’s looking to replace all-state quarterback Reilly O’Toole, now at Illinois. “You want to have some days to install some things, but you also want to compete, especially in the passing game. Maine South’s been doing this stuff for some years. (Coach) David (Inserra)’s been a front-runner on this front, for sure.

“The instructional 7-on-7s have no scoring, and you may not find out how you will do on that critical third down, or how the defense will do if they stop it.”

Muhitch said his tournament could one day act as a qualifier for the National Select 7-on-7 tournament in Hoover, Ala., where the Hawks played last summer.

“We wanted to make sure we got it started and got a handle on how to do it the right way,” Muhitch said.

RED GRANGE CLASSIC FIELD

July 13

at Wheaton Warrenville South

(last year’s records)

Barrington 7-3

Glenbard West 10-2

Maine South 12-2

Montini 12-2

New Trier 5-5

Wheaton North 8-3

Wheaton Warrenville South 14-0

York 9-2

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