Lincoln-Way West building on 2010 foundation

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:43AM

Ten days into practice, Picture Day at Lincoln-Way West was a good time for coach Mark VanderKooi to look at the big picture for the relatively new program.

In 2010, its first season with a senior class, West won seven regular-season games and its first state playoff game.

“It was a great year,” VanderKooi said. “That first year with seniors, it’s real important to establish a strong foundation for the program and for the program’s future. I thought we did a good job of that.

“It was a good group of seniors. We got to coach them for three years. We got to coach them as sophomores. It was a good group to start the whole thing off with.”

West had the one-time-only benefit of 22 returning starters last season because it had no seniors to lose to graduation from the previous campaign. That’s not the case this year. The 2011 roster has just six returning starters.

“We’ve got to earn our stipend this year,” VanderKooi said with a smile.

After a 7-2 regular season in 2010, West defeated Dunlap in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs before a 49-13 loss to Peoria Richwoods.

“They were No. 1 in the state, and we found out why,” VanderKooi said.

The West coach compared the growth of the Warriors’ program, including the one-sided loss to Richwoods, with the Bulls getting over the hump against the Detroit Pistons before their NBA championship seasons.

“We want to be better than we were last year,” VanderKooi said. “That’s the goal every year. I think the jury is out on this team.”

Three starters return on offense — center Jake Benson (6-foot-1, 210), guard Erwin Ferreira (5-11, 220) and split end Brian Skowronski. The line will include guard Derek Gurnea and a tackle rotation of Colin McGovern, Brennan Mulroe and Parker Niemann.

Running backs Nick Dangles and Brad Watson will get most of the carries behind quarterback Kyle Millner, who VanderKooi called a “physically strong kid.” Split end Adam Slattery also should be a threat.

“We’ve definitely got high expectations, especially coming off last year,” Benson said. “I think we should be good overall on offense and defense.”

Three starters return on defense: lineman Colin Mulroe (6-1, 200), cornerback Andy Hensel and safety Matt Sutor.

“We’re going to do well this year, but we’re going to have to work pretty hard to meet our goals,” said Colin Mulroe, a defensive lineman who wears No. 18 because “it’s my lucky number.”

The defense also will rely on linemen Mark Schade, Keegan McShane and Mitch Reitzner, along with linebackers Josh Hilt, Tom Demma and Gus Mendez.

A good sign for West is the increase in varsity players from 55 in 2010 to 68 this season.

“That breeds competition and the competition makes everyone better,” VanderKooi said. “That’s a good thing.”

West starts its season Saturday at Joliet Central before a home game against Crete-Monee. The SouthWest Suburban Red opener is Sept. 10 at Thornridge.

“Obviously, we want to battle for the conference championship and we think we’re going to be right in the mix,” VanderKooi said. “There’s probably six other teams that can, too. Every single week you’ve got a chance to play for a conference title. The kids are going to get sick of hearing me say it, but it’s true.”

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