Recently I was asked what I thought about Lockport coach Todd Elkei. I paused for a moment because a number of adjectives filled my brain.
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But the word “winner” stuck out most.
Whether it was building a program from scratch at Crete-Monee or turning Homewood-Flossmoor into a true state power, Elkei has been successful and left each program in better shape than when he inherited it.
In his first season at Lockport this spring, Elkei has the Porters off to a 9-3 start. That said, it’s important to note that Lockport has yet to win a big match this season.
But with Elkei at the helm that will change very soon — maybe as early as Tuesday night.
That’s when the Porters host H-F, marking the first time Elkei will face his former program, which he led to 165 victories between 2002-2010.
Led by Kelly Lewers, the Vikings (11-0) have the best record in the south suburbs. But just as was the case in the late 1990s, H-F hasn’t played the toughest schedule around. Unlike recent seasons that featured strong competition, only two of H-F’s 11 wins have come against teams with a .500 record or better. The Vikings also haven’t played anyone north of the Stevenson.
While the competitive juices will be flowing because of the opportunity to face their former coach, there’s no question the Vikings need to win this game to prove they are the best team in the south suburbs.
Did you know? Neuqua Valley (14-0) is trying to become the third team in Illinois history to finish the season with a perfect record and no ties. New Trier (30-0) in 2004 and Manteno (22-0) in 2009 are the two lone programs to accomplish the feat.
Email Joe Trost at [email protected]