Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact:  Mike Wajerski, SID

2002 Preview: Climbing the Ladder
  

Senior Pat Dunne and the Foresters
are ready to kick off the 2002 season.
LAKE FOREST, IL - While the 2001 Foresters' 4-4 Midwest Conference record and fifth-place finish in the league match the team's best output in 15 years, Head Coach Chad Eisele and the Foresters are looking for much more in 2002. "Now that we have moved into the top half of the conference," he explains, "we are even more determined to take the next step and become one of the league's elite teams." To take that next step, Eisele's squad will look to improve in all three phases of the game, but will also welcome back key players in each area.

On defense, First-Team All-MWC middle linebacker Casey Urlacher (younger brother of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher) will be back for his senior season after setting a school record with 125 tackles. In 2001, the Foresters recorded 91 tackles for loss, the second-highest total in school history. Four players reached double-figures in tackles for loss, three had at least 4 sacks, and eight intercepted at least one pass.

The Foresters' offense, in its first year under the direction of coordinator Brent Holsclaw, spreads out opposing defenses with multiple formations and creates big play opportunities for each of the skill positions. The 2001 team passed for more yards than any other in school history. Four different players caught at least 30 passes and gained at least 350 yards, including returning senior Mike Fitzgerald, who is averaging more than 15 yards per reception for his career.

Lake Forest's special teams unit was just that - special - in 2001. Pat Dunne was an All-MWC First-Team selection at kicker and a Second-Team choice at punter. Dunne will enter his senior season with a school record 16 career field goals, including three over 40 yards, and an average of 38.2 yards per punt. He was not the only special teams player to score in 2001, as two Foresters ran kick-offs back for touchdowns.

With a traditionally strong defense, a record-setting offense that is just starting to grasp the new system, and a sound kicking game, the Foresters are poised to continue their climb toward the top of the Midwest Conference standings.