Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact:  Mike Wajerski, SID

2004 Preview: Keep it Going
  

Senior Nick Hildreth is four receptions away from breaking the career school record
LAKE FOREST, IL - While there is plenty of tradition and success in the history of Forester football, the program has not strung together consecutive seasons like the 2002 and 2003 campaigns in a long time and there does not appear to be an end to the team’s most recent run of success in the near future. In 2004 the team will return the majority of its 2003 starting lineup on both sides of the ball, as well as numerous reserves that made significant contributions to the 7-3 season.

“We were confident that our conference championship season of 2002 was not going to be our only good year,” recalls Head Coach Chad Eisele. “We built the program to be an annual contender and I think our performance the last two seasons showed that. I’m looking forward to many more victories in the next few years and continuing the winning tradition.”

Among the offensive players expected to return in 2004 is Nick Hildreth, the team’s leading receiver. Hildreth caught 41 passes for 603 yards and four touchdowns last season and ranks second in school history with 116 career receptions and fifth with 1,486 yards and 11 touchdowns. “Nick has been a consistent performer for us for three seasons,” comments Eisele. “He’s on pace to become the program’s all-time leader in both receptions and yards and I’m looking forward to him reaching those marks.”

The Forester defense, led by David Bleitner and Drew Holman, ranked 15th in the nation in rushing yardage, 23rd in total yardage, and 22nd in scoring. Bleitner’s 15.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss were both school records and among the top five totals in the country. Holman, who picked off a school record seven passes in 2002, added four more last season, including a school record-tying three in one game. “David and Drew have made some big plays over the last few seasons,” Eisele recalls. “Now we’re asking them to take on leadership roles and I’m confident they’ll succeed in that area as well.”

A dozen Foresters earned All-Midwest Conference honors and Bleitner was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American. Half of those 12 are expected to lead the 2004 squad to a third straight winning season and, perhaps, even another conference title.