South Cook News

Four Lemont football players make college commitments 

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Four Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to play college football beginning in Fall 2022. They include Mack Indestad (Eastern Michigan University), Albert Kunickis (Northwestern University), Martin Milan (Aurora University) and Michael Stricker (Olivet Nazarene University).

All four played key roles as head coach Bret Kooi’s team rattled off an 11-game win streak to open the 2021 season, won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division title, earned the top seed in the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs, and advanced to the IHSA Quarterfinal round. Lemont finished the season 11-1 overall, which included a 6-0 mark in SSC Blue play. Each of the four also played in the shortened Spring 2021 season, as Lemont posted a 3-2 record.

Mack Indestad – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters

• At 6’7”, was an imposing figure at the left tackle position

• Repeated as an All-SSC performer as a senior in Fall 2021

• Posted 60 pancake blocks while permitting just two quarterback hurries

• Helped Lemont average more than 45 points per game

• The team scored 40 or more points in 10 of 12 contests

• Moved into the starting line-up as a junior during the Spring 2021 season and earned All-SSC accolades

• Honor Roll student

• Will play for head coach Chris Creighton at Eastern Michigan University, a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution that is located in Ypsilanti, Mich., and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Creighton has led the Eagles to four bowl appearances in eight seasons. The Eagles went 7-6 in 2021 and played in the LendingTree Bowl.

Albert Kunickis – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters

• Scored 33 touchdowns in just 17 career varsity games and averaged 8.6 yards per carry as a running back

• Enjoyed one of the most dominant statistical seasons in school history as a senior in Fall 2021

• Tabbed as the SSC Player of the Year and was cited to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State First Team

• Also was named as an all-area performer by the Joliet Herald News and Suburban Life, and as an honorable mention all-state honoree by the Champaign News Gazette

• Totaled 1,393 yards on 153 carries (9.1 yards per carry) while rushing for 22 touchdowns

• Added 14 catches for 169 yards (12.1 yards per catch) and two receiving scores

• Did not fumble once over 167 touches as a senior

• Totaled 256 yards rushing and scored six touchdowns as Lemont set a single-game record for scoring in a 73-36 win in the second round of the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs

• Also converted 19 extra points and one field goal

• Earned All-SSC honors as a junior during the Spring 2021 season

• Totaled 363 yards on 50 carries (7.3 yards per carry) and scored eight times on the ground

• Also added seven catches for 54 yards (7.7 yards per catch) with a receiving touchdown

• Converted on 18 extra points and one field goal

• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student

• Will play for head coach Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern University, a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) institution that is located in Evanston, Ill., and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Fitzgerald is Northwestern’s all-time winningest coach, with 109 victories over 16 seasons. He has guided the Wildcats to ten bowl appearances and two Big Ten West Division titles.

Martin Milan – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters

• Was a solid contributor as a defensive back as a senior in Fall 2021

• Totaled 24 tackles (16 solo), which included two tackles-for-loss

• Led the squad with five pass breakups, recovered two fumbles, and returned an interception for a touchdown

• Also averaged 34.8 yards on 21 punts, with a long punt of 53 yards

• High Honor Roll student

• Will play for head coach Don Beebe at Aurora University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Aurora, Ill., and is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. An NFL veteran who played in six Super Bowls combined with Buffalo and Green Bay, Beebe has posted a 20-5 record in three seasons and led the Spartans to three NACC titles and two NCAA Division III playoff appearances. Aurora went 8-3 last season.

Michael Stricker – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters

• Contributed primarily on the defensive line, but also saw time on the offensive line during his career

• Dealt with injuries as a senior for much of the Fall 2021 season, but returned to make an impact in the playoffs

• Collected 13 tackles (seven solo), which included 7.5 tackles-for-loss, and added two sacks

• In three playoff games, he racked up 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks

• Moved into a starting role on the defensive line as a junior during the Spring 2021 season

• Earned All-SSC accolades after totaling 23 tackles (eight solo) and one sack

• High Honor Roll student

• Will play for head coach Eric Hehman at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA institution that is located in Bourbonnais, Ill., and is a member of the Mid-States Football Association. Hehman has led the Tigers to 37 wins in six seasons, and was tabbed as the 2020 conference coach of the year after guiding his squad to an NAIA Playoff appearance. The Tigers went 7-3 last season.