June 25, 2025
Sports

High school football: Wheaton North fans can count on Luke Bennett, Falcons' 'D'

By BILL STONE
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Wheaton North's Luke Bennett gets his hands on the ball on Aug. 18 during practice. One of five returning starters, he is hoping to help the Falcons earn a playoff berth this season. (Mark Busch)

WHEATON – Wheaton North senior strong safety Luke Bennett is among five returning starters on the team this season. He recorded 34 tackles in 2015 with two tackles for loss. Bennett recently spoke with Suburban Life correspondent Bill Stone about playing strong safety, his role as a senior on the team and what will be the key to success this season as the Falcons look to migrate into the postseason.

Stone: What are the team strengths?

Bennett: We have a lot of talent. I've seen it in practice, the weight room. We have a great coaching staff that's fully supportive and gives great advice.

Stone: What do you enjoy about playing strong safety? 

Bennett: I'm right in between the linebackers and free safety so I get my nose in the runs and I also get to play the pass. It's fun that I get to fly around everywhere.

Stone: What is your role on the team this season?

Bennett: It's changed because last year free safety Nico Gubenko was a senior. Now I feel it's my personal job to step up and help lead the defense. Count on Me – that's kind of our phrase. I just feel like I need to be more bold.

Stone: What did you learn from starting in 2015?

Bennett: I really realized once you step onto the field, you're just playing football, just like any other level. Also I've learned that one of the most important things for being a leader is you have to have listening ears. You have to be humble, listen to what the coaches are saying and correct yourself.

Stone: Isn’t your twin brother, Jack, a wide receiver?

Bennett: He's older by 50 seconds. It's so fun. I love [being on the team with him]. We're very competitive on the field but very compatible off the field.

Stone: What will make this season successful?

Bennett: To make the playoffs. And I think we can go far in the playoffs.

Stone: What is the key to success?

Bennett: Accountability. Not only to just be able to count on one another on the field to make plays but also off the field.

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WHAT TO WATCH

NEW START: The past two seasons, the Falcons have finished 4-5 after starting 0-2. As a result, team goals are more short term. "All we've talked about is trying to do better than the previous day. If we do that and do our best, the results will bear out," Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski said. The key word is accountability behind the slogan Count on Me. "More importantly, we want the kids to realize that's something in life that they'll all want," Wardynski said.

SPECIAL SENIORS: Quarterback Luke Anthony is a two-time All-DuPage Valley Conference selection and 2015 Red Grange Award recipient after throwing for 1,735 yards and nine touchdowns. Danny Walker has verbally committed to Nevada and rejoins linebackers Erik Mueller, another Division I prospect, and Bo Neidballa after being injured last year. Luke Bennett and Bob Wall also started and Sam Singleton and Reese Dickinson rushed for 204 and 149 yards, respectively.

GETTING OFFENSIVE: Besides several new faces on offense, Wardynski is now the offensive coordinator after eight years as the Falcons' defensive coordinator and before that as an assistant coach for Wheaton Warrenville South. "It's kind of rejuvenated me. I've been doing defense for, gosh, 15 years," Wardynski said. "It's been fun to put an offense together and seeing the game from the other side."

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AT A GLANCE

Coach: Joe Wardynski

2015 record: 4-5 (4-4 DVC)

Conference: DuPage Valley

TOP RETURNERS

Luke Anthony sr. QB

Jack Bennett sr. WR

Luke Bennett sr. SS

Reese Dickinson sr. RB

Michael Gehl sr. WR

Keith Klein sr. OL

Jack Langan sr. WR

Andrew Lauber sr. WR

Ryan Lawlor sr. OL

Rhett Litavsky sr. DL

Jamal Moore sr. DB

Erik Mueller sr. LB

Bo Neidballa jr. LB

Harrison Rozwat sr. OL

Danny Walker sr. LB

Bob Wall sr. OT

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

Jackson Gray jr. DB

Sean King jr. DL

De’Quan Ramsey jr. DL

Romel Taylor jr. DB

Lavon Thomas sr. DL

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WEEK 1 MATCHUP

Who: WWS at Wheaton North

When: 7:30 p.m Aug. 26

Where: 1 Falcon Way, Wheaton

2015 records: WWS 2-7, North 4-5

Outlook: The Falcons lost to their longtime foes in the season opener last season and subsequently missed making the playoffs. A strong showing capped with a win in this one will go a long way top helping North get back to the postseason this fall.