JUMP TO: ATTACK | DEFENSE | WEEK 1

There’s no secret recipe to ending a postseason drought, but the 2024 New Trier Trevians believe a roster full of experienced leaders, an influx of talented newcomers and a series of coaching changes on both sides of the ball are the right ingredients to return to success.

Despite missing the playoffs the past two seasons, the Trevians are energized heading into the new season. One of the main reasons for the increased optimism in Northfield is a roster shakeup that took place in the offseason.

After years of uncharacteristically subpar results, the Trevians spent the offseason looking for answers. And now the storied program is welcoming new playmakers on offense (head coach Brian Doll), defense (Jason Dane) and special teams (Stephen Spellman), as well as a new offensive line coach (Demetrios Vrettos) and defensive backfield coach (Christian Miller).

“The energy and fun around the program is really good right now,” said Doll. “There are just a lot of positive things happening.”

Another key difference the coaching staff has noticed with this year’s group is improved chemistry – on and off the field.

“I think the upper and lower classes have gotten along really well on and off the field, and I think that makes for a really good working atmosphere,” Doll said.

“Some of the new things we’re doing, offensively and defensively, the kids have really embraced it. It’s created excitement. And the same goes for the coaches. I would say there’s a new energy among the coaches in the offseason.”

Although the training camp in New Trier was marked by great enthusiasm, the Trevians know that they must start the season faster in order to turn the high expectations of the group from the previous season into reality.

The Trevs lost five of their first six games at the start of last season, nearly eliminating them from the playoffs before October even began. After a similarly slow start to 2022, the Trevs had to play catch-up all year before missing a chance to extend their season in the final week.

This year’s group is determined to reverse the trend of the last two campaigns.

“I think we really want to get off to a quick start here,” Doll said. “I think we’re very confident for the first four games. … We could and can be over .500 in the first four games. And so we want to find a way to get off to a good start and then carry that into the conference games.”

OOffense

New Trier’s offense will have one of the greatest luxuries a high school program could ask for in 2024: a returning starter at quarterback entering his third year.

Patrick Heneghan is back at center, making Doll’s return to refereeing all the more ideal this season.

Having Heneghan take the helm has given Doll “a lot of flexibility with the audibles,” he said, adding that the veteran gunslinger has reached the point in his development where “he can read my mind.”

Doll compared Heneghan’s understanding of the Trevians’ offense to that of former New Trier standout quarterback Clay Czyzynski.

Heneghan will be tasked with leading the Trevs’ offensive, which will reinvent itself in terms of personnel and strategy.

“I think you’re going to see us look a lot different in some areas offensively – and I think that’s exciting,” Doll said. “I think the kids are excited about it.”

“Some of the things we’re doing this year are very similar to college and pro teams and the way they handle things. And we were able to spend a lot of time in the offseason working on that.”

The Trevs plan to run a three-pronged attack out of the backfield, with Jayden Salazar, Colton Berg and Brady Peter leading the rushing attack. Expect Heneghan to show off his legs as well.

The size of the team’s running backs is one of the biggest surprises of the group, Doll said, noting that the trio will give New Trier an additional physicality in the backfield that it has not shown in recent years.

New Trier’s greatest offensive strength is likely to come from its wide receivers, led by senior Dylan Benjamin, who will play both offense and defense this season after a strong year in the Trevs’ defensive backfield in 2023.

The Trevians also project Ben Zieziula, Keefer Baxter, Will Miller and Alexander Fairchild (sophomore) to be key pass catchers.

New Trier’s offensive line is currently about “seven or eight men strong,” according to Doll, adding that this is “deeper than we normally operate.”

James Carp, Luca Ratarac, Joey Sheridan, Luke Mastros and Winston Malayter are expected to be an integral part of the unit’s line, according to Doll, who also noted that he was “really pleased with the improvement of the O-line compared to last year.” Doll credited Vrettos’ work in revitalizing the group.

Overall, the team’s management is convinced that they can achieve something very special on offense this year.

“I think our offense is going to fit the personnel really well this year, and I can’t wait,” Heneghan said. “There’s just so much excitement around the offense this year with new offensive personnel, a new O-line coach and a new coordinator. There’s just a lot of great things happening with this group. … And overall there’s a lot of diversification on offense.”

“I’m really excited for this season,” he added later. “I know the whole team is excited. The whole coaching staff is excited, and I would say the community should be excited, too.”

Defense/Special Teams

New Trier’s defense will feature a unit in 2024 that is a “smaller but faster group” than last year’s team, Doll said.

The Trevians’ linebacker staff “is a very interesting group,” Doll said. Berg, who was a standout tackler for New Trier last season, is back to lead the unit. In addition, the Trevians will look to John Morrison as a leader at the position.

Doll said one of the team’s biggest offseason surprises on defense was the signing of All-State lacrosse player Aaron Pressman.

“He’s a very dynamic athlete,” Doll said. “He’s one of the best athletes on our team. … He plays with attitude and grit, and that was just a blitz for us.”

In addition to Benjamin, senior CJ Donnelly is a leader in New Trier’s defensive backfield. The cornerback’s play has been one of the coaching staff’s “favorite surprises” throughout training camp.

“We’re really happy with the way he played corner and we love his energy and his attitude,” Doll said.

Salazar and Anthony Aguilar will lead New Trier’s defensive line.

Salazar, who played for the Trevs in the first team for three years, pointed out that while the loss of some of the key leaders of last year’s group, such as Liam Fitzgerald and Miles Cremascoli, will be challenging, it also “creates new opportunities for new players to prove themselves.”

“We have elite players on both sides of the ball … and these guys have been playing those positions almost flawlessly,” Salazar said. “So I’m confident in our teams on both sides of the ball, especially defense, because defense wins games.”

Niki Dugandzic, one of the best special teams players in the country, returns to the varsity team for his fourth year to lead New Trier’s special teams unit.

Dugandzic, who has committed to Northwestern University, has demonstrated both his excellent kicking and punting skills for the Trevs over the past three seasons. Dugandzic is the first special teams player Doll has chosen as a team captain.

Preview Week 1

The Hersey Huskies have handed New Trier back-to-back opening night losses over the past two seasons. Although the Trevs will get a break from the Arlington Heights 7A high-powered team this year, they will face another solid team in the Naperville North Huskies.

Naperville North made the postseason last year with six wins in the regular season, but the Huskies lost to Glenbard West in the opening round.

The Huskies will prove to be a difficult task for the Trevs in Week 1, as the team boasts a number of top-tier Division I talent in its ranks, including quarterback Jacob Bell, who has committed to Ball State, defensive lineman Gabriel Hill, who has offers from several Big Ten programs, and star wide receiver Quinn Morris.

“I think they’re a really talented team,” Doll said. “They obviously have a handful of Division I kids that everyone knows. We know they don’t have a lot of returners on defense from a starter perspective, and that doesn’t mean they don’t have great players there, but it’s going to be a little bit of a blind date with their defense.”

“Our schedule is getting more and more challenging, but we have to find a way to win the first game against a really good team,” Doll said.

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