Patch Picks: Five Student-Athlete Standouts

These five and high school athletes each made an impression this fall. Here's a look back at their highlights:

1. , Hinsdale South tennis

Warpecha, a senior, has played tennis for 10 years—if you don't count her sitting out the 2009 season after back surgery. Despite the setback, Warpecha, who was a two-time state qualifier going into her senior season, managed to help propel her team to a first-place tie with Downers Grove South this past week for the Hornets' . Warpecha and partner Andrea Wakim won No. 1 doubles in the championship match against Downers Grove South's Amy Evan and Tiffany Bui. Coach Dana Graczyk has nothing but praise for Warpecha's attitude.

“She’s the hardest worker on the team," Graczyk said. "She’s really come back strong in practice this year. She’s a good kid and a good student.” 

2. , Hinsdale Central football

Owens, the Red Devils' junior quarterback, helped lead his team to a 23-13 victory over Downers Grove North last weekend, allowing Hinsdale Central to take possession of the Old Oaken Bucket and solidify their spot in the playoffs. Owens completed 18 of 28 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns during the game at Dickinson Field. The win was especially sweet for the Red Devils, as it took place on Senior Night and was the last regular season home game of the year. 

“Brian’s been playing great,” Hinsdale Central head coach Rich Tarka said after the game. “He’s a leader out there; he knows the offense as well as anybody—[including] the coaches.”

3. , Hinsdale South football

Running back Hall's performance in the Hornets' Homecoming game helped usher in the team's 42-0 blowout victory against the Morton Mustangs on Oct. 7. He rushed for 206 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also started off the game on the right foot with a 36-yard run on the Hornets' first offensive play of the night. South's head coach, Michael Barry, was pleased with the performance of Hall and his fellow Hornets. 

“The thing I'm most pleased with is that we've gotten better as the season has gone on, and we were able to execute in all three phases of the game,” Barry said. “At this point of the season, that's what you're really striving to do. Now, we've got to keep on doing it.”

4. , Hinsdale South cross country

Junior Longoria was Hinsdale South cross country's only returning starter this fall, and managed to finish ninth in a late-September meet against Downers Grove South and Morton. Longoria has been running since he was in fifth grade and saw his brother participate in cross country. He also runs the 1-mile and the 2-mile on the track team during the spring. Longoria commits a lot of time to running.

"On a normal training day I run 6-7 miles," he said. "On the long days we [the team] run up to 10 miles."

5. , Hinsdale Central cross country

Owens is a senior at Hinsdale Central who has been a member of the cross country and track teams since his freshman year. He is currently one of five senior captains for the cross country team, and also cultivates his love of sports by writing for the sports section of the school's newspaper, the Devil's Advocate. Owens and his teammates, who finished 15th in last year's state meet, are looking forward to the state series on November 4. 

"I'm definitely looking forward to [the state meet]," he said. "It's been a goal of ours for a long time to run well our senior year at the state meet. It's sort of a culminating experience."