Dean's list

Prep reporter Dean Spiros compiles a week's worth of news and notes:

Last update: November 12, 2007 - 11:36 PM

Alum inspires Islanders

The DeLaSalle football team received encouraging words from a well-known alumnus before its playoff victory over Rochester Lourdes last week. Bob Wetoska, who went on to play at Notre Dame before spending 10 seasons with the Bears, traveled from his home in the Chicago suburbs to pay a visit to the school.

"I thought I was going to give a little pep talk to the team," Wetoska said. "It ended up being a full-blown pep rally in front of the entire student body. I made it through somehow."

Wetoska, 70, is Chairman of the Board of Wetoska Packaging Distributors in Elk Grove Village, Ill. After years of building a pro career, a family and a business, Wetoska said he recently has become more in tune with the goings-on at DeLaSalle.

"When you get up in years, you look back at what you have accomplished," Wetoska said. "And where it all started -- DeLaSalle."

To that end, Wetoska is interested in making a financial commitment to the school to help DeLaSalle students in the future.

"I'd like to give some kids the same opportunities I have had," Wetoska said. "The student body is quite diverse, and the school is a lot more expensive than it was when I went there."

Wetoska was teammates with Paul Hornung at Notre Dame. He played alongside the likes of Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus with the Bears, and won an NFL championship in 1963. But he told the students at DeLaSalle the most talented team he ever played for was the 1952 DeLaSalle Islanders.

Wetoska was a sophomore offensive tackle on that team, which featured future Gophers stars Bob Rasmussen and Dave Burkholder.

"That team was a juggernaut," Wetoska said. "We not only were undefeated, I don't think we were even scored on. We didn't have the opportunity to play in the state tournament because it didn't even exist at that time."

Recruiting trail

• Washburn junior tight end/defensive end Ra'Shede Hageman has received attention from some Division I football programs. Hageman said Notre Dame has made a school visit, and the Gophers, Wisconsin and Iowa also have made contact. Hageman (6-6, 240 pounds) also plays basketball for the Millers and is hopeful of getting a scholarship in one of the sports.

"I don't want to focus on [the attention] right now because I don't want it to go to my head," Hageman said. "I have something to look forward to, so I'm hitting the books real hard."

• Burnsville senior cross-country star Rob Finnerty, who completed an unbeaten season by winning the Class 2A state title, has narrowed his college list to two schools: Minnesota and Wisconsin. Finnerty, who also visited Oregon, plans to decide soon. "Hopefully in a couple weeks," he said.

Finnerty said he does not have a favorite, which is part of the problem. "It goes back and forth every day," he said. "There are a lot of things I like about both places."

Strong showing

The Wayzata boys' cross-country team, running as a club, has qualified for the Nike Team National Cross Country Championships on Dec. 1 in Portland, Ore. The Trojans, Class 2A state champions, defeated state champions from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Class A champion Perham in the qualifying meet last Saturday.

Familiar face

Hopkins wrestling coach Pat Marcy reports Marcus LeVesseur has joined his staff as an assistant coach. LeVesseur replaces Troy Elmore, who accepted the head coaching position at Eden Prairie. Marcy was Augsburg's first national champion (1971). LeVesseur won four NCAA Division III titles at Augsburg (2003-05, 2007).

Dean Spiros • dspiros@startribune.com