CSNChicago.com preps reporter "Edgy" Tim O’Halloran spotlights 100 high school football teams in 100 days. The first 75 team profiles will focus on teams making strides across Chicagoland and elsewhere in the state. Starting Aug. 1, we’ll unveil the @CSNPreps Top 25 Power Rankings, leading up to kickoff on Friday, Aug. 26. You can view Edgy Tim's other football previews here.
School: Wheeling Wildcats
Head coach: Brent Pearlman
Assistant coaches: Miles Osei, Steve Hull, Joe Rupp, Mike Kamedula, Eric Shinhoster, Vince Ray, Marcus Zusevics, Joe Wolinski, Pete Panagakis, Chad Scoggins.
How they fared in 2015: 4-5 (4-1) Mid Suburban East Conference. Wheeling failed to qualify for the 2015 IHSA state football playoffs.
Biggest storyline in 2016: With 16 starters back from 2015 in the fold, could this be the year for the Wildcats?
Names to watch this season: QB Jaylen Dennis, RB/R Jason Shannon
Biggest holes to fill: Wheeling has experience all over the field, but do they have enough depth to make a serious run in the Mid Sub East and beyond?
EDGY's early take: Veteran head coach Brent Pearlman has had Wheeling knocking on the playoff door since taking over the Wildcats program in 2012. This year Wheeling knocks down that door and finds a way to become state playoff bound.