JCA Announces 2024 Hall of Champions Athletics Class

(The following edited press release is from Sarah Szambelan, director of communications with Joliet Catholic Academy.)

JOLIET — Joliet Catholic Academy has announced its tenth Hall of Champions Athletics class, which continues to speak to the depth of tradition and talent on and off the playing fields that the Angels and Hilltoppers have produced over the years.

Our 2024 Hall of Champions Athletics Class inductees are: Carl Hunckler ’76; Joe Rodeghero ’72; Francis Ruettiger; Christie Seddon ’07; Gina Vera ’09; Pom National Champions ’86, ’87, ’88, ’90; Baseball State Champions ’94; Girls Volleyball State Champions ’03; and Football State Champions ’03. For more information on our inductees, please visit https://www.jca-online.org/hall-of-champions/.

Tickets to the Hall of Champions event are $50 per person which includes dinner, dessert, and drinks prior to the Induction Ceremony. Please contact Chris Voss, Director of Special Events at 815-741-0500 ext. 283 or by email at cvoss@jca-online.org for more information. For tickets, please visit https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=7ARr3y.

According to the write-up for Francis Ruettiger: "Everybody knows Francis Ruettiger. Almost nobody calls him Francis. Almost everybody calls him “Rudy.” And everybody loves him. Rudy lettered in three sports in high school, earning all-conference and all-area honors in football. He also wrestled and played baseball before graduating in 1972. In 1974, Rudy married Kathleen, his high school sweetheart, and founded the now-famous “Rudy’s Gym” in Shorewood. He worked as a police officer and detective for 28 years in Joliet, retiring in 2013."

As for Carl Hunckler: "As a three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball and football), he earned eight varsity letters and was a member of several conference championship teams along with the inaugural Football Championship Team of 1975. Upon his graduation from the Hill, Carl would follow legendary Coach Gordie Gillespie to the College of St. Francis where he would continue his academic and baseball careers.

"In 1989, Carl was hired at Naperville North as its Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Football Coach (under Larry McKeon) and Social Studies teacher. For 29 years, he worked at each of these positions until retirement in 2018. During his 38-year career, Carl was part of four state football championships and two summer league baseball championships. His teams combined won 595 baseball games. In 2008, Carl was inducted into the IHSBCA Coaches Hall of Fame."

As for Joe Rodeghero:

"The love of baseball, his players and his fellow coaches kept Joe Rodeghero coming back to coach season after season for 49 years. Coach Rod, as he is best known, spent 24 of those years as a Head Coach at area schools. He led the Hilltoppers from 1989-1996, amassing a record of 117 wins and 52 losses and bringing home a state championship (1994) and second place trophy (1990) during two of his most memorable seasons. From 2013-2024, he served as Joliet Catholic Academy’s Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach under Jared Voss, winning state championships in 2013, 2022 and 2023."

Joliet Catholic Academy cordially invites you to the 10th Annual Hall of Champions Athletics event, honoring our 2024 Champions class on Saturday, September 28, at 5:30 p.m. at the JCA Student Activity Center.

As for Christine Seddon:

"Christie Seddon was a three-sport athlete at Joliet Catholic Academy from 2003 – 2007. She earned four varsity letters in softball, three varsity letters in basketball, and two varsity letters in volleyball.

"She was a part of multiple regional championship teams in both softball and basketball. In 2005, Christie made the game winning buzzer beater shot against Joliet Township to send the Angels to the Sectional finals. She was also a contributor on the 4th place state finishing volleyball team in 2005 and the 3rd place team in 2006.

"Christie continued her softball career at University of Illinois Chicago (NCAA Division I) where she was a three-year starter for the Flames and held one of the team’s top fielding percentages in both 2010 and 2011."

As for Gina Vera: She "is a 2009 JCA graduate and four-year Angel volleyball player. She was a three-year varsity starter and served as co-captain, leading the team to win the 2008 3A Girls Volleyball State Championship. Gina earned a full athletic scholarship to Butler University where she served as both setter and co-captain on the Women’s Volleyball Team. Gina holds JCA school records in following areas: 1st in single season assists with 935, 1st in career assists with 1,631, and 8th in career service points with 450."