Nine Lemont Student-Athletes Make College Commitments

LEMONT, IL — Nine Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to play collegiately beginning in fall 2025, according to a release from the school. They include women’s bowler Claire Young (Aurora University); football players Nevan Bufka (Illinois Wesleyan University), Chase Indestad (Olivet Nazarene University), Chase LeFevers (McKendree University) and Jake Sulzberger (United States Air Force Academy); men’s soccer players Tyler Chrisman (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) and Billy Eliadis (Upper Iowa University); and women’s volleyball players Izabella Kowalczyk (Aurora University) and Sophia Swiderski (Morton College).

Lemont High School provided information on the student athletes below:

Nevan Bufka – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters, including two playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 23-10 record over three seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and three IHSA Playoff berths
• Defensive back who totaled 59 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass breakups and one fumble recovery in his career
• Suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener as a senior in 2024
• Lemont went 6-4, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Moved into the starting line-up as a junior in 2023, earning All-SSC accolades
• Earned Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Academic All-State honors
• Made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Also lettered in track and field and was an alternate on the team’s 4 x 400 state qualifier in 2023
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Jared Williamson at Illinois Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Bloomington, and is a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.

Tyler Chrisman – Career Highlights

• Earned four varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen
• Four-year starter in the midfield who helped Lemont to a composite 55-25-17 record, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles, three IHSA Regional crowns, and one state trophy
• Four-time All-SSC honoree who totaled 87 points on 18 goals and a school-record 51 assists over four seasons
• Ranks fourth on Lemont’s career games played list (96) and is tied for second in career starts (94)
• Led the team in assists four straight years and owns two of Lemont’s top five single-season assist totals
• Is Lemont boys’ soccer’s first-ever two-time Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State honoree
• Repeated as an IHSSCA All-State selection as a senior in 2024, and became the program’s second United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest selection
• Earned All-SSC accolades after totaling a career-high 25 points on five goals and a career-best 15 assists
• His assist total ranks third on the program’s single-season list, while his 1954 minutes played are fourth all-time
• Team captain who also picked up all-area honors from the Joliet Herald News and Daily Southtown
• Lemont posted the best season in school history, setting a school record for wins while finishing 23-5-1
• It also won the SSC Blue with its 10-1 league record
• Captured IHSA Regional, IHSA Sectional and IHSA Super-Sectional crowns and earned the program’s first state trophy with a fourth-place finish at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A State Finals
• Has played club soccer for Galaxy Soccer Club and Sockers FC
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Tony Guinn at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Billy Eliadis – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Rick Prangen
• Two-year starter in the midfield who helped Lemont to a composite 37-9-8 record, as well as a South Suburban Conference-Blue Division title, two IHSA Regional crowns, and one state trophy
• Totaled 38 points on 16 goals and six assists over two seasons
• Earned All-SSC accolades as a senior in 2024
• Posted career highs with 11 goals, five assists and 27 points, and tied a program record with 28 starts
• Was second on the team in points and tied for second in goals scored
• Lemont posted the best season in school history, setting a school record for wins while finishing 23-5-1
• It also won the SSC Blue with its 10-1 league record
• Captured IHSA Regional, IHSA Sectional and IHSA Super-Sectional crowns and earned the program’s first state trophy with a fourth-place finish at the 2024 IHSA Class 2A State Finals
• Plays club soccer for Galaxy Soccer Club
• Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Jason Carlson at Upper Iowa University, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Fayette, Iowa, and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Chase Indestad – Career Highlights

• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 11-10 record over two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Playoff berths
• Two-year starter at offensive guard
• Lemont averaged 36.7 points per game in SSC Blue play during his senior year in 2024
• Lemont went 6-4, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2023, as Lemont averaged 36.7 points per game in the SSC Blue
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Avante Mitchell at Olivet Nazarene University, an NAIA institution that is located in Bourbonnais, and is a member of the Mid-States Football Association.

Izabella Kowalczyk – Career Highlights

• All-conference performer who earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Outside hitter who helped Lemont to a composite 56-19 record in two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and an IHSA Regional crown
• Averaged 2.15 kills and 1.51 digs per game over 99 career games
• Totaled 213 kills, 140 digs and 21 blocks during her career
• Cited with All-SSC honors and was an Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior in 2024
• Led the team with a career-high 202 kills, was third on the team with 140 digs, and added 21 blocks
• Tabbed with team’s “Best Hitter” honors and was named to the Metea Valley All-Tourney team
• Named to the IVCA All-Academic Team
• Lemont was 30-8, won both the SSC Blue and an IHSA Regional title, and was an IHSA Sectional Runner-Up
• Appeared in a limited role while making her varsity debut in 2023
• Cited with American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team Best and Brightest honors
• Plays club volleyball for 1st Alliance Volleyball Club
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach James Seitelman at Aurora University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Aurora, and is a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Chase LeFevers – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters, including two playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 23-10 record over three seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and three IHSA Playoff berths
• Saw significant action on both sides of the ball during his career
• Suffered a season-ending injury in the summer before his senior season in 2024
• Lemont went 6-4, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Served as a starting wide receiver as a junior in 2023
• Made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Also has competed on the track and field team
• Will play for head coach Jason Refjek at McKendree University, an NCAA Division II institution that is located in Lebanon, and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Jake Sulzberger – Career Highlights

• Earned three varsity letters, including two playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Helped Lemont to a composite 23-10 record over three seasons, as well as three South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and three IHSA Playoff berths
• Three-year starter and two-time all-conference honoree as an offensive tackle
• Cited with Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State honors as a senior in 2024
• Team captain who was tabbed with team MVP and All-SSC accolades
• Also received all-area mentions from Suburban Life, the Joliet Herald News, and the Daily Southtown, and was a Champaign News-Gazette all-state selection
• Led the team with 106 knockdowns, allowed just one sack, and was not penalized for holding
• Repeated as an IHSFCA Academic All-State honoree
• Lemont went 6-4, captured the SSC Blue, and qualified for the IHSA Class 6A Playoffs
• Earned All-SSC honors as a junior in 2023
• Cited as an IHSFCA Academic All-State selection and was a Suburban Life all-area performer
• Made his varsity debut as a sophomore in 2022
• Also participated on the school’s baseball and wrestling teams
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Troy Calhoun at the United States Air Force Academy, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision institution that is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is a member of the Mountain West Conference.

Sophia Swiderski – Career Highlights

• All-conference performer who earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Outside hitter who helped Lemont to a composite 56-19 record in two seasons, as well as two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and an IHSA Regional crown
• Averaged 1.83 kills and 1.11 digs per game over 167 career games
• Totaled 306 kills, 185 digs, 55 service aces and 28 blocks during her career
• Cited with All-SSC honors and was an IllinoisPrepVolleyball.com Special Mention All-State selection as a senior in 2024
• Also earned all-area recognition from the Daily Southtown
• Was third on the team with a career-high 188 kills, second on the team with a career-high 50 service aces, and added 134 digs
• Tabbed with the team’s “Best Server” honors, as well as with the inaugural Lemont 16 Award
• Lemont was 30-8, won both the SSC Blue and an IHSA Regional title, and was an IHSA Sectional Runner-Up
• Moved into the starting line-up as a junior in 2023
• Appeared in four games while making her varsity debut in 2022
• Plays club volleyball for Belusa United Volleyball Club
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Steve Dowjotas at Morton College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II institution that is located in Cicero, and is a member of the Skyway Conference.

Claire Young – Career Highlights

• Earned four letters bowling for head coach Mark Hollatz
• Led the team in average four straight seasons
• Twice qualified as an individual to compete at the IHSA State Finals
• Earned All-South Suburban Conference-Blue Division honors twice
• Served as a team captain as a senior in 2025
• Placed third individually at the SSC Meet and helped Lemont to a third-place finish in the team standings
• Was eighth individually in IHSA Regional competition, and sixth individually in IHSA Sectional play
• Posted a career-best state finals finish of 49th after totaling 2,225 pins over 12 games (185.4 average)
• Was named a team captain as a junior in 2024
• Earned All-SSC honors as a sophomore in 2023
• Made her varsity debut as a freshman in 2022 and helped the team to a fourth-place finish at the SSC Meet
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will bowl for head coach Rich McElmeel at Aurora University, an NCAA Division III institution that is located in Aurora, and is a bowling member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.