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WCFL History
The Willow Creek Football League (WCFL) evolved from the Northwest Suburban Football League. The NWSFL was created by Bob Boldog, Sr. who was an elder at Meadows Baptist Church. Bob would have a Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl with members of the church participating. There was such a good turn out at these Turkey bowls that Bob decided to start an inter-church two hand touch league which had its first season in 1985. The league had approximately 12 teams from different churches in the Chicagoland northwest suburbs. These churches included, Rolling Meadows Baptist, Arlington Heights Evangelical Free Church, Christian Life Church of Mt. Prospect, Calvary Chapel of Elk Grove, Harvest Bible Church, Cumberland Baptist Church of Mt Prospect, and of course Willow Creek.
Bob Boldog stepped down as commissioner in 1991 and asked Bill Hoffman to take over leadership of the NWSFL. Having been involved in the sports ministry at Willow Creek, Bill thought that God could do a tremendous work in men's football league and approached Len VandenBos, the director of sports ministry at Willow Creek, about merging the NWSFL with Willow Creek and forming it's own league. Len approved of the idea in 1995. NWSFL brought approximately 10 teams which included the Panthers, Falcons (current), Raiders (current), Bears, Chiefs (current formally Broncos) and Buccaneers. Bill sought the help of some key league players and created a "leadership team" for the league establishing five different committees to oversee the planning and activities of the league.
During the first years the WCFL played on what is now the Willow Creek parking lot (it was grass then). The first 2 years we did not have a Willow Creek pastor assigned to our league, which made things very difficult. Mike Zachman was assigned to our league in 1997 and assisted in forming a core ministry team for the league and focusing the league to have a ministry focus. In 1998, Dan DeVries was then assigned to replace Zachman as the sports ministry pastor and was a tremendous help in instilling the vision of sports ministry and establishing the coaching role which set the table for the future.
One of the highlights from the 90's included annual banquets where individual players received trophies as well as the championship team trophy. Gifted speakers such as former Bears Quarterback Steve Strenstrom and Mike Singletary shared stories from their football and life trials. During the 90's, the WCFL fluctuated between 12 teams to 24 teams and the games changed from one field on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons to three fields on Saturday. For two years we were also able to have a refreshment tent where hotdogs, chips, pop, Gatorade etc. were sold to raise funds for the youth group.
The rules and refs have changed over the years as well. Originally the league was two hand touch but this was changed to flag during the early 90s. Teams used to have two players arrive early and ref the game before their own game but that evolved into developing a core group of guys who refereed, many who also played on teams. In 1998 and 1999 we outsourced the refs with paid IHSA referees. This proved to us what a good job our old guys did as the hired refs were no better and in many cases worse than the ones we had trained and developed.
During the 1999 season Bill passed the baton to Doug Zirkel who worked side by side with Dan until the winter of 2001 when Dan announced he was moving on. Then we met Tony Schwartz. The first time the leaders met in the off season, Tony cast a vision when he taught from Mark 2:1-12 about the guys who lowered their crippled buddy through the roof to be healed by Christ. Tony explained that these men were just a bunch of guys who were just trying to be creative in trying to get their buddy close to Christ. They knew if they could just get their buddy close to Christ...good things would happen. Tony explained that this is what sports ministry boils down to. The enthusiasm in that room just about boiled over as we committed ourselves to the ministry.
Tony's goal from there was simple. Find 5 really committed coaches to build everything around. Tony coached the coaches how to build into our captains and introduced the Bold Challenge that year as an every other week deal, culminating with a Gospel presentation where Tony gave guys a chance to accept Christ. By most accounts, nearly 30 men prayed to accept Christ into their hearts that day.
After the 2001 season a pivotal meeting had already been planned for January 2002 where we were opening up the opportunity for more people to have input into the league leadership. We developed committees and assigned Committee chairs. Tamie McCarrol led the Social Committee, Chas Gerstung the Competition Committee, Dale Meske the Fields and Referee Committee and Anastasia/Brian Lis the Evangelism Committee. This was huge in getting more people involved as well as taking the moment by moment work load off Doug. Little did we know how needed that was going to be as we also wound up making the surprise announcement that Tony Schwartz was moving on.
Thirty two people showed up for that January meeting and most wound up on a committee, a captain or holding some leadership post. Since Willow was going through difficult times, it was a real possibility that the football league would need to fold but the overwhelming enthusiasm for the league proved enough to keep the league in operation! Without a Division Leader Doug assumed the role of keeping the core together until Dave Worley was added in July of 2002 and the league ultimately transitioned to his leadership. Brian Lis was identified as a key leader and asked to be the apprentice leader.
This was also the first year that WCFL was divided into an "A" and a "B" league which proved to be a good idea for the competitiveness of individual games. Towards the end of the season it was announced that Doug Zirkel would be stepping down and Brian and Anastasia Lis took over as co-league directors. In addition to Brian and Anastasia, the leadership team currently includes Charlie Gerstung who oversees competition and Chris Whittenhall who heads up the refs. In their first year they initiated winter ball which was a great way to provide fellowship during the off season. Dave Worley led six different small groups which provided an arena for personal and spiritual growth.
2004 season sees the return of the leadership team and coaches with the exception of Jeff Geisel who moved out of state and will be missed. Willow Creek has added further support to the league by providing a new full time division leader over the WCFL, Jon Peacock. Jon is a gifted speaker/leader that was involved with Athlete's in Action. Jon also played division 1 baseball at Kentucky University. Also, Mike Hurn has signed on in hopes to starting another league in the Saint Charles area. Mike is the current Chaplin for the Chicago Rush. The WCFL seeks to provide a safe place for physical and spiritual growth during 2004 regular fall season and 2005 Winterball and Spring Tournament. |
Past Champions
1990 Raiders |
