From Downers Grove North to March Madness

Among the Trojans teammates pictured, Ryann Wendt (far left), Violet Mitchell (third from left), Maggie Fleming ( fourth from left), and Kate Gross (fifth from left) shared both friendship and success on the court.

Four former Trojans reunited on college basketball’s biggest stage

By Bill Esbrook

Call it serendipity, good fortune, or a happy twist of fate.

More likely, it’s a combination of talent, ambition, and a strong work ethic.

Ryann Wendt, Maggie Fleming, Kate Gross and Violet Mitchell were friends and teammates on the Downers Grove North varsity basketball team for several years between 2019 and 2022.

They all moved on to play the sport they love in college, and as the basketball gods may have decreed, each of their teams qualified for this year’s Division III March Madness tournament.

Smith College (Fleming), University of Chicago (Gross), Carroll University (Wendt) and Denison University (Mitchell) all earned their way into the field of 64, and each team achieved success.

“This was the second time in program history that we made it to the Elite Eight, and the furthest our team has gone in my college career. It was a great way to end my career.”

– Kate Gross

Carroll University and Smith College both won their opening game; University of Chicago triumphed in three contests before falling in the quarterfinals; and Denison went all the way, capturing the title with a 55-41 victory over Scranton in the championship game.

“That was truly a once-in-a-lifetime, something that I’ll never forget,” said Mitchell of the championship win. “There were so many incredible moments along the way.”

The quartet formed a close connection along the way at DGN, where they honed their skills on the court. They also played hoops together in the AAU program.

“I had so much fun being with the team,” said Gross of her high school days. “We spent so much time together playing pickup for fun during the summers or hanging out. Those were some of the best times of high school.”

Fleming added that “our relationships as teammates carried over into strong friendships off the court. I think our bonds were key to our success in basketball. I also feel really grateful to have had such a positive high school team culture.”

The foursome was able to get together and reconnect during the holidays this year, and Wendt said that “it was great to catch up, great to see everyone again.”

They’re reveling in the success of their studies, athletic endeavors, and college experiences, with their March Madness invitation as the cherry on top.

Despite increasing commitments as they advance in their lives and careers may intrude on regular get-togethers, they’ll still remember their days at DGN fondly and all the camaraderie and joy they felt when they took the court, especially on their home floor, for a varsity game.

And when asked what the noteworthy moments of their athletic careers as Trojans basketball players were, Wendt and Gross came up with some insightful answers. Instead of focusing on a big win or an outstanding individual performance, their replies were indicative of the fact that just being together as teammates was infinitely more important than a result or point total.

“(Just) spending time with my team off the court,” said Gross. “Going out to 7-11 or Speedway to get slurpees after summer practices was more memorable than any win or loss.”

Wendt felt exactly the same way.

“When I reflect on my Downers Grove North career,” she noted, “the most memorable moments are going to be the ones I spent with my teammates. Our friendships off the court are ones that will last for a long time. There are countless memories that will be cherished from spending four years with such great teammates and people.”

During their time in the Trojans program, Gross, Wendt, Fleming and Mitchell made a big contribution to an unprecedented run of success for DGN.

Over their four years on varsity, the team posted an outstanding mark of 83 wins against just 27 losses, including a record-setting 28 wins in the 2020 season. They also were sectional finalists in ‘20, and regional champions twice. (Note: one of their seasons, in ‘20/’21, was shortened due to Covid.)

“They were an incredibly important group for our program,” noted the group’s coach at DGN, Stephan Bolt. “They were talented players, but what really stood out was their leadership, work ethic, toughness, and the way they represented the program every day. Each of them brought something unique to our team, but together they formed the core of a group that elevated the expectations of what they could be. Off the court, they were outstanding role models for the younger players and helped create a culture built around accountability.”