Former Sandburg players Kim Wensits, Erin Colletti and Jacqie Storm, from left, returned as high school head coaches for a round-robin event in Orland Park on Monday, June 13, 2022. (Tony Baranek / Daily Southtown)

On June 13, Sandburg hosted a very cool girls basketball round-robin reunion.

Three former players for the Eagles — now head coaches in the Chicago area — brought their teams to Orland Park.

It was the brainchild of current Sandburg coach Nick Fotopoulos.

“We all sat down and talked about how we wanted to bring back some great alum coaches,” Fotopoulos said. “So, we put together this little shootout with them here at Sandburg.”

I sure wasn’t missing out on a chance to visit and reminisce with Naperville North coach Erin (Cattell) Colletti, Schaumburg coach Jacqie Storm and Yorkville coach Kim Wensits.

They had plenty of stories to tell. Dramatic stories? Nah. But totally fun ones, to be sure.

For Colletti, a 2005 graduate, just the trip to Sandburg brought back memories.

“While I was driving, I was talking to my husband about how weird it was to be back at my old stomping grounds,” Colletti said. “I don’t come around here anymore since my parents have moved away.

“I was looking forward to playing with ‘Jac’ and Kim and Fotopoulos and to have some fun hanging out.”

And, boy, was walking through the door like a breath of ... well, something.

“The smell is familiar,” Colletti said, laughing. “You remember scents. It brings you back.”

Naperville North coach Erin Colletti shouts encouragement to her players during a game at the Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest at Benet in Lisle on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. (Brian O'Mahoney / Naperville Sun)

Colletti’s legacy at Sandburg is a strong one. During her senior season, she was one of the leaders on the volleyball and basketball teams — both making it to state.

“It was truly an awesome experience,” Colletti said. “Nowadays, three-sport athletes are like dinosaurs. Two-sport athletes are even becoming extinct. You just feel you have to specialize sooner. Kids aren’t playing multiple sports anymore because of how heavy AAU is.

“Being able to have that experience was super fun. I felt super lucky to be a part of both teams.”

After Sandburg, Colletti went on to play basketball for Doug Bruno at DePaul. Her freshman season, the Blue Demons made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

Colletti started her coaching career on the lower levels for the Eagles. She has coached since 2011 in the Naperville North program. Since becoming head coach in 2019, the Huskies are 66-11, including an incredible 30-0 in conference.

Schaumburg coach Jacqie Storm, left, talks with her players Elliana Malley and Taline Abousamra during a summer league game at Montini on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (Tony Baranek / Daily Southtown)

Storm graduated in 2006 from Sandburg. She started along with Colletti on the 2004-05 team that advanced to state, going on to a four-year college career at St. Francis in Joliet.

Her coaching career has included stops at Sandburg, Romeoville and Gordon Tech. She’s been the head coach since 2016 at Schaumburg.

Storm and Colletti coached together for one season on the freshman level at Sandburg.

“We both wanted to be teachers,” Storm said. “We knew that pretty early on. That first year out of college, coaching the freshmen together under Chris Hellrung was really fun.

“After that season, we went our separate ways, but Erin and I remained best friends. We just went on vacation together the week before this. We play each other during the season.”

“Erin and I don’t look at each other during those games,” Storm said. “We’ll laugh or get mad.”

Wensits graduated in 2003 from Sandburg. She was a member of back-to-back regional champions her junior and senior seasons before playing at North Central College.

When you talk about being mentored by the best, Wensits learned from a pretty good group.

“Christine Bochnak was a very strong influence in my playing and my coaching career,” Wensits said. “So was Kathy Krueger. And coach Mary Pat Connolly from Marist, I had her for one year as well.”

Wensits’ future as a teacher and coach was an easy decision.

“I loved the sport, I loved math and I had very good coaches as influences along the way,” Wensits said. “I loved the impact they had on me. I just learned a lot of lessons. Now, I want to give the same thing to kids to come.”

Oh, by the way, Naperville North ended up as the champion of the round-robin tournament with a 3-0 record.

I guarantee, though, they all left feeling like winners.