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Top 10 Stories of 2025: No. 4 St. Laurence Makes History with First-Ever 3A State Title

December 26, 2025
Kai Formella
IL/WI Content Writer

Despite consistently fielding some of the top teams in the state over the last decade, the State Title had somehow managed to still elude the Vikings. This year was different, as St. Laurence carried an 11-game winning streak all the way to the State Finals, where they defeated Benet Academy 8-5 to capture the program’s first-ever 3A State Championship.

The Vikings were powered by a balanced roster featuring standout pitching and timely hitting. Anchoring the offense were standout two-way player OF/RHP Cory Les (2026; Louisville) and dynamic middle infielder SS Mickey Lotus (2026; Lewis). Les played a major role on both sides of the ball, slashing .345/.490/.664 with 16 doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 37 RBIs to earn Second Team All-State honors. He also contributed on the mound as a reliever, closing out multiple games  for the Vikings during the regular season and playoffs. Lotus was a major threat anytime he got on base, stealing 41 bases over the course of the season. He ended the season with a slash line of .513/.619/.628 with seven doubles and 27 RBIs to earn First Team All-State honors.

The Vikings also benefitted from several other key players in the lineup, including CIF Connor Marino (2025; Wisconsin-Stout), INF Benjamin Geary (2025; South Suburban JC), C Enrique Villanueva (2025; South Suburban JC), 3B Daniel Coyle (2026; Lewis), 1B Adrian Perez (2026; South Suburban), and OF Danny Donovan (2026; Wisconsin-Parkside), all of whom provided significant offensive production and steady defense throughout the season.

On the mound, the Vikings were led by sophomore standout LHP Jimmy Benson (2027; Texas Christian), who tossed 57.1 innings with a 11-1 record, 1.09 ERA, and 71 strikeouts to earn Second Team All-State honors. Supporting him were RHP John Strzechowski (2026; Lake Land JC), LHP Samuel Chin (2026; Ball State), and RHP Ryan Wollschlager (2026; Pepperdine), all of whom provided valuable innings and are expected to continue making a strong impact this season.

This Viking squad returns a wealth of talent and adds a few intriguing newcomers, including C Tristan Steger (2027; Kentucky) and OF Jacob Hite (2028; Uncommitted), who are expected to provide added value to the lineup. With this mix of experience and fresh talent, St. Laurence is positioned to be a team to watch for the 3A title again this spring.

To read more about the 3A State Champs, click HERE.

Below you’ll find our game story from the Vikings’ victory in June:

3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

The 3A State Finals took place Saturday afternoon between St. Laurence and Benet Academy, with St. Laurence claiming the 2025 3A State Title with an 8-5 win. 

St. Laurence wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring two runs in the top of the first. 3B/RHP Daniel Coyle (2026) tallied an RBI single to start things off, scoring DH Connor Marino (2025; UW-Stout). 1B Adrian Perez (2026) rounded out the scoring in the inning with an RBI single into centerfield scoring CF Cory Les (2025; Louisville).

Benet would tie things up the very next half-inning. CF Josh Gugora (2025; Illinois Wesleyan) hit an RBI double scoring 3B Merrick Sullivan (2025; Ithaca). 1B Quinn Rooney (2027) would then round out the inning's scoring with an RBI fielder's choice scoring RF Luke Wildes (2025; St. Johns River State College). 

In the top of the third, the Viking' offense would erupt for three runs. SS Ben Geary (2025; South Suburban JC), C Enrique Villanueva (2025; South Suburban JC), and LF Orlando Vazquez (2026) all had RBI in the inning.

Benet would draw within one run of the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Quinn Rooney would lead off the inning with a long solo homer out to right field, then LF Niko Schaefer (2025; Augustana) would come around to score on a wild pitch later in the inning to bring the score to 5-4 in favor of St. Laurence. 

The Redwings would tie things up in the bottom of the fifth when Josh Gugora would hit an RBI double to score Merrick Sullivan. 

In the top of the sixth, the Vikings would regain the lead when Daniel Coyle would rip a loud RBI double to deep left field, scoring 2B Mickey Lotus (2026) who singled and stole second earlier in the inning. The Vikings would play add-on in the top of the seventh when Enrique Villanueva would hit an RBI single, and RF Danny Donovan (2026) would hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the Vikings eighth and final run of the game.

Daniel Coyle would then finish the game out on the mound, getting a groundout to short to end the game and give the Vikings the title. 

With the win, the Vikings finish 2025 with an outstanding record of 37-5. With the defeat, the Redwings finish 2025 with a record of 27-13.

THIRD PLACE GAME

Triad defeated Cary-Grove 3-1 on Saturday morning to claim third place in the state's 3A classification. The Knights received stellar pitching performances from RHPs Drew Winslow (2025; Oklahoma State) and Nolan Keller (2026) in the win. 

Winslow earned the win, allowing just one run over three and two-thirds innings of work, scattering three hits and one walk, while striking out four. Keller came out of the 'pen and completed the final three and a third innings, alsop scattering three hits and one walk, while punching out three. 

The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when 2B Sawyer Brunson (2025; Lewis & Clark CC) hit an RBI single into left field, scoring 1B Keegan Seipp (2027) - who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

Cary-Grove would tie the game back up the very next half-inning in the top of the third, when 3B Ricky Barnes (2025; Illinois College) grounded into an RBI fielder's choice, scoring CF Jacob Duvall (2025; McHenry County JC) - who walked and stole second base to begin the inning.

Triad would tack on another run in the bottom of the third off an RBI triple from C Landon Loomis (2025; Minnesota State), scoring SS Hayden Bugger (2025; Kaskaskia CC) who walked earlier in the inning. The Knights would go on to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when LF Braxton Yates (2026) drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

Triad finishes the 2025 season with a record of 35-7, while the Trojans of Cary-Grove finish with a record of 25-14.

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