Yorkville’s Hoffert twins will delay college choice until after season

Notre Dame, Bradley or Lewis University will be receiving a package deal when the Hoffert twins make their collegiate decision for cross country and track and field.

“We’re going to decide by mid-November, for the early signing period,” Jake Hoffert said.

But the Hofferts’ ultimate choice for the next level will be on standby until the Yorkville seniors complete their cross country seasons.

The Hofferts anchored the first state championship in program history last fall less than an hour after the Foxes’ girls team captured their third consecutive Class 2A title at Detweiller Park in Peoria last November.

“Conference is the first opportunity for us in the championship season,” said Yorkville coach Chris Muth, who oversees both programs.

The Foxes will look to defend both Northern Illinois Big 12 East crowns on Saturday at Kaneland High School.

Jake and Luke Hoffert were second and third — among team qualifying-members — at the state meet last year, and the two have had equally compelling seasons this year with top-notch finishes at such prestigious Saturday invites as Peoria Notre Dame, Palatine and Minooka.

“It’s been another year,” Jake Hoffert said of his final campaign. “Every year has been harder and harder to improve (on times). You can only improve so much.”

The Hofferts are supported in the Foxes’ lineup by Trevor Wills, Thor Hester and Alex Naumann.

Muth said he may rest his two three-time state qualifiers to make sure they are physically at their best for the looming state series.

“I have a nagging injury, but it’s not horribly bad like it was (at this time) last year,” Jake Hoffert said.

The Foxes’ boys program has far more than the best in Class 2A on its collective minds this fall.

“State is the all-we-got race,” Luke Hoffert said. “State is going to be a precursor to the next meet (the Nike regional in Indiana in late November).”

Muth more than recognizes he has been blessed these past three-plus years.

“It’s hard to put into words what the Hofferts have meant to the program,” Muth said. “The Hofferts are a once-in-a-coaching-lifetime or generation kind of thing.”

The Yorkville girls are the consensus top-ranked Class 2A program in the state.

Without a senior in the starting lineup, the girls’ team has suffered defeats at major competitions only to Class 3A state powers Palatine and Minooka.

“Our girls team is really, really deep,” Muth said.

Skyler Bollinger is the unquestioned leader for Yorkville.

The junior has eagerly welcomed back classmate Summer Pierson, who was indispensable to the Foxes’ state title two years ago.

Pierson missed her entire sophomore year with an injury.

“With the (greater competition against Class 3A schools) it’s really getting us ready for state,” Bollinger said.

“We want to win every race that we can.”