Keeping memories alive

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MAPLE PARK -- Saturday's 61-48 win over Yorkville was more than just the first Western Sun Conference win of the season for Kaneland's boys basketball team.

It was also the first home game for the Knights since the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Kaneland seniors Blake Denton and Jeff Malewig on Dec. 11.

There was a moment of silence prior to the game to reflect on the memories of Denton and Malewig, which led to a businesslike win for the Knights, who were all close friends of the two boys.

"We had been playing baseball and basketball with them for a long time," Kaneland senior Joe Spitzzeri said. "It was definitely a lot of motivation. We wanted to put up a big win for Blake and Jeff, get something going for them. They were good friends with all of us."

The team is just one part of the Kaneland community, which is still reeling from the accident. The school and all extracurricular activities shut down for nearly a week in the wake of the crash. As part of the reshuffling, the boys basketball team postponed its game at Rochelle scheduled for a week after the accident, a game that will be made up Jan. 13.

That left the Knights with 17 days off between a loss at DeKalb on Dec. 5 and a win over Francis Parker at the Marengo tournament Dec. 22. Prior to the Parker game, the team discussed its feelings of going through such a difficult time.

"The kids were all so close to them," Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen said. "It still affects some of them. It's still in the back of their minds. It's a tough situation to go through, especially at that age. But they've come through it."

If anybody knows the caring spirit of the Kaneland community, it's Spitzzeri. He's seen it firsthand. Last year at this time, Spitzzeri was in the midst of a six-month span that nearly ended his life when he contracted the rare X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Nobody knew if he would pull through it, let alone be back at school or playing sports again.

But Spitzzeri is starting for the basketball team now and looking as strong as he was before battling the disease. And he and his classmates now are directing their efforts toward the memories of Denton and Malewig -- a testament to the toughness of the seniors at Kaneland, athletes or not.

"We've been sticking together," Spitzzeri said. "Me and a couple other guys from the baseball team (for which Malewig was the starting second baseman) went over to Malewig's house to talk to his parents to give them our support. We're doing fundraising stuff, making T-shirts, trying to get something together for the basketball team to all wear to support them."

Anybody can help the memories of Denton and Malewig live on, regardless of whether they are involved with Kaneland. There is a memorial fund set up in Denton's name at the Old Second National Bank in Sugar Grove and a memorial fund set up in Malewig's name at the Old Second National Bank in Elburn.

For the kids, however, keeping the names of both young men alive is far more simple. It comes down to how they live their lives every day. How they handle their classes. How they handle their athletic performances, or whichever extracurricular activity they are passionate about.

With classes starting up after the holiday break Monday, that process is well under way. But the names and memories of Blake Denton and Jeff Malewig will never be far behind.