Erin Colletti (Cattell) was a 2-sport athlete for four years, participating in volleyball and basketball. As a basketball player, Erin was a varsity letter winner all 4 years. During her time as a volleyball player, Erin contributed as a middle hitter and went down state in the 2004 season as part of the Elite 8 Team.
As a multi-sport athlete growing up, Erin’s summers and semesters were filled with travel softball, summer volleyball camps, basketball camps as well as travel basketball with her AAU team, Hoopla. Erin grew up as a softball player and did not start playing basketball until 7th grade at Central Junior High. She fell in love with the sport and decided to join a travel team to improve her skills with the Orland Park Hoopla. Erin’s parents, Peggy and Mike Delis realized Erin’s talents would be developed more at Sandburg High School and moved into the district following her 8th grade year. Erin sadly had to give up softball so that she could spend more time developing her skills with Spring AAU basketball.
As a freshman, Erin was one of 3 who were moved up to varsity basketball team that season along with her teammates Melinda Queen and Jill Hushka. She was shocked, nervous, but excited for the opportunity to work with Head Coach Mary Pat Connolly, Assistant Christine Bochnak, and the varsity Eagle returners.
What Erin loved most about the sport of basketball was the challenge, the physicality of the game, the fast pace, high energy, and most importantly comradery of her team and lifelong friendships with her teammates and coaches.
During her career at Sandburg, the Eagles had a lot of success. They were Regional champs all 4 years and conference champs junior and senior year. Junior year they made it to the Sectional finals. Senior year they made iit downstate to the Elite 8 with an overtime loss to Bolingbrook. Her senior year she was honored to be named Sandburg’s Female Athlete of the Year, along with regional and state awards listed below.
Individual Awards/Stats
Senior Year: 465 Total Points, 14.5 ppg, 30 assists, 216 rebounds (89 offensive), 6.8 rebounds per game, 61 steals, 2 blocks, 52.4% from the field.
Game Highs:
26 points vs. Bartlett
17 Rebounds vs. Joliet Catholic
Awards/Honors:
IBCA All State 1st Team 2005
AP All State 2nd Team 2005
#1 Choice All Conference 2005 – SICA West
Chicago Sun-times All Area 2005
Southtown Economist All Area and Player of the Year 2005
Star All Area and Player of the Year 2005
Sandburg Female Athlete of the Year
Junior Year: 466 Total Points, 14.1 ppg, 27 assists, 212 rebounds (91 offensive), 6.4 rebounds per game, 48 steals, 14 blocks, 55% from the field.
Game Highs:
25 Points vs. Fenwick
14 Rebounds vs. Hillcrest
Awards/Honors:
#1 Choice All Conference 2004 – Sica West
Chicago Sun-times All Area 2004
Southtown Economist All Area 2004
Star All Area 2004
Sophomore Year - 264 points, 8.1 ppg, 152 rebounds, 3.2 rpg.
Freshmen Year - Unknown varsity statistics
Erin went on to play at DePaul University with a full scholarship to pursue her education in teaching. Her experiences at Sandburg inspired her to be a high school teacher and coach. During her 4 years at DePaul, the Big East Blue Demons made the NCAA tournament all 4 years and during her freshman year they made it to the Sweet 16. Erin was part of the Big East All-Academic Team all 4 years.
Following her College years Erin went on to teach at Stagg High School and went back home to Sandburg to coach the Sandburg Eagles Freshman Girls basketball team under her former coach, Chris Hellrung. Erin and her former teammate and best friend Jacquie Storm (Strauch) were the freshmen coaches the 2010 season.
Erin then went on to Naperville North High School the following year to teach physical education/health/driver education and coach basketball for the Huskies. She was the varsity head coach her last 4 years, and this will be her first season off of basketball to spend more time with her husband Tony, and 4 children Marina, Dominic, Athena and Briella.
Erin would like to thank her teachers, coaches, and athletic training staff for being such positive mentors and supporting her during her time at Sandburg. Because of her positive experiences as an Eagle, Erin knew she wanted to teach and coach in high school. An immense thank you to coach Bochnak (Borst) for her unwavering guidance and leadership during her time at Sandburg. Erin cherishes the memories, support, bus talks, and development as a player and person. A huge thank you to her teammates who are now her best friends. The memories they share as Eagles are invaluable and she is so lucky to have grown up with and compete with such amazing women. A final thank you to her parents and siblings for their constant support in helping Erin become the person she is today. Without them, none of these accomplishments would have been possible.