5 Key Takeaways From Waubonsie Valley High School Football’s 2025 Season: The Adam Pucylowski Era Begins

The Waubonsie Valley Warriors football program entered a new chapter for the 2025 season, marked by a significant coaching transition and a challenging schedule in a newly aligned conference. As of December 2025, the Warriors have completed their season, demonstrating flashes of brilliance despite a difficult final win-loss record. This article dives deep into the most current and crucial information from the gridiron in Aurora, IL, providing a detailed look at the new leadership, standout performances, and the team’s position within the competitive Illinois High School Association (IHSA) landscape.

The 2025 campaign was defined by the start of a new era, introducing fresh strategies and a renewed focus on building a sustainable program. Fans and alumni are keenly watching how the team navigates the competitive Southwest Valley Conference and develops its core talent for future success. The following is a comprehensive breakdown of the season’s most important developments and statistics.

The New Era: Head Coach Adam Pucylowski and Program Profile

The Waubonsie Valley Warriors football program, based in Aurora, Illinois, saw a major leadership change heading into the 2025 season. This section provides a detailed profile of the team’s current structure and its place in Illinois high school football.

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• School Name: Waubonsie Valley High School (WVHS)
• Location: Aurora, Illinois, United States
• Nickname: Warriors
• Established: 1975
• Head Coach (2025 Season): Adam Pucylowski
• Coaching History: Pucylowski is the 5th Head Coach in the program’s history, taking over from Tom Baumgartner (2023-2024 season).
• IHSA Classification: Class 8A (The largest classification in Illinois high school football)
• Conference: Southwest Valley Conference – Red Division
• Key Rivalries/Opponents: Neuqua Valley, DeKalb, Stagg High School
• 2025 Season Record: 2-7-0
• Notable Past Success: The program has made multiple IHSA playoff appearances, including a 2nd Round finish in 2018.

Adam Pucylowski’s hiring marked a commitment to a new direction, aiming to instill a winning culture and compete immediately in the newly formed Southwest Valley Conference. The conference represents a major realignment, creating a challenging path for the Warriors in their pursuit of an IHSA playoff berth.

1. Ishmaiah Elliott’s Historic 6-Touchdown Performance

The most explosive and memorable moment of the 2025 season belonged unequivocally to star running back Ishmaiah Elliott. On October 24, 2025, Elliott delivered a performance that immediately etched his name into the Warriors' record books during a game against DeKalb.

Elliott amassed a staggering 356 rushing yards and scored 6 touchdowns in a single contest. This phenomenal individual effort highlighted his elite-level talent and proved he is one of the premier offensive threats in the Southwest Valley Conference. His ability to dominate a game single-handedly provided a massive boost of energy and confidence to the entire program, demonstrating the high ceiling of the team’s top-tier talent. Performances like this are crucial for attracting college recruiter attention and building excitement around the team’s future.

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2. The Defining 2025 Season Record and Key Wins

While the overall 2025 season record finished at a challenging 2-7-0, the two victories provided clear evidence of the team’s potential when all phases of the game clicked.

The most dominant victory came on October 10, 2025, when the Warriors hosted Stagg High School. Waubonsie Valley delivered a shutout, winning by a decisive score of 51-0. This performance was a complete team effort, showcasing a powerful offense and a suffocating defense. The other victory, though less publicized, was essential for team morale and standing. These wins are critical building blocks for Coach Pucylowski as he works to establish consistency within the program. The team also faced tough losses, including an early season defeat against New Trier High School on September 5, 2025, which set the tone for a challenging schedule.

3. Navigating the Southwest Valley Conference Realignment

The 2025 season marked the full integration of Waubonsie Valley into the newly aligned Southwest Valley Conference. The Warriors were placed in the Red Division, a highly competitive grouping within the IHSA Class 8A landscape.

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This realignment, which involved a merger with elements of the DuPage Valley Conference, ensures that the Warriors face top-tier competition week after week. The schedule was immediately challenging, kicking off the season with a major home game against local rival Neuqua Valley. Competing in the Red Division requires a high level of execution and depth, and the 2025 season served as a crucial proving ground for the new coaching staff and roster. The experience gained against such strong opponents is invaluable for the development of younger players and the overall growth of the program.

4. The Core Roster: Emerging Talent and Future Leaders

Beyond the headline-grabbing performance of Ishmaiah Elliott, the 2025 roster featured several other key players who contributed to the team’s efforts and represent the future of Waubonsie Valley football. The Warriors’ success relies on developing a deep and versatile squad capable of competing in the 8A playoffs.

Key names on the 2025-2026 roster included:

• Gavin Ali-hanlon
• Tristan Knox
• Jack Van Der Watt
• Caleb Ortiz
• Fahad Witwit
• Ben Seago

These players, along with Elliott, form the nucleus of the team under Coach Pucylowski. Building chemistry and continuity among this core group will be paramount in the offseason, especially in a conference where every game is a battle. The focus now shifts to player development, strength and conditioning, and implementing Pucylowski’s long-term vision for the program.

5. The Outlook: A Foundation Built on Toughness and Transition

The 2025 season, while not resulting in a playoff run, was a foundational year for the Waubonsie Valley Warriors. The transition to Coach Pucylowski, the adaptation to the Southwest Valley Conference, and the emergence of a star like Ishmaiah Elliott all point to a program in motion.

The Warriors are committed to competing in the toughest IHSA classification, Class 8A. The experience of the 2-7 season, which included a dominant shutout win and an all-time individual performance, provides tangible evidence of the team's high ceiling. The challenge for the coaching staff moving forward is to translate those isolated moments of brilliance into consistent week-to-week execution. The future success of the Waubonsie Valley football program hinges on the continued development of its young talent and their ability to rise to the consistent demands of the Southwest Valley Conference – Red Division schedule.