Willowbrook head football coach Nick Hildreth has a quarterback to replace and a 2025 9-2 opponent waiting. The Warriors host Glenbard East at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, in Villa Park for their 2026 home opener, kicking off a week in which all 13 of the school's fall sports programs begin competition.
The Willowbrook athletic department announced the full slate Sunday, Aug. 16, in its "This Week at the Brook" schedule showcase on X, listing contests both on campus at 1250 S. Ardmore Ave. and at offsite venues. Sports in action include football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, girls golf, boys golf, tennis, flag football, cheerleading, varsity dance, and adaptive sports, plus youth feeder programs Villa Park Youth Warriors and Junior Warriors wrestling.
The showcase caps a busy stretch that began with the 10th Annual Silver & Blue Community Night on Aug. 14, which drew thousands of community members to campus, as we reported earlier this month. Football practice opened Aug. 5; all other fall sports followed Aug. 10.
A stiff Week 1 test
Glenbard East went 9-2 in 2025 and owns a 12-0 conference record since the Upstate Eight East divisional split in 2024. "Conference-wise, we understand we are the hunted and will be ready for everyone's best shot," Rams coach John Walters told Shaw Local in July.
Hildreth told the Daily Herald in its Aug. 14 DuPage County preview that replacing two-year starting quarterback Jahonise Reed is "one of our biggest concerns" entering the season. The Warriors finished 5-5 overall, 4-2 in the West Suburban Gold Conference in 2025, good for third place. Still, Willowbrook has qualified for IHSA postseason play nine of the last 10 years.
Across campus
Willowbrook enrolls 1,983 students in DuPage High School District 88, with a 66% extracurricular participation rate. The department tagged all 13 programs in its weekly schedule post, directing families to courts, gyms, courses, fields and pools across Villa Park and beyond.
After the Glenbard East opener, the football schedule continues at Oswego East on Aug. 28, then at East Leyden on Sept. 4. The first West Suburban Gold home date is Oct. 9 against Proviso East.
