| 1999 season |
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The 1999 team will always be remembered for winning the school's unprecedented 8th state football championship. The win in 99 was the first since the Mike Alstott lead 1990 team, and although the 92 and 96 teams made it to the championship game and each lost close games, the schools foes were quick to point out that the Hillmen had begun to slide. They were not what they once were.
They had no idea how wrong they could have been . . .
The 1999 season started with a bang, in game two the Hilltoppers gave everyone a glimpse of what was to be for the next three years. 
After defeating a heavily favored Mt. Carmel team at Gately Stadium 10-7, they got everyone's attention.
At the time, few knew the talent this team had, or where these players would end up. Consider this lineup on defense, Mike Goolsby, Mike Maloney, Lee Sicinski, Jake Gancarczyk, Pat McShane, Ryan Ruettiger, Tom Hrvatin, Jason Wagner, Mike Pullman, Joe Koren, Matt Warren, Derrek Matichak, Pat Kinsella, and Andrew Damiani.
Offensively, Maloney, Gancarczyk, Matt Troha, Anthony Hickey, Mike Decman, Pat Manning, Mark Sopko, Joe Van Tassel, Justin Kinsella, Bill Burns, Brad Hudetz and a sophomore named J.R. Zwierzynski that would go on to break nearly every rushing record at Joliet Catholic, before his high school career was over.
Head Coach Dan Sharp had returned to Joliet Catholic just two seasons prior, but the effects of his return had started to show already. 
Joliet Catholic marched through the regular season, and dodged a bullet against Morris in the quarterfinals. They continued to an undefeated 14-0 season after smoking an undefeated Metamora in the championship game 48-13.
The final accolade was a national ranking of #15 in the final national prep football poll.
In a recent poll conducted on this website, the 1999 team was voted the best championship team in the schools history. No small accomplishment considering the teams this school has produced.
The 1999 team began a run of three straight state titles, and returned the school to not only state recognition, but national recognition as well.
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"Any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is
that moment he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted
on the field of battle . . . victorious."
Vince Lombardi
Our Lady of Victory . . .
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