Downers Grove North Announces Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Downers Grove North Announces Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Downers Grove North High School is proud to announce the induction of four new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees include Bill Kleckner, former basketball and football coach at Downers Grove North; Mary McGrane, former student-athlete for her accomplishments in softball, golf and basketball; Anthony Calderone, current head coach of girls’ badminton and boys’ golf; and Ben Silver, a North High alumnus who will receive the award posthumously for his accomplishments in cross country and track.

The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, December 20, 2024, prior to the Pack the Place basketball game against Hinsdale Central. The ceremony will be held in the Purple Gym following the girls’ varsity basketball game.

The 2025 North High Athletic Hall of Fame inductees include:

Bill Kleckner - Teacher, Coach - 1975 - 2024

  • University of Illinois Three Year Letter Winner - 1972, 1973, 1974
  • All Big Ten Academic Team, Football  - 1974
  • Marmion Military Academy High School, Athletic Hall of Fame - 1997
  • Coached Boys’ Basketball at Downers North, 1975 - 2013 (38 years)
  • Coached Boys’ Basketball, WSC Conference Champions - 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame - 2006
  • Coached Football at Downers North, 1975 - 2024 (50 years)
  • Coached 23 State Playoff Appearances totaling over 60 State Playoff Games 
  • Coached Runner-up State Football Team - 1990, 2023 
  • Coached State Championship Football Team - 2004

Mary McGrane - Class of 1998

  • Golf – Three-Year Letterman 
  • Golf - Conference Medalist in 1997
  • Basketball – Three-Year Letterman
  • Basketball – Member of Shaw All-Area Team
  • Softball – Four-Year Letterman
  • WSC Softball All-Conference - 1996, 1997, 1998
  • All-Area Softball Team – 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • Daily Herald Softball All-Area Captain - 1998
  • NCAA Regional Participant - 1999
  • Olympic Team Trials Invitation/Tryouts - 1999
  • University of Missouri – Four-Year Letterman in Softball
  • University of Missouri School Record Holder – Fielding Percentage
  • MTXE Award Winner - 2000, 2002
  • Top 10 - Catcher Career Caught Stealing 
  • Top 5 - Catcher Career Pickoff 

Anthony Calderone - Teacher, Coach, 1995 - Present

  • Head Girls’ Badminton Coach, 1995 - Present
  • WSC Top 100 Coaches in 100 Years
  • Served on the IHSA Badminton Advisory Committee
  • Two-Time Illinois Girls’ Badminton Coach of the Year 
  • Inducted into the IABC Hall of Fame in 2024
  • WSC – 16 Championships & 485 Medalists
  • IHSA Sectional
    • 17 Team Championships & 121 Sectional Medalists
  • IHSA State
    • 3 State Championships, 2 Second Place Finishes, 4 Third Place Finishes
    • 33 State Medalists & 8 IHSA State Champions
  • Head Boys’ Golf Coach, 2015 - Present
    • 13 WSC Medalists
    • Four-time IHSA Sectional Team Qualifiers 
    • Coached Aidan Lafferty to 5th Place & 3rd Place IHSA Medals
  • DGN Assistant Coach in Football, Boys’ Basketball & Boys’ Golf 

Ben Silver - Class of 2011

  • WSC Conference Medalist, Cross Country - 2007, 2008
  • WSC Conference 3rd Place Medalist, Cross Country - 2009
  • IHSA Regional Champion, Cross Country - 2008, 2009
  • IHSA Sectional Medalist 2nd, Cross Country - 2008
  • IHSA Sectional Medalist 3rd, Cross Country - 2009, 2010
  • IHSA State Medalist 17th, Cross Country - 2008
  • IHSA State Medalist 18th, Cross Country - 2009
  • IHSA State Medalist 10th, Cross Country - 2010
  • Footlocker Midwest Regional Cross Country, Top 20 - Twice
  • WSC Conference Medalist, Track - 2008
  • WSC Conference Medalist, Track 3200M - 2011
  • IHSA Sectional Medalist, Track - 2009
  • IHSA Sectional Medalist, Track 3200M - 2011
  • IHSA State Medalist 8th Place, Track 3200M - 2011