It was a big summer for St. Charles North’s Keaton Reinke.
The 6-foot-3 senior receiver committed to play at Northwestern, making the decision to focus on football over baseball. He’s also become the unquestioned leader for the North Stars.
As the 2025 season approaches, however, Reinke is staying even-keeled as St. Charles North continues to build upon its aspirations of winning a Class 7A state championship.
“For me, I’m still the same,” Reinke said. “I still want to go out there and compete with my guys and win. It’s a lot more weight off my shoulders knowing where I’m going.
“Still, that doesn’t give me and excuse to slack off or be different than anyone else. It’s still playing the same, same goals, and that’s what we’re shooting for.”
Reinke’s on-field efforts came through loud and clear last season. The honorable mention all-state selection caught 80 passes for 1,218 yards and 17 touchdowns for the North Stars, who slot in at No. 2 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings.
The difference St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak sees is with Reinke’s intangibles.
“He just goes really hard every day,” Pomazak said. “His level of commitment to his development is really high. That was elite to begin with.
“He’s crossing over to a new level of leadership and being a more vocal leader for our program, which we need.”
St. Charles North’s Keaton Reinke (6) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Geneva during a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)
Reinke knew that a commitment to a Big Ten school like Northwestern would come with increased attention, both inside and outside of the program. It’s something he has embraced.
Working last year alongside quarterback Ethan Plumb, who’s now playing at Grand Valley State, was a big help as well.
“Last year being with Ethan, he showed me a lot about leadership,” Reinke said. “It’s just being able to take what Ethan did, and with what I have going on with Northwestern, the leadership has gotten bigger.
“I’ve taken that role and I’ve accepted it. I haven’t been perfect throughout the summer, but I’m trying to get there.”
Replacing Plumb won’t be easy, but senior quarterback JT Padron has taken on that role.
In his transition across the river, having someone like Reinke to rely on has eased that burden for the St. Charles East transfer.
“It helps a lot,” Padron said of Reinke. “He can do a lot of things. I’ve just been coming to the field and training with him, getting all the routes down. He gets downfield quick.
“He’s going to put up a lot of numbers.”
St. Charles North’s Ethan Plumb (10) and Keaton Reinke (6) talk after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Batavia on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Talent-wise, Pomazak can’t be more effusive in his praise of Reinke.
“I think he’s an absolute freak of nature,” Pomazak said. “He’s the best football player I’ve ever coached at one position. He’s a perfect combination of speed, size and strength.
“He’s got all of the physical attributes that make him a Division I athlete.”
While Reinke has that pedigree on the baseball field as well, that career is up in the air.
Reinke is one of the most highly regarded pitchers in the 2026 class in Illinois and also an anchor to St. Charles North’s baseball lineup, but whether he plays again or not is in question.
For one, Reinke has the credits to graduate in December and could attend Northwestern early, similar to what star receiver Talyn Taylor from Geneva did last year before heading to Georgia.
Or he could stay in school and get back on the mound in the spring.
“I still have to make a decision on if I want to graduate early or play baseball,” Reinke said. “I love baseball, but I really don’t know yet.”
That’s yet another big choice for Reinke in a year that has been full of major decisions, but he’s currently preparing for the opener against Minooka — hoping to help the North Stars back to state.
“I think there is definitely a different vibe on the team this year,” he said. “I think we do have a chance to make it all the way. Even though that is the future goal, we need to focus on Minooka.”
St. Charles North’s Keaton Reinke (6) runs for a first down against Batavia in the third quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Batavia on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Quick hits
Team: St. Charles North.
2024 record: 9-2.
Offensive leaders: Christopher Akpede, junior, receiver; Braden Harms, senior, receiver; Cooper Kowalczyk, senior, left tackle; JT Padron, senior, quarterback; Keaton Reinke, senior, receiver.
Defensive leaders: Daniel Escaro, senior, free safety; Aidan McClure, senior, linebacker; Matthew Plumb, senior, linebacker; Reed Raczka, senior, cornerback; Declan Smith, senior, lineman.
X-factor: Lucas Tenbrock, senior, right tackle/punter/kicker.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
