Willowbrook Athletics shares recent student-athlete successes

Willowbrook Athletics is proud to share the exciting successes below!

December Anyway’s Athletes of the Month

Name: Jazilah Gatlin (senior), pictured at left

Sport: Girls Wrestling

December successes: Gatlin placed 1st at the Eisenhower Invite, 2nd at the Beat the Streets Tournament and 3rd at the Naperville Central Invite. Beyond her results, she stands out for her leadership as a senior captain, maintaining perfect attendance, supporting teammates with rides and reminders and staying fully committed – even through winter break. Gatlin leads by example every day. The Willowbrook Varsity Girls Wrestling Team also placed 5th at the Eisenhower Invite, 3rd at the Beat the Streets Tournament and 3rd at the Glenbard North Team Invite. The Warriors also remained undefeated in Conference duals at 4-0.

Name: Otis “OJ” Powell (senior), pictured at right

Sport: Boys Basketball

December successes: Powell helped lead the Warriors to four straight victories and a 1^st-place finish at the 16-team ICCP/Westmont Holiday Tournament. He averaged 20.4 points, 7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.9 steals and 0.4 blocks. On Jan. 3, he also passed Everett Stubblefield III as Willowbrook’s all-time leading scorer, with 1,451 points and counting.

*This monthly recognition honors Willowbrook student-athletes and is sponsored by Anyway’s (www.anywayspub.com/oakbrook-terrace/). Recipients are presented with a plaque and a $25 gift certificate to Anyway’s.

Flag football player makes national team trials

Willowbrook senior Leigh Bernardo, pictured above, has received an invitation to participate in the USA Football Adult Flag Football National Team Trials, which will take place from March 19 to 22 in California.

This event will serve as a tryout and an opportunity for Bernardo to be selected to represent the U.S. at the 2026 IFAF World Championships in Germany.