Downers Grove high schools share club sports teams and feeder programs, with DGN having its own basketball feeder program, the Wolfpack Basketball team, while DGS lacks a feeder program for girls' basketball. This has led to DGN having more players with feeder program experience, giving them an advantage. The lack of feeder programs at DGS also impacts other sports, such as football, where the Downers Grove Panthers, although not recognized as a feeder program by the district, prepare young athletes for high school football. Disparities also exist in facility usage fees and support from the school, leading to differences in resources and opportunities for the sports programs at DGS and DGN.

By the Numbers
  • DGN varsity girls basketball team consists of 11 girls, most of them played on Wolfpack in their younger years
  • DGS varsity girls basketball team consists of a roster of nine girls
State of Play
  • DGN has a feeder program for boys and girls basketball, while DGS lacks a feeder program for girls' basketball
  • Discrepancies in facility usage fees and coaching support between different sports programs at DGS and DGN
  • The Downers Grove Panthers, despite not being recognized as a feeder program by the district, prepares young athletes for high school football
What's Next

The disparities between feeder programs and club sports at DGS and DGN may lead to continued advantages for one school over the other, impacting the overall competitiveness and opportunities for student-athletes.

Bottom Line

The presence or absence of feeder programs significantly influences the opportunities and competitiveness of sports programs at DGS and DGN, ultimately impacting the experiences and development of student-athletes.