David Elliott is sure of one universal truth as he looks back on his time wearing the red and white: “When you play for Naperville Central, you are playing for more than just yourself.” The youngest of three children, Elliott is very much a proud product of District 203, attending Elmwood Elementary, Lincoln Junior High and Naperville Central. His affinity for local teams dates back to his time as a youngster, still recalling the names of Naperville Central athletes he watched from the bleachers of Memorial Stadium and in the main gym, all the while dreaming of someday being a part of it himself. Who could have known at the time that Becky (class of 1982) and Barb Elliott’s (1984) little brother would someday be a varsity three-sport athlete and the recipient of Naperville Central Male Athlete of Year for the Class of 1988, and be inducted into an athletic Hall of Fame that celebrates more than 100 years of interscholastic competition. When David Elliott is asked to list highlights of his athletic career at Central, the conversation quickly shifts from statistics and games to the teammates he played with and the coaches he played for. It was a conversation with soccer coach Paul Zientarski that turned his athletic career in a whole new direction. Elliott recalls being cut from the NCHS summer baseball team the summer before his junior year and thinking that he may just set aside his baseball ambitions to focus on playing basketball. Zientarski called Elliott and asked him to come out and compete for goalkeeper. Elliott told Coach Z he had no experience playing the position, but the coaching staff wasn’t worried because they knew Elliott would work hard and apply all of his athletic skills to become a valuable part of the team. Elliott recalls, “If that phone call didn’t happen, I would not be in a position to be inducted into the Naperville Central Athletic Hall of Fame.” As a senior, Elliott and the group of defenders in front of him, held opposing offenses to a 0.18 goals against average. David Elliott would be named the Red and White award winner at the end of his senior season, a reward for his dedication to improving himself and those around him. As the seasons changed, Elliott would put away his goalie gear and break out his high tops to hit the Naperville Central hardwood. His two years on the varsity basketball team were guided by legendary coach and fellow Naperville Central Athletics Hall of Famer, Bob Sterr. “I loved being able to go over to the Sterr’s house where Mrs. Sterr would make us Italian beef sandwiches,” recalls Elliott. This sense of community is still evident for Elliott as memories of NCHS basketball are not about his individual accomplishments but rather what he and his teammates accomplished together. The 1988 Central basketball team won the DuPage Valley championship for the first time since 1977. Elliott and his teammates did so in a manner that will live on in the memory of all who were in the gym at Naperville North for their final regular season game. Entering the 4th quarter of this crosstown showdown, Central found themselves trailing the Huskies 61-40 in the game to decide the conference crown. During the 4th quarter, Elliott and crew would erase a 21 point deficit at the end of regulation with a 25-foot jump shot by Trent Wolfe to send the game into overtime. Elliott remembers looking up in the balcony of North’s gym and seeing the red faithful “going crazy.” The DuPage Valley Champions were not done. Elliott and his teammates would advance in the playoffs by defeating Glenbard South in the regional semifinal, followed by a third victory over NNHS in the Regional Championship game. It was the first IHSA Regional Championship for Naperville Central Basketball since 1964. Elliott ended the year leading the team in steals and assists, and the team celebrated their victory by covering Coach Sterr’s house and trees with toilet paper.Come springtime, Elliott could be found on the baseball diamond, anchoring a talented line-up for Hall of Fame coaches Bill Seiple and Phil Lawler. Dave’s extra-inning 2-run homerun led Central to the Regional Championship his junior year, and his play shone a bright spotlight on the rest of his Naperville Central baseball career. Going into his senior season, he earned recognition on the IHSBCA’s Cream of Crop list and Chicago Area’s Top 100 Players list. The accolades would continue with a unanimous 1st-team All-DVC selection, All-Area Selection by both the Naperville Sun and Daily Herald, 3rd-team All-Area Chicago Sun Times and an All-State selection. At the conclusion of his senior season, Elliott was invited by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association to join the other top players in the state for a game at Comiskey Park. Elliott moved on to become a 4-year letter winner, 2x All-Conference and 2x Central Region All-American for the North Central College Cardinals baseball program. Today, David and his wife of 28 years, Tracie, enjoy cheering for their children Mark and Sarah. Elliott has continued his passion for serving others with a career of teaching and coaching at Glenbard East High School, along with serving as an Elder in his church. David Elliott played soccer, basketball and baseball for Naperville Central with an energy and toughness that set a standard for everyone around him. David credits his parents, Richard and Nancy, with instilling a toughness and work ethic that allowed him to succeed “even when I knew I wasn’t the most naturally talented.” His advice to “play your best and don’t worry about making mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but the great ones learn how to not stack mistakes on top of one another,” serves as a simple, yet important to message to current Naperville Central athletes, along with those elementary students watching from the stands, just like a young kid named David Elliott who was watching all those years ago.