Storm Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From South Elgin High School

Sports run deep in Elgin, and South Elgin High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Storm uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from South Elgin High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Jake Kumerow – NFL Wide Receiver (Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers)

Kumerow is a former NFL wide receiver known for his perseverance and playmaking at the professional level. A South Elgin High School alum, he played college football at both the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. At Whitewater, he became one of the most productive receivers in Division III football, finishing with 158 catches for 2,648 yards and 36 touchdowns and winning multiple national titles. As an undrafted free agent, Kumerow signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and later played for several other teams, most notably the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers. His NFL career included over 40 games, highlighted by his first NFL TD on a 49-yard catch for the Packers. Known for his size and physical style of play, he earned praise for his work ethic and contributions as both a blocker and receiver in key situations. (Sources: UWW Sports, NFL)

2. Ryan Weiss – MLB Pitcher (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Weiss is a standout professional baseball pitcher whose remarkable career began at South Elgin High School, where he was an extraordinary batter, hitting .677 with 69 home runs in his senior season and was an All-Area selection. Weiss went on to pitch collegiately at Wright State, where he earned Horizon League Freshman of the Year and All-American honors. Professionally, Weiss made his debut in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, progressing through Rookie-level and Class A affiliates. More recently, he has pitched for the High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League and for the Fubon Guardians in Taiwan’s CPBL. Recently, Weiss signed a one-year major league contract with the Houston Astros and looks to showcase his pitching against MLB competition. (Sources: WSU Raiders, MLB)

3. Savannah Uveges – Collegiate Soccer Player & Coach

Uveges is a former South Elgin High School soccer standout who went on to excel at the University of Nebraska as a midfielder. During her time at South Elgin, Uveges set several school records and claimed multiple honors, including All-Conference, All-State and All-Area selections. At Nebraska, she made notable contributions over her college career, tallying 44 appearances with 11 goals. After college, Uveges signed with the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League and later played professionally in Germany with MSV Duisburg, appearing in 18 games. Following her playing career, she transitioned into coaching and currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s soccer team, continuing her involvement in the sport at the collegiate level. (Sources: Huskers)

4. Ryan Nutof – MLB Pitcher (Cincinnati Reds)

Nutof is a South Elgin High School graduate and former collegiate and professional baseball pitcher. In high school, he was recognized as one of the area’s top pitchers, named to the All-State, All-Area and All-Upstate 8 teams, as well as All-Conference and All-Area. He continued his career at the University of Michigan, where he was a key starting pitcher and reliever, earning accolades such as Big Ten All-Freshman honors and recording significant strikeout totals and wins. Nutof was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2017 MLB Draft and spent several seasons in the minor leagues, including with the Daytona Tortugas and Louisville Bats. Over his minor league career, he compiled a solid record and logged hundreds of innings pitched with impressive strikeout totals. (Sources: M Go Blue, MLB)

5. Naomi Ruff – Collegiate Track Star

Ruff is a distinguished South Elgin High School track, cross country and triathlon athlete who has continued her athletic success at the Division I level with Arizona State University. While at SEHS, she competed in distance events and developed a strong running base that translated well to multi-sport competition. At Arizona State, Ruff became a standout triathlete, winning USA Triathlon Junior National titles and achieving success in international junior competition. She contributed to ASU’s strong triathlon program and continued to excel in both collegiate and national championships. (Sources: The Sun Devils)

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