ST. CHARLES – Basketball’s bump-and-shove battles suited St. Charles North senior Matt Pretet and his left shoulder just fine for the past four years.

Navigating 10 shoulder dislocations in that span was easier in a sport that isn’t traditionally as rough as say, football, which Pretet is tackling in high school for the first time this fall.

North’s starting weak-side defensive end faced his choice of position groups when he elected to come out for the team last spring. Pretet picked the rock-steady nature of the trenches over more pronounced banging at linebacker. So far, his body and the North Stars have thanked him.