Skokna waits his turn to help lead North Central College to national football title

By Jeff Vorva

Thomas Skokna, a Hinsdale Central grad, worked his way up to be a starting receiver for NCAA Division III champion North Central College in Naperville. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Let’s try to keep this all straight.Hinsdale’s Thomas Skokna is one of 10 children in his family.
There are seven boys – all named after the Apostles. There is Matt, John, Luke, Mark, Thomas, Peter and James. There are three girls – Theresa, Joan, and Gabby. All went to, or are going to, Hinsdale Central.

Five of the boys played football, and four went on to play college football.
Got all of that?

Skokna is also related to another large family, so he has eight cousins. More math. More sports.

Growing up, the family gatherings usually followed some kind of sports theme.

“We were constantly running around and playing sports,” Skokna said. “We put together little baseball games and football games. It was fun. I miss it every day.”

Growing up in an environment like that, it was easy to fall in love with sports. Skokna opened 2025 by winning a national championship in football as a starting receiver for North Central College in Naperville.

The Cardinals capped a perfect 15-0 season with a 41-25 win over Mount Union on Jan. 5 to win the NCAA Division III National Championship (also known as the Stagg Bowl) at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. It was NCC’s third championship in the past five seasons.

While Skokna, a 5-foot-9, 174-pound junior, did not score any touchdowns, he was still a huge threat, nabbing three catches for 94 yards, including a 46-yard catch in the third quarter. That reception kept a drive going, and the Cardinals eventually scored to take a 21-10 lead, and they dominated the rest of the way.

For the season, Skokna finished with 57 catches for 961 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In 2002 and 2023, he saw scant playing time and had four catches for 59 yards.

In an age where athletes are transferring left and right, he said he never thought about leaving the Naperville school. One of his older brothers, John, played for the Cardinals, and Thomas grew up watching the program flourish.

“My first two years, I was a backup and would try to help the team any way I could,” Skokna said. “Some guys graduated, and my spot opened up, and I took advantage of it. I have a great team that makes me look good. It’s like another home to me. I love it here, and I don’t have any plans on leaving, and I never did.”

John played for the Cardinals in 2013 and 2014. He started out as a receiver but toward the end of his final year, he was switched to cornerback.

“I always looked up to him, so getting to play here after him is really cool,” Thomas said of John. “Even after he played here, he was coaching me a lot and made me the player I am today.”

Skokna has one more year of eligibility and is eyeing a return to the team with the hopes of a championship repeat.

NCC coach Brad Spencer said that Thomas waited patiently for this breakout season.

“He’s been behind some really good receivers the past couple of years,” Spencer said of Skokna. “Now, this year, he is showing people what he can do. He has a great quarterback in Luke (Lehnen) throwing to him and a good running game around him as well. Tommy has put the work in, and he has put himself in a position to be ready. I’m really proud of him. He was a standout player at Hinsdale Central when he came out, and every coach in the area texted me to recruit him. So, when you have people doing that, it shows he was well respected and a good player.”

North Central’s College’s Thomas Skokna helped lead North Central College to a national championship.
Photo by Steve Woltman for North Central College

Thomas Skokna flies through the air during one of his three receptions in the NCAA Division III National Championship game. Photo by Steve Woltman for North Central College