U-11 Boys Soccer Wins Memorial Tournament

Team Evanston's U-11 Boy's soccer team registered a win in the Arlington Memorial Tournament in Arlington Heights on May 20 and 21.After an 11-0 victory in their opening match, they continued their outstanding play, outscoring their opponents 26-2.The championship was sealed with a 4-0 win over Hoffman United Strikers. Team members includeBen Adrien, Michael Deremo, Kevin Doyle, Kevin Francis, Daniel Lev, Sean Pitt, Manny Quiroz, Chris Rudnicki, C .J. Rushing, Micah Takagishi, Griffin Teller, Armando Tovar, Alex Vergara, and Oliver Wood.The team is coached by Kevin Francis.

Boys Lacrosse Begins Playoffs with Home Win, Loses Next Round

By Paul Harris-Hertel

The Evanston boys lacrosse team began its playoff run May 23 with a 12-7 win in the regionals over Hoffman Estates.The Wildkits jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Hawks in the first quarter and did not look back.

"We made a lot of mistakes, and it wasn't as pretty as we would have liked," head coach Dave Allen said of his team's performance, "but a win's a win come playoff time, so we'll take it."

The Kits finished the regular season last week at 7-7, a season where they competed against some of the top lacrosse teams in the state, including perennial powerhouse New Trier.While this year's team fell short of last season's 11-5 regular season mark, Tuesday's victory sent the team's 11 seniors out on a high note in their last home game.

Despite the graduation of those players Allen thinks the future of Evanston lacrosse looks bright.

"We'll have 13 or 14 players back [next year], and a lot of juniors have gotten playing time this season, so we've been able to see what they can do," Allen said, adding that he was excited about the influx of talent from the freshman and junior varsity levels.

Another reason to be excited about the future is the possibility that lacrosse will become an IHSA sport.Although it probably will not happen next year, Allen said there is a good chance it will in the next two or three years.

Unfortunately, the boys lacrosse season came to an end on Thursday, when they fell 10-3 to Lake Forest.The team finished the season with a record of 8-8.

Girls Track Celebrates Fourth Straight State Title

By Paul Harris-Hertel

The State track and field champion Wildkits, Coach Fenton Gunter, Principal Denise Martin and Superintendent Allan Alson.

The Evanston girls track team accomplished something almost unmatched in Wildkit athletic history: It won a fourth consecutive State championship last Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.The only other group of Evanston athletes to win four straight titles were the 1952-56 boys swimming teams.

The girls finished with 91 points, 45 points ahead of runner-up Palatine.Senior Shalina Clarke matched a State record with four individual victories in a single state meet. Clarke won the 100- and 200-meter sprints, as well as the 100 and 300 hurdles.

Teammate Demeca Hill finished second in both the 100- and 200-meter races.In addition, the girls relay team of Hill, Adrienne Slaughter, Brittany Tolar, and Jonkea Stewart-Butlerwon the 4x100- and 4x200- meter races.

For track coach Fenton Gunter, the State championship was the seventh his teams have won since 1991.Gunter is also the reigning Illinois State track and field coach of the year.At a ceremony honoring the team at the school on Friday, he thanked his assistant coaches, the athletic department and everyone else "in the ETHS family who supported us."He also spoke about the senior members of his team who have won State titles every year of their high school career.

"We told them when they came in as freshmen they could be something special, and these five young ladies have stuck together since then and were rewarded," Gunter said."They deserve this."

Clarke returned the praise to her coach. "He has pushed us to reach our full potential every year. He gives us encouragement, and he really wants what's best for us," said Clarke, who will attend the University of Southern California in the fall.

With the graduation of such a talented senior class, one might think Gunter would be concerned about replacing them on next year's team.But he seemed unfazed when asked about the girls track team's future.

"[We'll replace the seniors] the same way it's been done for the past 30 years," he remarked."One group leaves and another one comes in."

The coach added that there is plenty of talent returning from this year's team, including juniors Tolar and Leah Schenkier, and Slaughter, who is just a freshman.

District 202 Superintendent Allan Alson praised the girls' character as well as their athletic accomplishments. "These young women care not only about their sport but about each other as a team," he said.

The team also presented Dr. Alson and Principal Denise Martin with first-place medals. As for the five seniors, they have nothing left to accomplish and can enjoy their prom.Clarke said she was looking forward to the prom and to graduation, albeit with a little sadness.

"I'm sad [to be leaving], but at the same time I'm very happy.I'm ready to go on and to have new experiences."