Exercise Early, Exercise Often

Sculling crews can be seen in the canal, mostly early in the morning. The sport combines vigorous exercise with the serenity of the morning and wildlife along the banks.

A Look Ahead to Fall/Winter Sports at ETHS for 2007-08

By Nick Batlle

There were a lot of ups and downs this year in the world of ETHS sports. Seeing as there were no state championships, not even in girls track, it's about time to look ahead to next year.

Football may have been hit harder than any other sport with the graduation of the 2007 class. The team lost starting QB Ryan Roved, but perhaps even more unsettling for coach Tony Johnson will be how to replace halfback Michael Bolden. There were five all-conference players on the team last year, all of whom were seniors. The defense also has taken a big hit with the departures of Kendal Farlow, Nickcaro Golding, Alfa Kaba and Jeron Dorsey.

Boys soccer lost quality players in Thomas Kauffman, Nat Keller, David Pelsoci and David Singham, but the juniors played major roles last year. Incoming senior Jonathan Strunk will replace Brian Schlesinger in goal, and midfielder David Sippel and striker Peter Zerb will return to provide offensive fire-power. Brian Armstrong's 6'2" frame will give head coach Franze Calixte relief in the backfield next year.

Both girls cross country and girls tennis lost key contributors this year. Brigit Larson, with her three appearances down-state, goes down easily as one of the best tennis players in school history. Keep an eye on Linnea Carlson, who was out last season with a knee injury, but still promises to be a vital part of the team next year.

Girls track will be without Natalie Fenn and Katherine Page, both of whom made it down-state their junior year, but the team will look to twins Lauren and Lexy Delaney to lead this time around.

With the loss of James Strzalka, Wonjae Sung, and Jack Wadden, boys golf heads into next year with a chip on their shoulder. New seniors Jake Bielawski, Phil Kohnken and Michael Peters played a major role on the team last year and will look to lead the team next year.

Boys basketball will have a lot to live up to after falling one game short of making it down-state this year. New senior Zach Morton will most likely replace Deon Thompson as the starting point guard, while Sean Croegaert-Key and Travis Clark, also incoming seniors, will give the team a presence in the paint.

Girls basketball should be in a very good position with Kim Davis, Darcelle Retreage and Krystyna Williams returning as seniors.

As regional champs going into this year, the wrestling team is aiming high. Incoming senior Marx Success will look to lead the team to another successful season.

Game Not Over for Some ETHS Graduates

By Nick Batlle

As a senior athlete, the playoffs are an especially crucial time. In the back of every player's mind is the possibility that he or she might not play again. A select few athletes, however, have the opportunity to continue their athletic careers at the next level.

Last summer, Michael Bolden committed to play football at Northwestern. He was used primarily as a halfback in high school, but at the Division I level, the NU coaching staff feels that he is better suited to play defensive back. Nickcaro Golding, his teammate at ETHS, will play defensive end or linebacker at Purdue. Playing in the Big Ten will make the transition out of high school tough, but both players appear to be physically ready.

All-conference soccer players David Singham and Thomas Kauffman will be moving out west next summer. Singham will try out for the team at the University of California-Santa Cruz, and Kauffman will try out for Western Washington University.

As for the two-headed golf monster of Wonjae Sung and Jack Wadden, both are taking the liberal arts road. Sung has the coach at Lawrence University excited for next season, while Jack will look to improve his game at Williams College.

Volleyball standout Sydney Clark received a scholarship to play Division I ball at Southern Illinois University and will have a chance to contribute right away.

A few basketball players have unique situations. Point guard Deon Thompson was offered opportunities to play at many top universities next year, one of them Georgetown. He decided he wanted to contribute immediately and that Defiance College was a better fit.

Dipanjot Singh was faced with a similar dilemma. After receiving offers to play at several Division II and III schools, Singh decided he was going to try to walk-on at Marquette. When making the decision, he was aware he might never make the team, but it was a risk worth taking.

Two time All-American lacrosse goalie Colleen Speth is looking to make her mark on the college game at the University of Massachusetts. During her time as a recruit, Speth had coaches around the country drooling over her. She will compete for the starting goalie spot right away at UMASS.

But not all the top athletes from the class of 2007 will continue competing. Tennis stud Brigit Larson was looking to play for schools such as Marquette and Wooster College, but instead committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study communications.

An Ode to Team 2007

By Nick Batlle

On June 3rd, I was seated in the first row at Welsh-Ryan Arena as a soon-to-be graduate of Evanston Township High School. I began to look back on how special the last four years had been. I had time to reflect, since the orchestra played "Pomp and Circumstance" at least twenty times before all 500 seniors finally took their seats.

Before the big day, I had trouble understanding why high school graduation was such a big deal. To be honest, I had been more excited about the NBA playoff game that was being played at the time. I looked into the stands and saw my dad, trying to get my attention, pointing to my name on the scoreboard above our heads. As a sportswriter, I have to always find a way to fit in a sports analogy and here it goes:

Today I am the player on the court in the starting line-up, getting ready to play the big game. For me, graduation is a pre-game warm-up for the four periods of college at the University of Missouri-Columbia to study journalism. For my fellow graduates, it's a different game. It's a different university, work, the military, or just taking a year off to relax and figure out what they want with their lives. (Note to self: Make that first period count and don't wait until the fourth to scramble and play catch-up.)

The stands are packed and every player has their own fans. Seeing the proud faces on all the parents, grandparents, siblings and friends put the significance of that afternoon into perspective. Not even the heat and humidity could prevent the smiles and waves from sending all the good vibes our way. Our fans might as well have been wearing jerseys with our names printed on the back. The atmosphere was almost as intense as an ETHS/New Trier basketball (coincidentally played on the same court).

ETHS was a training camp that prepared me well for this game, based on the philosophy that the brain was the most important body part to strengthen and exercise. The coaches and supporting staff were good too - first-year head coach Eric Witherspoon, teachers, advisors, the School Board, cafeteria workers, security guards and custodians. Even when you weren't having the best game of your life, there was always someone nearby to support you. (Note to self: thank all the great and influential teachers I had over the past four years.)

All good coaches say, "It's all about winning, but it's just as important to have fun and enjoy yourself." Team 2007 knew how to do that. At a school like ETHS, with prom, basketball games and other parties, there was always something going on.

As a graduate of the absolute best class in the history of ETHS, I have finally discovered what makes us unique. It is our balance between having a good time, while maintaining an appreciation for hard work.

The best way to characterize us is as a group of school- spirited, overachieving, highly opinionated, insanely intelligent group of kids who know how to have a good time.

This was demonstrated by the Blue Crew (at least for the fall and winter sports), the math team consistently placing at State, the unbelievably competitive class rankings and topped off by "chillin'" with friends on the weekend.

My fondest memories were the 6th-period-lunch food fights sophomore year. I don't remember which one I liked better, but the image of nachos grande soaring through the air is something that will stick in my mind for life.

With our evolution from incoming freshman to graduates, what I find truly amazing about our class is the tolerance we have developed for one another. Whether or not we are friends with someone, we at least have enough respect to give a friendly "what's up?" when we see each other.

I am confident that turning the page to the next chapter in our lives will be easy. For every cut and bruise we face along the way, at the very least we can find peace knowing that we bleed orange and blue.