Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Harlan Falcons Soar - CPS Boys Track Class AA Updated Rankings

Steven Clark (left) and his Harlan teammates,  shown here, battling East St. Louis at the DeLaSalle Invite has soared in the Public League rankings.

In the pre-season class AA rankings Harlan was ranked #3 in class AA. However, after the first few weeks of the indoor track season, it is evident that Harlan is undoubtedly the most improved team from last year in the Public League. A resurgence in coaching and commitment has led Harlan to incredbile meet perfromances including an upset over defending champion East St. Louis (minus several of their top runners) at the DeLaSalle Showdown. Harlan is led by sprinter Darien Williams (sr) who is amongst the CPS leaders in several events including the 55 meter dash (6.36 seconds), 200 meter dash (23.54), and the triple jump (40-3"). Harlan also has much improved George DeBerry (sr) from their football team who has thrown a Public League indoor best 45-6 in the shot put. Don't think, Harlan is all sprinters. Harlan also has a young but talented distance team. 800 meter runner Vincent Perkins (jr) has emerged as a potential 800 meter scorer for the Public League when he ran a 2:07 earlier this year. Harlan, also may have found a new distance star in freshman Dominique Crutcher. Cruthcher, broke the coveted 5:00 barrier last week when he ran a 4:59 at the DeLaSalle Showdown.

I'm not ready to crown Harlan as a challenger to dethrone defending city champ Lane Tech. But I will say that Harlan is by far the top class AA CPS team.Traditional city track powers Whitney Young, Morgan Park, and Mather better look in your rear view mirror because coming up quickly is Harlan.

2009 Class AA Boys TrackRankings (Feb 28, 2009)

1. Harlan
2. Payton
3. Marshall
4. Robeson
5. Kenwood
6. Manley

others: Harper, Lakeview, Hirsch, Senn, Northlawndale

New IHSA Bass Fishing Website Added to Links Page

photo from new IHSA Bass Fishing Web SIte : http://www.thefuturefisheshere.org/index.htm

Links Page

Inaugural IHSA state bass sectional tournament starts April 24, 2009 at desginated lakes across Illinois.

Taft and Simeon High Schools are the only CPS schools participating at the first state Bass Tournament.

Pictures Now: Harlan at DeLaSalle vs East St. Louis Showdown

In an incredible action shot, Detchauz Wray of East St Louis falls during the 4x160 meter relay - while Harlan speed it's way to the victory. Wray, a sophomore, is the starting quarterback on East St.Louis's state championship football team.


I believe that is Brandon Presely (left) of Harlan to the left battling Detchauz Wray of East St. Louis. Harlan has been the surprise team of the Public Leauge this year so far - their upset of defending state champion East St. Louis (minus several of their top guys) has thrust Harlan to the forefront of city track and field.


more action shots. Complete results of the Harlan victory in the 13 meet team can be found here: DeLaSalle Showdown


Click here for Public League Indoor Track 2009 photo album.




Jose Mora (right) of Payton wins the 1600 meter run in 4:48. Behind him is Jacob Cetera of Lincoln Park who finished 3rd in 5:01. The second place finisher was freshman sensation Dominique Crutcher (behind Cetera) from guess where? Harlan. Crutcher ran a very good time of 4:59.0. Where does Harlan find these guys?

Athletic.Net added to Links Page

A high school focused track and field and cross country website called Athletic.net has been added to the Links Page

Public League not able to advance any boys swimmers to state meet

The IHSA state boys swimming sectionals were on last weekend. At the end the entire Public League was not able to advance anyone past sectionals to this weekend's state meet.

The Public League had their top schools at the Evanston Sectionals (Lane Tech, Northside), St. Ignatius (Whitney Young), and Oak Park (Curie). Defending city champ Lane Tech - with a senior laden team could not have anyone reach the state qualifying time at Evanston. The same with Curie at Oak Park. The CPS's best chance to qualify appeared to be at the weak St. Ignatius sectional. Whitney Young had to find a way to win any one of the events. But St. Ignatius swept all of the events to qualify everyone to the state meet.

Leaderboard Released: 2009 Boys Indoor Track

Omar Caban (sr) of Mather is on the CPS Boys Leaderboard in the 1000 meter.

The initial CPS 2009 Boys Indoor Track Leaderboard has been released. The leaderboard page can be permanently be found on the Track Page.

Max Schneider of Lane Tech 2nd in State : first Lane Tech wresteler to finish in top 2 since 1971

Max Schneider (fr) became Lane Tech's first wrestler to finish in the top 2 in the state since 1971.

After an incredible run in the state tournament, Lane Tech freshman Max Schneider brought home a second place medal. All the way up to the state championship match, Schneider pinned all of his opponents including Ellis Coleman of Oak Park, the number one wrestler in the state. His finals opponent was Kevin Fanta of Lake Zurich. Schneider had already faced and pinned Fanta earlier this season at the Wheeling Tournament, so his confidence was there. But at the end Fanta, a senior,  had just enough to beat the up and coming freshman 12-9.

With the second place finish, Max has now made a bit of history. He has become Lane Tech's first state placer since Curtis Owen placed 6th in 1994 and he has become Lane Tech's first wrestler to finish in the top 2 since Andre Allen placed 2nd in 1971.

Schneider- only a freshman- has three more years to join William Sturtevant, as Lane Tech's only other state champion in wrestling. Sturtevant won a title in 1946.

In other Public League news, Manley senior William Hadley, became his school's only state placer in school history when he finished 2nd in class AA- 160lbs.

Lane freshman Max Schneider Upsets #1 Wrestler in state: Schneider advances to state semi-finals

 
Lane Tech freshman Max Schneider (left) battling Ellis Coleman of Park, ranked number one in the state and number 5 nationally. (sun-times photo)

The state wrestling community knew that Lane Tech freshman Max Schneider was good prior to the state tournament. But a stunning win over Ellis Coleman, the number one wrestler in the state at 135lbs, at the state quarterfinals, immediately stamped Schneider in the state and perhaps national spotlight.

The Chicago Sun-times called this a "Goliath Style- upset".

Maine South wrestling coach said "They'll be talking about this one for 20 years."

Here's another quote from a former Lane wrestler:

"Max Schneider just pinned the number 1 ranked wrestler in the state of Illinois,
Ellis Coleman out of Oak Park, who is also ranked top 10
nationally, in the Wrestling State Quarterfinals. Down 1 in
the third period he took Coleman down and pinned him. That is
huge news because that win makes Max Lane's first State placer
in over 10 yrs. Max Schneider is perhaps Lane's best athlete,
regardless of sport, and may have just launched himself in the
national spotlight with that win."

- Jamelle Williams
class of 2007
"two time state qualifier for Lane Tech"

But to Schneider it is just wrestling as usual:

"To me it's just another victory, it's an accomplishment but I don;t want to get too far ahead of myself."

There is still lot's of work to be done, Schneider wrestles in the state semi-finals today and regardless of the result will become Lane's first state placer since Curtis Owens placed 6th in 1994.

Suntimes Article

Tribune Article

Schneider pins Coleman.....

and is crowned victorious. (Sun-times photo)

Videos Now: 800, 600 Meter Run at Niles West #2 February 13, 2009

On February 13, 2009 several CPS schools ran at the Niles WEst #2 Indoor Boys Track Invite.

Below is a video of the 800 meter run:


Below is a video of the 600 meter run

Update: No Final Decision to be Made Yet on Freshman Sports

In a follow up to the blog post: How Come We Can't Take Care of Our Own, the word out there is that the decision to cut CPS Spring Freshman Sports is not final. When I get word either way, I'll be sure to note it on the Blog.