Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Class of 2012 (Sophomores) CPS Boys Cross Country List

Bana Negash (so) is one of 3 Mather runners in the top 3 of the class of 2012.

Below is a list of class of 2012 (sophomores) from the Chicago Public League.

Email the Publisher for any additions and corrections: Publisher@LaneTechFan.com

(updated as of 9/27/09)

1. Abdurahim Haji - Mather (10:16. 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
2. Bana Negash - Mather (10:39, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
3. Juan Mendez - Mather (16:24, 3 miles, Minooka Invite #2)
4. Lucas Beltran - Lane Tech (16:38, 2 miles, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
5. Danny Zimny Schmitt- Lane Tech (16:56, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
6. Sam Barder- Whitney Young (12:14, 2.2 miles, Lane Tech Invite)
7. Mike Schaible - Whitney Young (12:17, 2.2 miles, Lane Tech Invite)
8. Eric Shan - Whitney Young (12:23, 2.2 miles, Lane Tech Invite)
9. Daniel Rodriguez - Curie (11:14, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
10. Aidrous Ahmed - Mather (11:17, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
11. Pedro Medrano - Lane Tech (17:52, 3 miles, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
12. Yusef Hood- Kenwood (11:33, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
13. Andrew Zotti - Lincoln Park (11:36, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
14. Danny Gonzales - UIC College Prep (12:53. 2.25 miles, Whitney Young Invite)
15. Kevin Perez - Lane Tech (18:04, 3 miles, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
16. Michael Morin - Lane Tech (17:59, 3 miles, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
17. David Timlin - Lane Tech (18:03, 3 miles, Peoria Notre Dame Invite)
18.Rolando Ramirez - Steinmetz (11:38, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
19. Porter Truax - Payton (13:17, 2.25 miles, Whitney Young Invite)
20. Nathan Beltran - Whitney Young (13:39, 2.2 miles, Lane Tech Invite)
21. Patrick Duffy - Northside Prep (18:50, 5k, Leyden Invitational)
22. Tommy Komendzinski - Payton (13:26, 2.25 miles, Whitney Young Invite)
23. Yusef Hood - Kenwood (18:39, 3 miles, Warren Invitational)
24. Sukrins Shreshta - Mather (11:46, 2 miles, Mather Invite #2)
25. Yusuf Skelic - Northside Prep (19:07, 5k, Leyden Invitational)
26. Janathon Kamel - Payton (13:39, 2.25 miles, Whitney Young Invite)
27. Travon Mackie - Harlan (12:14, 2 miles, Harlan dual #2)
28. Deon Morissette - Kenwood (14:13, 2.2miles, Whitney Young Invite)
29. Luke Helliker - Jones College Prep (18:59, 3 miles, Uhigh #2)

Class of 2013 (freshman list)

The Rise of Cross Country in Chicago

10 seconds into the Girls Open race at the Lane Tech Invite Earlier this year. That race alone had 179 runners. A great turnout!

Over the past ten years, Cross Country in Chicago has grown from an unpopular sport into a thriving community. This community includes private, catholic, and public school athletes who combined with parents and coaches make up a tight knit coalition of runners. This community is fostered by the rise in competition that the Chicago Public League has experienced. Each year the city championship winning times go down and I believe this is a direct result of competition for spots within a single team and rivalries between different teams. Although we may analyze who has the best runners or who will win city etc; every team who competes and works hard should be acknowledged. Some think of cross country as an individual sport, but as seen this year it is so much more. Each team brings something different to CPS competition and as the years go by the community will grow larger.

- written by Jonathon Kamel

More info on being a CPSfan volunteer blogger

- written by Jonathon Kamel

More info on being a CPSfan volunteer blogger

Von Steuben Added to School Store

Von Steuben School Store

Other Schools

Lane Tech School Store

North Side Prep School Store

Payton School Store

Morgan Park School Store

CPSfan School Store Page

Race Based Selective Enrollment on the Way Out of the CPS!

A US District Court Judge has terminated the Second Amended Consent decree. Meaning, the federal judge has told the CPS that they are no longer required to required to racially integrate their school system. See, this forced racial integration was put in place in CPS schools over 20 years ago. It was a different world back then.  But with the judges ruling, the CPS no longer has any kind of mandate to formally racially integrate schools. I interpret this as that for the past 20 years, the CPS had to meet certain race based quotas in their selectment process.

In a statement by CPS CEO Ron Huberman, the CPS "remains committed to the development of a fair admission process". I hope what he means by "fair" is to eliminate any kind of race based selection process for selective enrollment school.

There are 9 selective enrollment high schools in the CPS: Brooks, Jones, King, Lane Tech, Lindblom, Northside, Payton, Whitney Young, and Westinghouse. Currently, race is a factor - not the sole determinant but a factor when decided who get's who in these schools. Hopefully, with the elimination of this federal integration mandate, only the most qualified students get into these schools - regardless of race.

The reason why sports appeals to me is because the results speak for themselves. In sports, you are judged by your results and personal merit. There is no debating that someone who runs a 6 minute mile is faster than someone who runs an 8 minute mile. Race is not and never should be a factor.

Getting admitted to a selective enrollment school should be the same way. Only the best and brightest  - based on measurable criteria like academic achievement should get in first - regardless of race or situation.

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Harlan Meet #2 Results

Aaron Ingram (sr) is the number two man of Harlan's new cross country team. Harlan has over 27 runners on it's new cross country team. 27 runners is a great turnout for a south side CPS school - especially a new program

Harlan Invite #2 Results

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CPSfan.com home page

Senn undefeated; Orr Pulls Shocker over Brooks: Week 5 CPS Football Thoughts

Tashaun Johnson (jr- QB) and Harlan came through with a 28-20 conference win over Harper.

Week 5 in the football week marked the second week of conference play. Here is a few things I learned.

• Senn - After Senn's 28-26 win over Agriculture Science, Senn is undefeated and has given up only 26 points in their 5 victories. Senn is battling for a Chicago Conference title and a shot in the state playoffs. Senn is led by senior quarterback Terrance Brand. Senn is in 5A. Another win basically puts them in the state playoffs.
• Orr - I knew Orr had some potential when they lost a close game to Wauconda earlier this year. But their week 5, 35-6 win over undefeated Brooks even surprised me. I had Brooks pegged to breeze undefeated through conference. Either Brooks is worse than I thought or Orr is better than I thought. Orr is led by a run only offense led by a pair of starting freshman running backs, Carl Young and Jamal McDowell. Young ran for 108 yards on only 11 carries vs Brooks. McDowell ran for 75 yards on only 10 carries vs. Brooks.
• Curie - The Condors are another surprise team. Curie beat Lane Tech in week 4 then led mighty Simeon at halftime before finally falling 20-13. Curie is 2-3 with remaining conference games versus Dunbar, Whitney Young where they will be the favorites.

Neilski's CPS football rankings after week 5

1. Morgan Park
2. Simeon
3. King
4. Hubbard
5. Curie
6. Lane Tech
7. Dunbar
8. Robeson
9. Bogan
10. Senn

Whitney Young Invite Results

Whitney Young Boys Varsity

Whitney Young Invite Results

Statement : Hubbard 55 - Lincoln Park 0

Hubbard varsity players at the National Anthem|

I touted the Hubbard vs. Lincoln Park game as the CPS game of the week. Hubbard, is the perennial CPS big boy and spurted out to a 3-1 record. Meanwhile, Lincoln Park came into the game undefeated at 4-0 and hoping to make a statement that Lincoln Park is ready to play with the big boys.

Instead, Hubbard was the one that made the statement as the Greyhounds handed the Lions a humiliating 55-0 victory Friday night at Lane stadium.

Hubbard sophomore quarterback Quincey Skanes only passed 6 times the entire game - connecting on three of them. However, his 3 completions accounted for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Most of Hubbard's damage came on the running side. Jerome Lassiter (sr) rushed for 112 yards on only 8 carries while scoring 4 touchdowns. Lassiter at a brusing 5'11 240lbs was just too big and fast for Lincoln Park to handle. Running Back Brandon Noland (sr- 5'7; 175lbs) also scored two touchdowns.

CPS to make more team eligible for state football playoffs

Preston Brewer (sr- DT; 6-3 280lbs) and undefeated Bogan will benefit by the CPS to decide to expand state playoff teams.

There is a new wrinkle this year in CPS football. The CPS has decided that the top two finishing schools in Chicago Conference's will be eligible for the state playoffs. Last year (and many years before that) only schools in Illini Conference were eligible for the state football playoffs. This was done because in years past, CPS teams from almost every conference were elgible for the state playoffs. But blowout by scores like 55-0 were common. So the CPS decided to limit that only schools in the much more competitive Illini-conference.

The change will benefit schools like Senn and Bogan. Senn, at 5-0, is undefeated and first place in the Chicago Great Lakes Conference. Senn, at 4-0, is only one of two teams in the state of Illinois that has not given up any points thus far this season. Bogan, is 5-0, while averaging about 45 points per game while giving up an average of 8.6. Bogan, is also one of the few CPS schools who have beaten a suburban school when they upset Tinley Park 22-15 in week 1.

I am for more opportunities, for more CPS schools, but there are a couple downside to consider. Yes, it is good to see a first place Senn team qalifying for the playoffs. But their schedules consist of teams like Juarez, Farragut, and South Shore. In the state playoffs they will face much tougher competition (Sennis in 5A) like downstate Cahokia and Sacred Heart- Griffin, or local suburban powers like Hillcrest and Montini. I know Senn is good this year, but there is a major difference between Juarez and Cahokia. I am predicting that you will see a score like 49-0 (with Senn losing) in the first round state playoff games.

What the IHSA not change is the number of schools that will qualify for the state playoffs. In the past a 5-4 team had a good chance of qualifying for the playoffs. But because there will be more playoff elgible schools, a team with a 5-4 record may not qualify this year, when last year they made it.

So a school like Lane Tech, who right now is 2-3 may not even qualify for the state playoffs if they finish 5-4.

Because of the change, a 5-4 Lane Tech team may not qualify for the state playoffs.

Matt Sebek, Whitney Young's New Number 1

Matt Sebek (jr) is Whitney Young's number one runner.

I asked Whitney Young junior Matt Sebek, how he felt being Whitney Young's number one runner.

"The team is number one", said Sebek.

Apparently, Sebek is viewing the importance of the team rather than the individual. But wheter he accepts it or not. Sebek is now a prominent face of Whitney Young boys cross country. You see, for the past two years, when people talked about Whitney Young. They talked about Julian Deville. Julian Deville is the uber talented distance runner from Whitney Young that bursted into the scene right away as a freshman two years ago. Deville placed 7th in the city at the VARSITY level two years ago as a freshman and last spring ran a 1:58 800 meter run in track. So a lot of people were waiting to see how he would do in cross country this fall. However, Deville surprised a few folks when he decided not to run cross country this fall.

So, now that Deville is out of the picture, the focus goes to other runners. Hence, the growing attention on Sebek. Sebek has finshed first for Whitney Yougn in every race he has run this year. Including an 18:46 for 3.3 miles at the Lane Tech Invite, a 16:47 for 3 miles at the Argo Invite, and a 17:50 for 3 miles at University High #2.

Bu as Sebek implied, Whitney Young is much more than him. Whitney Young has a bevy of young talent including sophomore Sam Barder, who finished only 2 seconds behind Sebek at University High #2. Barder played soccer last fall but this year decided to run cross country. Other Whitney Young runners to look out for include Eric Shan (so), Liam Burns (jr), Sam Redmond (jr), Mike Schaible (jr) and freshman sensation Taro Salinas (fr).

Whitney Young will host the Whitney Young Invitational this Saturday at Lincoln Park.