Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Sun-Times Report: CPS Cutting Lacrosse and Water Polo

Lacrosse will be extinct if the Sun-Times report is true. What is next?

I know the Sun-Times wrote it in print :  CPS will be "cutting back some spring non-varsity sports and eliminating lacrosse and water polo." I can't believe what I read. Eliminating lacrosse and water polo? Until, I hear it from more sources than just the Chicago Sun-Times, I am not going to fully believe it.

If someone can confirm or not confirm in the comments that would be great. In the meantime, I am asking some of my sources to confirm the report. As soon as I get some additional info, I will let everyone know.

Thank you for ChicagoNow for the following FY2011 CPS Budget Forecast

Proviso West Invite Results

I added the Proviso West Invite to the Results Page.

Proviso West Invite initial Whitney Young results

Taro Salinas (fr) of Whitney Young -11:09.73 in the 3200 meter run.

Whitney Young is running in the Proviso West Invite today. It is one of the first big indoor track meets in the Chicago area. Among the teams there: York, Nequa Valley, Downers Grove North, Downers Grovers South, Lyons, and more.

Below are some initial Whitney Young unofficial results:

55 meters - Cameron Allen (sr) - 6.67 - 2nd place
800 meters - Mike Schaible (so) - 2:10.50
Triple Jump - Jonathan Gardner (sr) - 44-4 = 1st place
3200 meter - Taro Salinas (fr) - 11:09.73
400 meter - Lyndon Darden(sr) - 52.87
                  Cameron Allen (sr) - 53.47

Full results of this and other meets coming soon...

Lake View Dual - Lane Tech Results Released

Salvadore Barrios (jr) led Lane JV with a 2:32 800 meter run.

Lane Tech- JV and Lake View ran a dual at Lake View High School on February 25, 2010.

Lane only results

Results Page

March Madness Begins in Illinois

Class 3A and 4A High School Boys Basketball State Playoffs Begin March 1

Harlan's track team may be MIA but their basketball team is alive and opens with a very winnable game against Midlothian Bremem at Tinley Park High School next Tuesday. Pictured above is senior captain Dondricus Kellum.

I'll be keeping an eye out on the following opening regional games

Monday, March 1, 2010
Payton vs CICS Longwood @ University High
Payton senior Nick Scholnick scored 38 points in one quarter against Kelly in a game earlier this year. The 38 points in a quarter is an Illinois record. He hit 9 3 pointers in that quarter. He will be watched diligently in every one of his final games.

Urban Prep vs Marist @ Marist
Urban Prep is making serious strides. They celebrated their first year with a senior class by winning the Blue-South conference with an 8-1 record and will move to a Red-conference next year. Most likely the Red-South with Simeon, CVS, city champion Morgan Park, etc. I'm predicting an Urban Prep victory over Marist in this game.

Lane Tech vs Glenbrook South @ Glenbrook South
I plan to personally watch this game. In years past, Glenbrook South would be the favorite in this match up. Lane has a junior dominated team led by guard Anton Adkins. A win here by Lane would boost their confidence for next year. The winner will play #2 seed and state ranked New Trier on Tuesday. New Trier is led by 6-10 Fred Heldring.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Harlan vs. Bremen @ Tinley Park HS
A Harlan victory pits them against #1 seed Hillcrest. A game which the Falcons have a shot at an upset. Harlan finished the regular season with a 14-11 overall record and a 5-4 conference record in the rugged Blue South- the toughest conference in the state. Harlan's team is senior dominated and if they win here I am predicting they could play #1 see Hillcrest close. Look out for all-conference Shaquille Hines of Harlan.

Time To Face The Music

CPS to Lay Off 500 workers; facing nearly 1 Billion Dollar Deficit

I'll try to put this as simple as I can. The CPS is taking in (mostly through taxes) way less than it's bills (teachers salaries, facilities, etc). This results in a deficit.  In past years, it's been somewhat manageable. However, due to various factors which I'll get to later, the CPS is facing a historically high budget deficit of nearly 1 billion dollars, that will affect everyone in the CPS.

According to CPS CEO Rob Huberman the giant deficit is mainly attibuted to tese three factors:

1) a reduction in tax revenues by $138 million
2) an increase in salary costs by $135 million
3) a $280 million pension increase cost

As you know the economy is partly to blame. Hence factor 1) the decrease in tax revenues. But if you do the math, the decrease in tax reveunes only account for 25% of the biggest three factors. Increased salary costs and pension increases account for a whopping 75%.

See, here's the problem. Everyone else in the private sector is cutting costs (layoffs, salary decreases, etc). But in the CPS, the Union workers are getting a PAY INCREASE when everyone else is getting PAY DECREASES.

If the unions don't budge and agree to pay concessions. Either they will strike and the CPS could face schools being out for a while (like they did in the 1980's) or the CPS will be forced to make drastic decisions like cut sports programs, cut after school acitivities, or do things like increase class sizes.

At this point the unions will have to make a decision, make pay concessions or force the CPS to make deicions nobody likes. At this point the unions are not budging. If they continue on their stance, drastic decions will have to be made.

 

Eduardo Chavez of Curie - Someone to Look Out For

I don't write a lot about Boys Swimming or Curie in this blog, but sometimes a CPS athlete shines so much that his name must be worth mentioning.

I'm talking about Eduardo Chavez of Curie. Chavez first caught my attention when he won 2 events at the CPS city swimming championship earlier this year. Then, he surprised the heck out of me when I found out he won two events the 200 individual medley (1:58.50) and the 100 breaststroke (1:00.84) at the tough Fenwick Sectionals. Chavez will participate at this weekend's state swim meet at New Trier. He will try to accomplish a rare feat by trying to score at the state swim meet. The state swim meet is traditionally ruled by the New Trier's, Evanston's, and Stevenson's of the world. A CPS swimmer has not scored at the state meet since the 1990's when Kenwood had a couple swimmers score.

I am not saying Chavez will score, just to make it at the state meet is quite an accomplishment. He has to swim against athletes from schools like defending state champion New Trier, who have former swimming Olympians as assistant coaches. And who after graduating most of their top swimmers from last year's state championship team and reload with swimmers like sophomore Max Grodecki who won the 100 yard free-style in sectionals.

But don't tell Chavez, that he is just satisfied just being there. After he led Curie to the CPS Water Polo Championship last spring Chavez stated "We want to win a state trophy", referring to the upcoming water polo state playoffs. Chavez, may hav ehad realistic goals. After all led Curie in won of the biggest upsets of the water polo season last spring when Curie upset 2008 state runner up Sandburg 10-8 in the regular season.

You will hear more of Chavez in the future. Get this, the guy is only a sophomore.

Max Schneider Regional Video

If you haven't had a chance to see state champion Max Schneider from Lane Tech wrestle yet, here are a couple videos from him at this years Lane Tech regional. Lane's athletic director and principal can be seen as spectators in the background.

Schneider vs Pat Foley(jr) of Leyden in the finals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_2jf-9t8_E

Last CPS Individual Boys State Champions

Max Schneider's recent individual wrestling championship, got me thinking what the last individual state championships for every boys sport or activity with individual champions.

Golf
1920 - Raymond Duggan, Bowen

Cross Country
1950 - Steve Murphy, Calumet

Chess
2010 - Zak Lukasz, Lane Tech, 4th board
2010 - Michael Auger, Whitney Young, 1st board
2010 - Lorenzo Cox, Marshall, 8th board

Wrestling
2010 - Max Schneider, Lane Tech, 145lbs

Bowling
(none - the CPS has never had a state champion in boys bowling, the IHSA first state meet was in 2003)
(the highest CPS finisher was Willie Jubiter of Morgan Park who finished 3rd in 2006)

Swimming and Diving
1981 - Arthur Hill, CVS, diving

Tennis
2007 - Evan King, Payton, 2007

Track
2009 - Jonathon Gardner, Whitney Young, triple jump

Mather Indoor Schedule Added to Schedules Page

 

Mather is mainly known for it's distance runners, but they do have some sprinters. Pictured above is speedster Rashan Fox (sr). Fox is a star running back and defensive back for Mather. "I also play baseball," said Fox. Fox made his 2010 season debut at the Niles West Invite #2 with a 6.1 hand time in the 50 yard dash.

CPSFan.com Track Schedules Page