Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Chavez - 6th in state - 50 yard free style

Mossimo Chavez(so) of Whitney Young placed 6th in the 50 yard free style at the IHSA state swimming and diving meet with a time of 21.13. He improved from his 11th place finish and time of 21.73 at last year's state meet.

"His finish was the Public League's best by an individual or relay since Kenwood's Brandon Johnson took third in the 100 butterfly in 1998. The last Young swimmer to place (besides Chavez) was Jose Gallagher, who was 10th in the backstroke in 1994."

- Tribune

Whitney Young wins Boys Swimming City Championship

Whitney Young took its 4th straight boys swimming city championship. Whitney Young was led by super sophomore Mo Chavez. Chavez helped Whitney Young set 4 CPS records in the 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, and 400 free relay. Chavez is a favorite to medal in a couple events at the upcoming state swim meet.

Please comment or send me an email if you have the full results of the CPS Meet.

Lane Beats Whitney Young in Boys Swimming

(LTW photo)

Lane Tech- Whitney Young dual Boys Swim Meet Results

In an early season dual meet, Lane handed Whitney Young an 87-83 defeat.

Lane and Whitney Young are rivals in almost every sport but in boys swimming - the rivalry is especially big. Lane has won 6 city titles in the last 10 years but they have not won since 2009. Lately, it's been Whitney Young's turn. Whitney Young has won the last 3 city titles. Last year, Whitney Young beat Lane in a dual meet. Lane did not participate in last year's city meet due to reportedly discipline issues.

Whitney Young has the star power. This year's Whitney Young swim team is led by super sophomore Mossimo Chavez(so)- an all state finisher last year as a freshman. Mossimo dominated in winning the 50 and 100 yard freestyle vs. Lane.

Lane Tech, as it seems like it always does, counts on depth. At the 2010 city meet, Lane took 2nd place as a team without winning a single event. This year's team seems to be built that way. They don't have a star like swimmer like Mossimo Chavez, but they have a slew of quality swimmers who will finish right behind the stars and do well in relays.

Lane is led by senior swimmers Jake Boettcher, Matt Gullickson, Kevin Shanken, and Justin Fernandez.

What to Expect for the CPS this Winter...Part 2

Northside Prep, 5th in the state last year, has gotten an additional boost with the appointment of International Chess Master Florin Felecan as head chess coach.

Chess
For years it was Lane and Whitney Young battling for city chess supremacy. Whitney Young is still there, but Northside Prep has asserted itself another major player. Northside Prep busted out last year with its first city championship in chess after a close 36-32 win over Whitney Young. Whitney Young and Northside Prep entered the state meet #1 and #2 seeds. Whitney Young ended up with a 3rd place state trophy and Northside Prep had its highest state finish ever with a 5th place finish. The two will be at it again this year. Northside Prep had only one senior out of thirteen players on its state roster. Whitney Young returns 7 out its top 9 players including its top 3. Kelly, 21st in the state last year, looks to rebuild after heavy graduation losses. Lane Tech should be improved and Lincoln Park could be a factor at the city tournament.

Boys Swimming

Mossimo Chavez(so) of Whitney Young broke a CPS medalist slump at the boys state swim meet by finishing 11th in the 50 yard free style. A lot of eyes will be on Chavez to see if he can improve on his finish. Mossimo is the younger brother of former Nortside Prep star Alexa Chavez.  Alexa won 13 CPS swimming titles for Northside and now swims at the University of Illinois.

The CPS title will come down to either Whitney Young, Lane Tech, or Northside Prep. Whitney Young has won 3 CPS championships in a row. Northside Prep was second last year, only 12 points behind Whitney (boy does NCP wish they had Mossimo Chavez), and perennial power Lane looks to bounce back after not participating as a team at the CPS meet last year due to disciplinary reasons. Lane will be boosted this year by members of its sophomore team from last year that won the sophomore title by 135 points.

Breaking the Slump in Boys Swimming

Whitney Young freshman Mossimo Chavez advances to consolation finals of 50 yard free style at state meet

Whitney Young freshman swimmer Mossimo Chavez advanced to the consolation final of the IHSA state meet in Evanston. He swam a 21.41 in the 50 yard free-style to finish with the 11th fastest time after prelims. The top 6 advance to the championship final today and the next 6 advance to the consolation final. So as long as Chaevz swims today he is guaranteed a 7th-12th place at the state meet.

The CPS as group has had a recent slump at the state swim meet. A CPS boys swimmer has not placed (top 12) at the state swim meet since Brandon Johnson of Kenwood placed 8th in the 100 yard butterfly for Kenwood in 1998.

CPS Advances 4 Individuals, 1 Relay to Boys State Swim Meet

CPS State Meet Advancers

from the IHSA:

Oak Park Sectional

500-Yard Freestyle

Pl  Competitor            Yr   School                            Time       
2   Ramiro Almaraz        Sr.  Chicago Curie High School         4:40.13

200-Yard Individual Medley

Pl  Competitor            Yr   School                            Time       
1   Ramiro Almarez        Sr.  Chicago Currie                    1:57.22

 

St. Ignatius Sectional

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

Pl  School                            Time          
1   Whitney Young                     1:29.05

100-Yard Freestyle

Pl  Competitor            Yr   School                            Time       
1   Mossimo Chavez        Fr.  Whitney Young                     47.64

50-Yard Freestyle

Pl  Competitor            Yr   School                            Time       
1   Mossimo Chavez        Fr.  Whitney Young                     21.57


As a side note, it looks like Lane Tech did not 
participate in sectionals due to team
disciplinary reasons. 

update:
Lane Tech did participate, they just did 
not qualify anyone out of this very tough
sectional which includes defending state
champion New Trier, Loyola, etc.

 

Dolphin Power

Whitney Young Wins 3rd City Boys Swimming Title
Lane Tech team out due to disciplinary reasons

The Whitney Young Dolphins. You can't make a more apt mascot than the Dolphins to win a championship in boys swimming.

I got this quote from a reader:

"This was Whitney Young's 3rd Varsity Championship in a row.

Due to disciplinary action, Lane Tech did not field a Varsity team besides a diver.  I really do not know details, and I do not want to spread rumors. 

Overall the the Varsity Swimming & Diving City Championship has become a lot faster.  No IHSA cuts were made at this meet.  With Sectionals this weekend, Curie, Taft, Northside, Whitney Young, & Lane Tech (if they are swimming),  all have potential to send swimmers to the IHSA State Meet with a good taper.

The individual event winners for Curie are both Seniors, Eduardo Chavez and Ramiro Almarez.  Mossimo Chavez from Whitney Young is a Freshman.  I am not sure of the grade levels for the Northside and Taft event winners."

Top 3 teams
1. Whitney Young-265
2. Northside-253
3. Curie-215

Boys Varsity Results

On the plus side for Lane. Lane dominated at the sophomore level winning with 310 points to 2nd place Northside's 175 points.

Boys Soph Results

Lane Tech Summer Aquatics Programs

Lane offers a variety of aquatics programs for all ages and all skill levels. Listed below are some of these great spring and summer opportunities.

Ø  Summer Swim Camp – Over the summer, Lane Tech hosts a summer camp for novice, and advanced swimmers. The camp is open to 6th - 12th graders, some exception are made for talented swimmers with Coach's approval.Freshmen are given a great opportunity to get a head start meeting the coaches, the team and getting familiar with the school.   The camp is broken into week long sessions focusing on one stroke a week. The camp is lead and coached by the boys and girls Varsity Head Coach, Paul Rummelhoff.  All dates, times, details and registration are available atwww.LaneTechAquatics.org/summercamp Registration is limited.  

Ø  Learn to Swim – Is a Swim America program which is a national learn to swim program, operated by the American Swimming Coaches Association.  Oakton Swimming in combination with Lane Tech Aquatics offers the lesson based program at Lane. The program is currently offered on Saturday morning and will continue in the summer during the week. The program is open to boys and girls ages 6 – 14.  After completing the program, the young swimmers will be ready to compete for a local swim club and the local high school swim team. More information can be found at www.lanetechaquatics.org/swimamerica

Ø  Diving – Oakton Diving and Lane Tech have teamed up to offer Diving to Lane students.  They receive team pricing and practice at state of the art pools such as Northeastern Illinois University.  They offer lessons, team practice and competitions year round.  This year the coaching staff coached the first and second place finishers in the Chicago Public Schools Championship meet. Any boys or girls interested in diving for Lane should join. If you have additional questions contact Coach Rummelhoff.  More information and registration atwww.oaktondiving.com

Ø  Club Team – The Iguanas Club Team practice at Lane Tech in the morning in the summer and after the high school teams practice during the school year. The Iguanas Swim club offers training and practice groups for swimmers of all ages and ability levels. It is the goal of the Iguanas Swim club to offer age specific training for all of our athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing each individual to the best of THEIR abilities. The Iguanas have coached a number of city champions and city record holders. Lane is only one of two city schools that offer a club team in their building. It is also the only academic center school to have a club team.  More information and registration available atwww.iguanaswimming.org

Ø  Water Polo- Lane will host a summer camp for middle school students,  5^th-8^th grade.  All dates, times, and registration will be available at http://www.lanetechaquatics.org/summercamp in the upcoming weeks.

------------------------------------
Coach Paul Rummelhoff
Lane Tech High School
Mathematics Teacher
Head Coach Girls & Boys Swimming
Director of Boys and Girls Water Polo

Whitney Young Dolphin Power!

It was a great week for the Whitney Young Dolphin.

• Chess Team Wins State -  The chess team won state. In a field of 128 teams, Whitney Young came on top over Niles North in the final round. Just like York dominates in cross country, Niles North dominates in chess. To beat a program, the level of Niles North says a lot of the Whitney Young program. Whitney Young became the CPS's first state championship team in chess since Kenwood in 1988. Lane took 2nd that year (I was on the Lane team).
• Girls Basketball Wins City - The girls basketball team steam rolled over city competition to win yet another city championship. They pummeled Morgan Park in the championship. Whitney Young's next goal is to take the elusive state championship. Whitney Young has taken 2nd in state to Bolingbrook the last two years.
• Boys Basketball Makes it to CPS semi-finals - Whitney Young made it to the semi-finals where they play #1 ranked Simeon tonight.
• Boys Swimming Wins City Championship - Whitney Young won the boys swimming city championship over a rebuilding Lane team and an up and coming Curie program.

Iguanas Swim Club Now Training at Lane

NEW!!  Iguanas Swim Club is now practicing at Lane

Iguanas will practice at Lane this summer from 7:00am - 8:30am (click here to register)

They will practice in the fall and winter from 5:45pm - 7:30pm

This is a promising development for Lane and the CPS. Swimming is one of those sports where year round training is required in order to perform at a high level. All the top high school swimmers do club swimming outside of the high school season. The Iguanas already have some top swimmers in the CPS including Cassidy O'Connel from Lane Tech - one of the top young swimmers in the CPS.

Some of the staff for the Iguanas Swim Club include:

Lance Grossman (head coach) - assists with Payton co-op swim team
Jim Cortez - former head swim coach at Payton
Cherianne Berry - current Payton Water Polp coach
Erik Nyholm - former city champ and state qualifier for Lane Tech
Bela Szabados - swam in 3 Olympics for the Hungarian national team