Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Pictures Now- CPS Meet 2012

Photo Album

Freshman Girls City Champion Alyssa Hui of Lincoln Park.


About 3/4 mile into the girls frosh-soph race Katherine Shen of Whitney Young races right next to eventual individual champion Elise King of Lane Tech. Whitney Young finished strong to edge out Lane 46-24.


About 200 yards into the boys frosh-soph race a quartet of CVS Cavaliers take command near the front.


Jennifer Geary of Jones on her way to an all city 14th place finish. Everyone is talking about the Jones Boys teams. However, I could not help to notice the vast improvement of the Jones girls program. Jones had 5 runners finish below 20 minutes in the girls varsity race and finished in a solid 3rd place.

Fenger Transfers Ruled Ineligible to Play at CVS

During the offseason 9 Fenger football players transferred from Fenger to CVS. They expected to play this fall. It looks like that won't happen as the CPS ruled:

“The CPS Athletic Association bylaws outline very specific rules that govern transfers between schools and eligibility for student-athletes within Chicago Public Schools. The rules are in place to maintain a level and competitive playing field for all schools. The students received a fair hearing, which determined that they are ineligible to play football at their current schools this year.”

In short, the 9 players are ruled inelgible to play football this fall at CVS. They transferred to CVS citing "safety" reasons at Fenger. It is not yet determined wheter some or all of them will continue to be enrolled at CVS or go back to Fenger or another school.

Darien Boone Transfers from CVS to Hales

CPS Loses Top Rated QB to Transfer

I got official confirmation that Darien Boone(6-4, 190lbs, 4.6 40 speed) has transferred to Hales Franciscan. Boone was my top rated QB from the CPS. He played for a surprisingly good Fenger team last year before transferring to an improved CVS program.

Boone comitted to Central Michigan earlier this summer.

CVS will now have to scramble for a quarterback as the season starts in a couple weeks. CVS plays in the Illini Red Bird with Simeon, Curie, Dunbar, Lane, and Whitney Young.

Darrien Boone Picks Central Michigan University- transfers to CVS

Darrien Boone(6-4,190lbs, sr) committed to play football for the Central Michigan University Chippewas. Boone had been a mainstay at the quarterback position for Fenger the last few years before deciding to transfer to CVS.

Central Michigan University gets the athletic and tall 6-4 Boone, my top rated quarterback from the Chicago Public League.

CVS gets an immediate boost at the quarterback position. Hopefully, Boone can help bring CVS back to football prominence. CVS is a school with a rich football history. Alumni include former Chicago Bear Dick Butkus (NFL Hall of Fame), former Chicago Bear and 3 time All-American at Notre Dame Chris Zorich, and former Illini quarterback Juice Williams (class of 2006).

CVS, despite finishing last in the Illini-Red Bird conference got a reprive when it was announced that CVS will remain in the Illini-Red Bird home of Simeon, Curie, Dunbar, Lane Tech, and Whitney Young.

A Move in the Right Direction

CPS Board Approves Closing/Turnaround of 17 poorly performing CPS Schools

The CPS board approved the three year phase out of Crane Tech and Dyett High School. They also approved replacing staff and investing in new programs at Chicago Vocational Career Academy (CVS), Tilden High School, and 9 underperforming CPS elementary schools.

The Chicago Teachers Unions and Jesse Jackson all have publicly denouced these decisions. Jackson went went ahead called this decision "Education Apartheid". The reason why the Unions hate this is because everytime a school closes there are likley going to be less union workers and less union workers mean less union dues that they are collecting. Less unions dues means less money in the union bank accounts.

The bottom line is the Crane Tech, Dyett, and to a lesser extent CVS and Tilden are not performing. Jesse Jackson will never send his kids to Dyett or Crane.

While I hate to see the closing of schools especially one of the sports tradition of a Crane Tech, something had to be done.

The CPS has done some bad things in the past and some good things in the past. This, in my opinion is a step in the right direction. We can't keep propping up the poor performers. Like in life, the poor performers get punished and the good performers need to be rewarded. The CPS is sending a clear message: "we will no longer tolerate poor performance." To me that is a great step toward really making positive improvement in the attitude and ultimately the fate of the CPS.

Darius Smith ruled inelgible at University of Houston

Darius Smith (CVS- class of 2011) was ruled inelgible to particiapte in sports for this season at the University of Houston.

"Yes, he signed with us in the spring, but unfortunately at registration this fall, he was not eligible through the NCAA Eligibility Center. He made the decision to return back to Chicago and complete a high school course to be eligible. That was a tough loss, but I was told that he was doing well and he is now at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
- M.Seun Adigun
University of Houston
Assistant Track and Field Coach

Last year, Darius Smith was the CPS meet champion in the 100, 200, and long jump. He also finished state runner up in class 3A in the 100 and 200.

More Info on New Jones College Prep Campus

Parents in the South Loop complained that there was not enough viable neighborhood school options. They felt going to Dunbar on King Drive and 30th street and King Drive south of the McCormick place was too far. Even schools like Whitney Young and UIC College in the near West Side was too far. Jones was the school that most south loop parents wanted to send their kids to. However, Jones as you can see from the picture above is a small school. It houses about 800 students in a small building. Plus the current Jones lacks facilities. It does not even have a gym for it's basketball team.

So the CPS decided to make a new Jones College Prep located right next to the old Jones. Last year the CPS put $24 million for the new Jones. This year, they allocated an additional $96 million funded by Tax Increment Funding (TIF) funds. The new Jones will have about 1200 students. That is a 50% increase in enrollment from the current Jones. No word yet on the exact date of completion.

However, I expect better athletic facilities. With improved facilites, more students, good students, and good coaching, Jones has the ingredients to really upgrade its sports programs. The cross country team has already shown great success with the boys and girls side. The basketball team has jumped out to a 6-1 start -one of the best starts in school history- and are in first place in the Blue Central.

Keep a look out on Jones athletics!

As a side note, Jones is not the only school the CPS is putting money into.They decided to put aside over $75 million in much needed capital repairs for the ancient CVS campus.

 

Lane Tech 42 CVS 20

Lane Tech's Demise is Premature!

Lane Tech (left) and CVS players shake hands after the game.

Lane Tech was stunned after a 60 yard touchdown run on 3rd and 6 to give CVS a 20-14 lead in the 3rd quarter. However, instead of folding Lane suddenly came alive on both sides of the ball. The Lane Tech offense scored 28 unanswered points in the 3rd and 4th quarter to stun CVS 42-20. The Lane Tech defense did not give up a single CVS first down after CVS took the lead and also caused a couple of sacks and fumbles in the key 3rd quarter. I saw inspired play from defensive players like Kevin Yoo(sr, 5-7, 2121lb, DL, captain) who recovered a fumble and co-captain Alex Mueller(6-2, 186lbs, sr, LB/DE).

The defensive performance for Lane was particulary good considering standout sophomore linebacker Eric McMiller(so) was out with an injury.

"I hurt my shoulder, but I should be back in a week," said McMiller.

Meanwhile, the Lane Tech offense, which has struggled for most of the season, scored a season high 42 points.

Lane scored on the first possession of the game on a Victor Gonzalez(5-9, 176lbs, jr, RB/LB) touchdown run. His run was set up by a long running yard gain by Antonio Abreu(5-10, 158lb, RB/DB/KR, jr) is FAST and is very shifty- which makes sense since he was an all-city 200 meter track runner last spring as a sophomore.

CVS answered with a 1 yard touchdown run to make the score 7-7 in the first quarter.

In the 2nd quarter Abreu gave Lane a 14-7 lead on a 50 yard touchdown run.

CVS tied the game 14-14 when they drove 60 yards in 3 plays with 60 seconds in the half. The big play came on a 40 yard reception by Shaquille Branch(sr, #3).

Lane scored on 2 touchdown runs each by Victor Gonzalez, Antonio Abreu, and quarterback Jack McLaughlin(jr, 6-2, 175lbs).

"We started out slow, but then we really got it going later," said McLaughlin.

Lane is now 1-1 in conference and plays rival Whitney Young next week at Homecoming.

CVS, is 0-2 in conference, but I feel didn't play too bad- they just ran out of gas in the 3rd period. CVS plays Curie next week.

DO OR DIE - Lane Tech vs CVS

Ian Rundquist(jr, 6-2, 250lbs, OL/DL) of Lane Tech. Numbers are healthy at Lane Tech with 65 players on its roster.

Lane faces off vs CVS this Thurday at Gately. Both teams are 0-1 in conference and with Simeon, Dunbar, and Curie in the conference wins will come at a premium. The winner will have an edge to stay out of the dreaded last spot in conference. No one in an Illini conference wants to get sent down to the Chicago Conference. Though, both teams still have to face Whitney Young.

Prior to last week, I would have given Lane an edge in this game. But after Lane's 35-0 clubbing to Curie and CVS good effort in their loss to Dunbar, I have to give CVS a slight edge. Also, CVS might have the best player on the field in running back Chris Brown.

The problem for Lane this year is trying to generate offense versus good defenses. Lane scored a total of 19 point combined in their 3 losses to DeLaSalle, Glenbrook North, and Curie.

The last time I saw these two teams play at Gately was a few years ago when Lane barely held on in a high scoring game against a Juice WIlliams led CVS team.

This time, the stakes are not who wins conference, but who stays out of last.

Week 4 Thursday

CVS is 2-1 and ranked #12 in the CPS. Dunbar is 1-2 and ranked #5. CVS will be very hard pressed to stop the high powered Dunbar offense led by quarterback Darvell Harris. CVS gave up 36 points in a loss to Hyde Park. Dunbar will score much more than that against CVS. CVS has a few weapons of their own in running back Terrance Sheldon-Brown,  quarterback Marcus Davis, and linebacker Greg Brown.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
(Neilski's picks in Green)

CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS
Prosser vs. Foreman at Hanson, 3:30
Schurz vs. Lincoln Park at Lane, 5:30

CHICAGO WINDY CITY
Manley vs. Hyde Park at Gately, 3:30

ILLINI RED BIRD
Vocational vs. Dunbar at Gately, 7

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 1
Lake View vs. Sullivan at Winnemac, 3:30

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 2
Corliss vs. Tilden at Gately, 3:30
North Lawndale vs. Kennedy at Rockne, 3:30
Washington vs. Hirsch at Eckersall, 3:30

PUBLIC INTER-CITY 4
Juarez vs. Urban Prep-East Garfield Park at Hanson, 7