News
2017 Fall Athletics Season in Review
Varsity Tennis
Head Coach Jon Hall-Bryant and Assistant Coach Jacqueline A. Dawkins
This season the Varsity Tennis team looked to rebuild after the departure of last year’s seniors. The young team battled hard and finished fifth in the ISL Conference. We were able to win a number of close matches given our strong effort and positive attitudes. The team finished with an 8-8 record (3-3 conference). The season, however, was about more than wins and losses; it was the development of skills and experiences that made the season a success.
JV Varsity Tennis
Head Coach Jacqueline A. Dawkins and Assistant Coach Anthony O’Neal
The JV Tennis team worked hard all year to improve their skills and technique, and overall, the girls seemed to enjoy the camaraderie with each other and the Varsity team. The team had a great time on and off of the court, and they won some huge matches. A season highlight was a nail biter against St. Ignatius. Our number one singles player was down, but rallied back to win the match in the third set! This was a tremendous accomplishment! The core of the JV team is very talented, and all of them will return next season to help Parker Tennis continue to grow and build on its successes.
Varsity Volleyball
Head Coach Brittany Lo and Assistant Coach Jeremy Aniciete
This season, the Varsity team redefined Parker Volleyball. From the early weeks of the season, the girls set goals for both themselves and the team as a whole and did not waiver from them. They set the tone of the season when they clinched a 2-1 win against University High, a longtime rival. Their hard work and dedication paid off, as they earned second place in the Regional Playoffs. Coaches from other schools praised Parker students for their energy and ability to fight for each point. “Leaving it all on the court” was a common phrase they used to motivate each other to do everything they could to better the ball. During the regional final, each player did in fact “leave it all on the court.” Each player improved immensely and the team worked effortlessly to promote team chemistry to make volleyball not only fun, but also competitive. They exceeded my expectations and I am excited to see where next season takes us.
JV Volleyball
Head Coach Mackenzie Holden and Assistant Coach Christopher Riff
The JV Volleyball team had a great season! The season started off a little rocky with everyone trying out positions they had never played before, but once we found our groove, we were able to get some conference wins. One of the highlights of our season was our homecoming win against Cristo Rey when several of our girls made great plays including blocks, kills, great serving and setting. The technical skill I saw from the girls at the beginning of the season compared to the end was such an improvement in that we were able to complete drills with flying colors that we weren’t able to do at the start. Everyone worked through difficulties and several leaders came out to carry the team. I am very optimistic about where our program as a whole is going, and I am looking forward to watching the girls continue to grow as players.
Varsity Golf
Head Coach Tim O’Conner and Assistant Coach Justin Taylor
The Varsity Golf team ultimately had a very successful season. During the regular season, consistency was a little hard to find for many golfers, but in the end the team could hold their heads high with strong rounds at the ISL Conference Championships and in the State Series. Led by senior Co-Captains Ryan Skok and Andrew Munger, the team held a 4-5 record in head-to-head matches while also finishing third at the Lincoln Park Invitational and fifth at the Preseason ISL vs. MSC Invitational. Parker finished with a third place finish in the Conference Championships (just missing second place by three strokes!). As the State Series tournament started with Regionals, Parker had its lowest team score of the season to advance to Sectionals as a team! This is the first time in many years that Parker has sent its entire Varsity team to the next round of the State Series. With four out of six Varsity golfers returning next season, there is good reason to hope for another great season on the links.
JV Golf
Head Coach Justin Taylor and Assistant Coach Tim O’Connor
The JV Golf team nearly tripled in size this season with each golfer improving during the course of the season. While there were only three official JV matches, they provided great competition and a chance to see what is necessary to make the Varsity team next year. Senior Captain Zack Hirsch made sure the team worked hard to improve every practice. Next season, there will be battles for spots on Varsity from a number of JV players who dedicated themselves to shoot low scores every time out.
Upper School Cross Country
Head Coach Jim Knoedel and Assistant Coach Caleb Flack
Cross Country had a fun and successful season. We had a group of 13 runners who each brought valuable contributions to the team as a whole. It was a nice mix of upperclassmen who knew the ropes and newer competitors who were eager to learn more about the sport. Many of our practices included challenging runs on the lake path but the team responded well and continued to work hard. Their efforts paid off as the season went on, with many student-athletes running new personal bests for the three-mile and 5k distances. The team competed particularly well at the ISL conference meet. Several weeks later at the regional meet, both the girls’ and boys’ teams placed among the top seven respectively and advanced on to sectionals. We had more success at sectionals, with many fast times and several individuals advancing to state. Altogether, this was an impressive group of runners who demonstrated great character during the season.
Varsity Field Hockey
Head Coach Misha Geller-Warning and Assistant Coach Courtney Carone
This season the Varsity Field Hockey team finished very strong. We had a bumpy start, playing teams that were clearly ranked higher, and had a hard time coming together as a new team, but by mid-season something clicked and the team seemed unstoppable. We had strong wins against Deerfield and higher-ranked Glenbrook South, as well as Latin. We also had a great weekend winning the Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational with three full games won during the tournament. Our final record was 10-7 not including the Homewood-Flossmoor tournament, which would bring our team, wins to 13-7. Three phenomenal Captains seniors Margo Fuchs, Brianna Boone and Amalia Cerda, led our team this season. All three brought their own strengths to the team but all three made their goal positivity and used each other as checks and balances. All in all, it was a season to be proud of.
JV Field Hockey
Head Coach Betsy Ehlen and Assistant Coach Elaina Skiouris
The word that sums up the JV Field Hockey team was “grit.” This team never quit and played hard to the end of every game, even when the outcome was a foregone conclusion as either a win or a loss. We had some great come-from-behind victories and some dominating performances. The team learned how to stay positive and work together, even during some disappointing losses. The team’s communication and teamwork improved throughout the season, as did their individual skills and tactical understanding of the game. I can’t wait to see how these student-athletes continue to develop next year!
Varsity Soccer
Head Coach Neil Curran and Assistant Coach Siobhan Allen
Head Coach Neil Curran and Assistant Coach Siobhan Allen
The Varsity Soccer side had a roller coaster season that ended on a high. The season opened up with ties against weaker opponents only to finish in 3rd place at the Glenbrook South Titan Classic—a tournament where the average school enrollment is 4,000 students. Not bad for a “lil school from Lincoln Park.” The regular season continued to show ups and downs with sound wins in the PepsiCo Showdown and yet an incompleteness in taking third in conference. But during the post-season, all the pieces came together. With a strong win in the Regional finals vs. Intrinsic Charter, the boys pushed forward to win the second IHSA Regional and Sectional plaques in two years. The season came to a quick conclusion with a great, but unfortunate 2-1 result vs. St. Edward HS in the IHSA Supersectionals. The game was an excellent example of how sometimes you can give your best and still not be on the winning side.
JV (Blue) Soccer
Head Coach Dylan Pender and Assistant Coach Edward McDugle
Head Coach Dylan Pender and Assistant Coach Edward McDugle
JV Blue had a tremendous 2017 season ending up with a record of 7-2-6. Their only two losses were against very good sides, in which they were still competitive and almost posted wins in each. The season from beginning to end was designed to develop these young players to become prepared for the varsity level. With this focus, it was easy to see the determination of each individual in training as well as a collective unit during matches. Their understanding of the game increased through both technical and tactical training with application in all opportunities. As these players move forward, look for them to help make a difference for Parker soccer on the next level.
JV (White) Soccer
Head Coach Patrick Stanton and Assistant Coach Ephraim Beard
JV White battled through adversity all season long to become a tight-knit group that played for each other and achieved some big results. The Parker turf was in high demand, making JV White the road warriors of the fall.
However, there was no place like home when it came time to play Latin and Lincoln Park. On Homecoming, JV White was able to put together a master-class performance in securing a 1-0 victory against Latin in the Clark Street Cup. We were able to build on such an epic win when we next played at home vs. Lincoln Park in the Oz Park Derby. After two phantom calls leading to goals against us, it was up to the Colonels to twice battle back from a goal down, winning 4-2.
This team believed in each other and never gave up on each other. Not every result went our way this season, but the team’s response to adversity was admirable. This team grew together and began to play for each other in a way that made us all proud.
However, there was no place like home when it came time to play Latin and Lincoln Park. On Homecoming, JV White was able to put together a master-class performance in securing a 1-0 victory against Latin in the Clark Street Cup. We were able to build on such an epic win when we next played at home vs. Lincoln Park in the Oz Park Derby. After two phantom calls leading to goals against us, it was up to the Colonels to twice battle back from a goal down, winning 4-2.
This team believed in each other and never gave up on each other. Not every result went our way this season, but the team’s response to adversity was admirable. This team grew together and began to play for each other in a way that made us all proud.
6th Grade Field Hockey
Head Coach Jan Zoufal and Assistant Coach Alexis Aguilar
The 6th grade Field Hockey team ended the season with a 4-1-1 record. The team represented a strong and positive female presence on the field. Their skill level, sportsmanship and support improved as the season progressed. They celebrated their wins and learned from each other. We both appreciated our players desire to learn, be active and enjoy the game.
7th Grade Field Hockey
Head Coach Taylor Mason and Assistant Coach Ellen Sandquist
If we had to use one word to describe the 7th grade Field Hockey season and success, it would be endurance. With only 16 girls on the team, the physical stamina that was required of them was high, and they took on the challenge! We implemented a 21-day goal to form a winning habit. Every student-athlete worked to improve her physicality, competitiveness, stick work and overall fundamental skills. Every girl had chance to lead the team through the shared role of captain. We finished the season with five wins and one loss, with our one demise in a tough battle that went down to the wire. Our success was measured by the improvement of our team as a whole, and that was the best part of being on a winning team. Congratulations to the 7th grade Field Hockey team on their epic season!
6th Grade Soccer
Head Coach Jonathan Utley and Assistant Coach Jake Rosenbluth
Sixteen 6th grade boys participated in Soccer this season. They ranged from those who had been playing the game as long as they could remember to those who had never been on a sports team, much less a soccer team. They quickly became a team consisting of those with developed skills working to assist those just learning. It was a cohesive unit that played in 11 matches. These matches introduced the student-athletes to interscholastic competition. As we moved through the season, the quality of our play improved. Those who started off hesitant and confused about how to play the game became more confident and thus more effective players.
7th Grade Soccer
Head Coach Noah Wolff and Assistant Coach Meghan Albrecht
This season the 7th grade Boys Soccer team had a record of 2-5 although that record does not accurately represent the accomplishments and abilities of this group of boys. The season had many highlights, and, as awesome as our two victories over Latin were, our last match against Lycee Francais was probably our most impressive and complete performance. Although we ended up losing the match 6-5, the team showed great resilience having to adjust to play 9 on 9 and coming back from two multiple goal deficits, during the course of the game. While the boys created many more chances than their opponents they fell one goal short after a barrage of scoring chances in the final few minutes. All but one of our losses this season came from only a one goal deficit and we hope this has taught the boys some valuable lessons about teamwork and battling to the final whistle. Additionally, we hope the boys learned some valuable skills to help them improve both as players on the field and as teammates in the locker room. Special thanks to all the parents as well as the Athletics Department for making this season possible. We look forward to seeing all the boys participating in Parker athletics in the future. Congratulations on a great season!
8th Grade Soccer
Head Coach Zac Ginsburg and Assistant Coach Michael Neff
The 8th grade Boys Soccer team improved during the course of the season. In our first few matches, we showed skill but needed to work on our focus and teamwork. When we played Lake Forest Country Day midway through the season, our opponents scored three quick goals against us. We regrouped at halftime and, with renewed focus, played better and won the second half 2-0.
The team faced a similar situation in our second to last match against Sacred Heart. We were down three goals at halftime, and having been there before, knew we were capable of raising our level of play. Parker won 5-4.
In the final match of the season, we didn’t wait until the second half to play to our potential. The team showed focus from the first whistle, worked hard, solved problems and stuck it out until the end. This season, we learned from our challenges, discovered solutions and saw ourselves succeed.
And all the players progressed from good individual play, to excellent coordinated play which is the hallmark of a quality soccer team.
The team faced a similar situation in our second to last match against Sacred Heart. We were down three goals at halftime, and having been there before, knew we were capable of raising our level of play. Parker won 5-4.
In the final match of the season, we didn’t wait until the second half to play to our potential. The team showed focus from the first whistle, worked hard, solved problems and stuck it out until the end. This season, we learned from our challenges, discovered solutions and saw ourselves succeed.
And all the players progressed from good individual play, to excellent coordinated play which is the hallmark of a quality soccer team.
8th Grade Field Hockey
Head Coach Charlotte Ehlwart and Assistant Coach Flynn Okner
The 8th grade Field Hockey team enjoyed a successful season. The team developed excellent group chemistry while further honing their field hockey skills. The season was highlighted by a hard-fought victory over Latin late in the season when the team really came together to earn the win. The future of Parker field hockey is bright as this group of 8th graders move on to Upper School!
Middle School Coed Cross Country
Head Coach Minnie Choudhury and Assistant Coach Jennifer Marshall
Fall 2017 was a strong season for the Middle School Cross Country team! Our team grew by nearly 50 percent, to 13 students, with a core of veteran 7th and 8th grade runners and a large group of 6th graders. At the beginning of the season, our runners set a goal of running harder, stronger, better and faster—and they achieved it.
Kumiko Muro and Naomi Geller both earned impressive in-season personal records in the mile. Caleb Akilu, Alex Pavlides, Kate Allen-Study, Julia Parsa and Leilani Kulkarni earned in-season personal records in the 1.5 mile distance. We also had impressive individual placements, including Henry Weil’s first place finish in the boys race and Kate Allen-Study’s third place finish at the Old St. Mary's Two Mile Races. These impressive achievements reflect the hard work and training that each and every runner put in day in and day out at practice.
Just as important, our runners had a lot of fun and came together as a team this season. We were impressed by the positivity and their competitive fire, as well as the way they supported each other at races and during hard training runs. Whether a runner was just starting their cross-country journey or had raced for years, they gave their all and forged bonds across three grades—in an individual sport, we created one team and had fun doing it!
Kumiko Muro and Naomi Geller both earned impressive in-season personal records in the mile. Caleb Akilu, Alex Pavlides, Kate Allen-Study, Julia Parsa and Leilani Kulkarni earned in-season personal records in the 1.5 mile distance. We also had impressive individual placements, including Henry Weil’s first place finish in the boys race and Kate Allen-Study’s third place finish at the Old St. Mary's Two Mile Races. These impressive achievements reflect the hard work and training that each and every runner put in day in and day out at practice.
Just as important, our runners had a lot of fun and came together as a team this season. We were impressed by the positivity and their competitive fire, as well as the way they supported each other at races and during hard training runs. Whether a runner was just starting their cross-country journey or had raced for years, they gave their all and forged bonds across three grades—in an individual sport, we created one team and had fun doing it!
Middle School Girls Volleyball
Head Coach Pat Gordon and Assistant Coach Phenice Williams
Our goal for the season was to progressively get better as the season went along, build some camaraderie and have fun together. The camaraderie was there as the girls communicated on the court and shared a mutual respect for each other off the court. The girls definitely had a lot of fun together and made some new friends. The team got better overall as some of the girls who weren’t able to execute some skills in the beginning of the season were able to execute them with hard work and practice. The girls showed a better understanding of the game towards the middle and end of the season. It was important to the girls that everyone contributed in every game so we adopted a rotation that allowed everyone to contribute and still be successful. This gave everyone a sense of belonging and kept everyone engaged. We are very proud of the girls and their improvement throughout the season. Everyone should be returning next season as our team was filled with all 6th and 7th graders, and they will all be that much better next year.
Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.