On February 26 the Parker spring sports season began. The sun set later, the grass turned greener, and Chicago was back to its usual 60 degrees to 32 degrees within two days. Indoor track turned to outdoor track, girls tennis turned into boys tennis, boys soccer turned into girls soccer, and we introduced baseball and softball to the 23-24 school year. Spring sports is underway and “The Weekly” has a comprehensive guide to all of these teams.
This track season is “off to a strong start” and is a “record smashing season so far” said Coach Mercy Garriga. Sophomore Dal Harrell holds the indoor record for the 400m and 800m races at 1:01 and 2:23, respectively. Senior and Captain Sam Forst holds the record in shot put, and sophomore Donovan Clarke holds the indoor record for 60m hurdles at 39 inches.
Top performances were also recognized with senior and Captain Audrey Hunter in the 60m dash, Clarke in the 60m dash, senior and Captain Dillon Madkins in the 400m, junior Spencer Dunbar in shot put, and sophomores Jojo Husbeck and Payton Yagoda in the High Jump. Additionally, Hunter mentions Harrell and Forst’s accomplishments at Top Times. The team seems to be accomplishing many feats this spring season.
Girls soccer is “going great” in the words of Coach Jonathan Garcia. Captain Monet VanVooren and Garcia agree that the team is working hard, and they’ve seen amazing improvement. Senior VanVooren is proud of the team, although they have had some tough losses against other top teams. Still, they tied with a second-in-the-league-team they lost 8-0 to last year. Garcia shouts out freshman Miriam Johnson, with a “hat-trick under her belt.” This team is having a season to be pleased with this year.
Baseball is one of the two sports that are new to the school year, and they are “starting off on a high note” according to Coach Tyler Heidtke. Captain and junior Ben Graines highlights that this is the first time the baseball team has started off the season 2-0, beating both Juarez and Proviso East. Heidtke is excited that the team is on the younger side, as the members will gain more experience in the sport. Many games have had to be canceled due to the weather, but this team has a lot ahead of them.
The second of the two new sports this school year is softball. The softball season is “going really great” according to Coach Madeline Maldonado. The softball team has played three games total and lost two as of now. Junior Birdie Goldblat and senior Cate O’Connor have hit home runs, and senior and Captain Quinn Kass has pitched all of the innings. Unfortunately, the weather has restricted the team from playing regularly, but team members are showing up and practicing every day nonetheless. The team has much to look forward to.
The boys tennis season is “going well” with “ambitious goals” of winning the State tournamentCaptain and senior Oliver Cahnman said. So far, the boys tennis team is at a 3-1 record, only losing to U-High 3-2. Captain and senior Noah Pendo commends the tennis team on “showing their full potential” this year. The team recently beat St. Ignatius at 4-1, a team they had lost to last year. Notably, new member and senior Pedro Guedes broke the Parker serving speed record at 122 mph. The five seniors on varsity are “‘giving it their all for their last season, which is contagious, forming a winning culture on the team,’” Cahnman said. This team is reaching new heights this year.
