14th Feb2012

Athlete of the Issue Natalie Frazier, Div. 281

Frazier started playing basketball for Lane her freshman year. Recently, her name was mentioned in the Sun Times for scoring a team high 13 points in a game against Steinmetz. She has also been offered a Division 2 athletic scholarship.

Favorites

Color: Black

Movie: The Curious Case of

Benjamin Button

Food: Lasagna

Music artist: Aaliyah

Class: AP Psychology and Film Studies

Sport Team: Chicago Bulls

Moment: competing against rival,

Marshall High School

 

Q & A

Warrior: What was the hardest thing you had to overcome in becoming a better player?

NF: “Definitely becoming a more confident and poised player. I’ve played with girls and guys who are stars and I really had to find my own style of play and calm myself down on the court.”

Warrior: What inspired you to play basketball at Lane?

NF: “My biggest inspiration was simply that I love the game and I wanted to play at a school with a great reputation.

Warrior: Did you have to overcome any injuries?

NF: “Junior year I had a lower back injury. It was not fun because I just sat on the bench and watched my team. I felt helpless.”

Warrior: How do you get ready for games?

NF: “Music pumps me up. I usually listen to super gangster rap like Young Jeezy, T.I., Mellow Hype, and Danny Brown. I have my own basketball playlist.”

Warrior: How dedicated are you as a player?

NF: “I am very dedicated. I have not missed a regular season game or a full practice yet.”

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14th Feb2012

Boys’ Softball undefeated for second year in a row

Win streak now at 52 games and counting

 

By Kelly Mrofcza

 

The 16-inch Boy’s Softball Team swung their bats, ran the bases, and scored themselves another City Championship this season, marking their second consecutive City title.

The team defeated Washington 12-3 in the final held at UIC in late October. The victory marked the 52nd consecutive game the team has won.

The team has also been recognized by ESPN’s Michael Wilbon who wrote to the team talking about mentioning their accomplishments on ESPN.

The players and coaches are very proud of the way the season ended. Alex Sheehan, Div. 254, said winning the championship twice in a row and being on a two year winning streak is the coolest thing he has been a part of at Lane.

Most players felt the same way while others felt the streak made the season a little dull.

“There is no doubt that it was fun, but some games were such blowouts that it would get slow and boring,” said Peter Tuttle, Div. 261.

The team faced many schools that were not as talented as they were leading to uninteresting “blowouts.”

“We probably put up close to 80 runs on [Steinmetz] in the last two years,” Sheehan said.

Clearly competition was not as tough for some games. Coach Stavrakas, the head coach since 2009, insists that even if some games were easily won, winning 52 games in a row takes a great deal of talent.

The team had some close calls along the way. One game in particular where their winning streak was threatened was against Taft. A baseball tournament was being held on the same day so only about half Lane’s team could make it to the softball game. With the team down to its final out in the last inning and the score tied, Tommy Lauletta, Div. 261, stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a pitch into right field, which brought in the winning run.

“It was a really awesome moment that truly defined us as a ‘never say die’ team,” Lauletta said.

Northside was another school that provided some good competition, but Lane fought through tough spots to continue their streak.

During the season, the coaches made the team practice every day, even through cold weather and rain. The frequent practices in less than ideal conditions helped ingrain a toughness in the boys that helped them in real games, according to Stavrakas.

Besides being physically conditioned for the games, the only special technique the team had to help with the victories was to be louder than any school.

“We always like to be intimidating, and [being loud] kind of freaked out the other teams,” Tuttle said.

Coach Stavrakas also had a specific technique that helped the team claim the undefeated title.

“I was very loose about the whole thing. We talked about the streak a lot and I didn’t believe in ‘jinxing’ the team if I did,” he said.

Coach Stavrakas wanted the boys to be comfortable with any outcome.

Tuttle said that Coach Stavrakas still had really high expectations for the team.

“[His expectations] really pushed us to work harder because for some reason we didn’t want to disappoint him,” Tuttle said.

Aside from the competition and pressure, the team had a brotherly bond that lasted through the season.

“I am going to miss the guys so much. We had a lot of fun playing and I will never forget them,” said Cody Davis, Div. 270.

Zachary Barth, Div. 355, expects another undefeated season and City Championship again next year.

“With dedication and hard work, we can do it,” he said.

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14th Feb2012

Cubs visit Lane; announce plans for new Lane baseball stadium

 

By Kelly Mrofcza

& Emina Cirkic

 

The band was ready to play and the students were ready to shout. However, it was not a typical Lane sporting event. Members of the Chicago Cubs were in Gym One.

Cub’s pitchers Randy Wells, Jeff Beliveau, and James Russell along with infielder Darwin Barney were four of the guests. Accompanying them were coaches Rudy Jaramillo and Lester Strode, as well as newly hired general manager, Jed Hoyer, and head manager, Dale Sveum. Keith Moreland, the WGN Cubs sports analyst, was the MC of the event and did his best to rile up the crowd.

The event was part of the annual Cubs Caravan, a two-day excursion of Cubs players and coaches to schools, neighborhoods and communities throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana. The caravan gives fans a chance to see players and staff in person and off the field. All members of Lane’s Letterman Club, varsity sports, and 2011 City Championship teams were invited to attend the event. A few selected varsity athletes were allowed to speak to the players, managers and coaches.

Towards the end of the event an answer was finally given to the question on everybody’s mind: will the Cubs sponsor a brand new baseball stadium by Clark Park? Indeed, the empty lot next to the football field will be transformed into a mini replica of Wrigley Field. Final details of who will own the field and when it will be built is still unknown.

Aside from the big announcement, one of the topics covered at the event was players’ nutrition. Russell talked about how important it is to eat a good breakfast and be active. Some of the foods he mentioned that professional athletes use to replace junk food include bread and chicken. He emphasized that a healthy diet keeps the players energized and fit.

When it comes to working out the Cubs also follow a disciplined regimen.

“We spend a lot of time in the gym. For pitchers we need to keep our core and abs strong,” Wells said.

The players also talked about their inspirations for becoming major leaguers.

“I watched my dad play in the major leagues and it sparked my interest,” Russell said.

Wells credits his success to his old baseball coach.

“He was the one calling the pro leagues to watch me play,” he said.

When it comes to the game, the players and coaching staff are always committed. They have plans for a successful year and are hopeful that several strides will be made toward getting the Cubs to a World Series.

It seems the team is working hard under its new leadership to create an atmosphere of youthful exuberance and an atmosphere of winning.

“Our biggest focus is to get the team younger and more multi-dimensional,” Sveum said.

Barney fits the mold of a player who is excited to be playing baseball.

“If I wasn’t in the major league today, I’d still be trying to make it. It’s all about following your dream,” Barney said.

“The day we stop getting butterflies is the day we stop playing,” Sveum said.

Along with answering questions from students, team members also asked Cubs trivia questions to the crowd. Whoever raised their hand the quickest and answered the question correctly received a Cub’s accessory like visors, hats, and t-shirts. However, the best gift Lane received that day was about the construction of the new stadium.

According to a Cubs spokesperson at the event, “A school of champions deserves to have a place to play as champions.”

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14th Feb2012

Boys’ Cross Country first 3A team to qualify for State in nine years

Lucas Beltran, Div.277, runs in Sectionals helping the team qualify for State.

 

By Vanessa Pena

 

The points were tied and the winner was unknown. It was all down to the next point made by either Maine South or Lane. Of the 20 teams that compete in Sectionals, only five move on to State.

With a tie breaker needed, captain Lucas Beltran, Div. 277, and his team members ran hard for the finish line.

“Between Lane and our competition, Maine South, we knew we had to step up our game. Myself and another team member passed Maine South runners that brought us to victory,” Beltran said.

The Cross Country team had earlier won City, which led them to Regionals and then the big hurdle: Sectionals. The next step: State.

After race officials reviewed and revised the final score at Sectionals, Lane was announced the winner by a single point.

The boys left school on Friday Nov. 4 to prepare for their race at State the next day. Lane’s top seven runners were selected by Coach Roof to run for the team.

The boys were already familiar with the course since they had run at a meet held there earlier in the season. They also knew the opposition would be tougher.

“I already knew what a competitive field we were going to overcome,” said captain Danny Zimny-Schmitt, Div. 259.

It is a long season for the team as training started in July and the season ended in November. However, Mansur Soeleman, Div. 371 is grateful for the workouts and preparation.

“Coach Tony’s workouts are really hard and difficult. The fact that they were very hard put us in shape for state. I feel like we really stepped it up compared to last year,” he said.

“It was the effort and training that brought us here,” Zimny-Schmitt said. “It was a full team effort. Everyone was just so happy to have made it so far, but we still had to give it our all.”

The day of the state competition, many supporters came to cheer on Lane.

“Everyone was so supportive and our manager, Johnny Mak, did an awesome job in supporting us,” said Captain David Timlan, Div. 275.

Though Lane did not place at State, team members appreciated the opportunity.

“It was a good experience because it was new. It was the first time in nine years for a 3A team to make it down to State,” Timlan said.

Saving his best run ever for the state competition, Soeleman ran the three miles in a personal best 16 minutes and 8 seconds.

With many of the seniors leaving next year, remaining team members know they will have a tough challenge next year.

“When seniors leave, myself and other team members will have to step it up,” Soleman said.

Timlan knows it will be difficult for next year’s team to repeat the success of this year.

“I wouldn’t put them down, but it’ll be harder. My advice is to run hard, and do what the coaches tell them to do,” he said.

Still, before thinking too much of next year, team members are enjoying the success of this season.

“We were just so happy we made it so far,” Beltran said. “Getting to state was like a hurdle we couldn’t get over. Everything just came together while nobody believed in us.”

 

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