After facing elimination, the gymnastics program at Glenbard South has new life.
In late January the school announced that both the boys and girls teams would be dropped as part of budget cuts to address a multimillion-dollar shortfall in Glenbard High School District 87. South officials, however, recently decided to restore the programs for a year after getting a pledge of help from the school’s booster club.
Athletic director John Treiber said the club would provide $48,000 in fundraising help for extracurricular activities, which will help save several clubs. The boosters will cover half the supply costs in the athletic department’s budget and pay all the fees to enter Glenbard South into athletic competitions.
The school had needed to cut $70,000 from its budget for activities and athletics, with the athletic department bearing $57,000. Thanks to the help of the booster club, the department can redirect money to pay the salaries for two coaches for each gymnastics team.
“I was really happy to see that miracles can still happen,” said girls coach Diane Douville.
Though the girls team was in a rebuilding season this year, freshman Alicia Donegan competed in the state meet in February. Meanwhile, through last weekend, the boys team ranked 14th in scoring average in the state.
Ken O’Brien
Rivalry on ice
Loyola senior center Allie Morrow already has won three state championships in two sports, and Saturday she’s going for another. Morrow (17 goals, 11 assists) leads the Ramblers against New Trier for the girls state hockey championship at 3:30 p.m. at the United Center.
“We’re very excited,” said Morrow, who lives in Evanston. “It’s actually a friendly rivalry between the Loyola and New Trier girls. It’s always fun to play against your friends–and beat them.”
Morrow, who will play hockey next fall at Williams College, was part of a state hockey titlist as a freshman and junior. She was an attack wing last year for the school’s state lacrosse champs. In addition to all that, she played field hockey at Loyola and is a Dumbach Scholar honor student.
Fulfilling his goal
Trevor Heffernan was eating nachos in the stands at the United Center last year when Fenwick won the state hockey title. Saturday at 1 p.m. at the UC, Heffernan will be the big cheese for the Friars, who look to repeat against Loyola Gold. Heffernan, a senior from LaGrange, has gone from third-stringer who didn’t dress for that game to the team’s No. 1 goalie.
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“It was aggravating last year, but well worth it,” Heffernan said. “Playing at the United Center was a long-term goal of time, something I’ve been working hard to achieve.” He has 11 shutouts for the Friars (61-9-2), with a 1.67 goals-against average and a 30-3-1 record. “I’m going to like the United Center a lot better on the ice.”