To put the past year of local high school sports in perspective and to get a preview of the new year, Pioneer Press interviewed Niles West athletic director Kendall Griffin.
Q: What was the highlight for Niles West’s athletic programs in 2016?
A: The girls volleyball team making it downstate (in Class 4A) for the first time in history. Their fourth-place finish was their best ever and they had the most wins (28) in program history. We had a sophomore in Natalia Pehar who was all-area and she’ll come back to do more big things.
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Q: What was one team that stood out in 2016?
A: If you’re looking at the spring, it would have to be boys gymnastics, who were 2016 state champions. They exceeded expectations and made an amazing run and everything came together at the tail end there at Hinsdale Central at the state meet. (Coach) Adrian Batista is a Niles West grad and has had a long time in the program. And we had a state champion in the all-around in Dalai Jamiyankhuu.
Q: Who was the one athlete who surpassed expectations on the field or in the classroom, and why?
A: Well there is Dalai (who has graduated). But if you want to talk about the kids currently with us, football player Matt Galanopoulos, was a three-time all-conference selection. He was a wide receiver, running back, kick returner, punt returner and defensive back. Golfer Amanda Lee is a great student-athlete. She has great grades and was our first ever qualifier for state in (girls) golf. She finished her career as our most decorated girls golfer ever.
Q: Who was one coach who went above and beyond in 2016?
A: I think that would be (girls volleyball coach) Stacy Metoyer and (boys gymnastics coach) Adrian Batista. I don’t know if you could put one above the other.
Q: Looking back on 2016, is there anything that you wish would have gone differently within the program?
A: I think girls volleyball had a good shot at taking third as opposed to fourth, but they lost (25-20, 21-25, 25-16) to Stevenson (in the third-place match). The football season this year was somewhat disappointing. They were loaded with seniors, a good class, and we ended up 4-5. We started out the year 4-1 and only needed to win one of our last four games (to potentially qualify for the playoffs), but we lost all four.
Q: When you look ahead to 2017, what is your athletic program’s New Year’s resolution?
A: I think at Niles West, we’re now at a point where we can expect to compete with anybody in the state. We play in the CSL South, which we feel rivals any conference in the state. We’re willing to take on anybody and now going forward (our resolution) is to see that consistent level of excellence. I feel like out of the 28 (sports) programs we have, we’re in a place where we can compete in all, and at the highest level in the state. We fully expect to push that envelope.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about Niles West athletics in 2017?
A: I would say our cheer and poms programs are right there and we fully expect one of them to qualify for state this year or next. Girls volleyball, with Natalia Pehar back and a (sophomore) group that won conference … I think they will be good next year and the year after. Our boys soccer team is on the come up and we’re going to make some noise here in the next year or so.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press