More Top Picks Best Medical Alert Systems With Gps Tracking
player ready...When Maine East athletic director Steve Schanz reflected on the past year, Lizeth Torres’ contributions to the school stood out.
She was a team captain on the wrestling team in 2016-17, becoming the first female team captain of a boys sport in school history, according to Maine East wrestling coach Emiliano Hernandez.
She also took second in the 106-pound weight class at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association’s first girls state tournament. The tournament was March 11 and 12 in Springfield.
Schanz shared his thoughts on Torres and many other things in an email interview with Pioneer Press freelance reporter Brett Christie about 2017 and the year to come.
Q: Who was the most dedicated student-athlete at your school over the last year?
A: We had many incredible student-athletes, but one that stands out is Lizeth Torres. What Lizeth Torres did as a female wrestler, and also our Female Athlete of the Year, was truly inspirational. As a topper, she has come back as an assistant coach to work with all of our wrestlers, with a focus on the female wrestlers.
Q: Which coach had the biggest impact on the student-athletes he or she worked with in 2017?
A: I am so proud of all our coaches as they continue to push the envelope and raise expectations for themselves and their athletes.
Q: Which team surprised you the most in 2017?
A: Competitive cheer and competitive dance. I will never be able to judge a cheer or dance competition, but to hear “Maine East” called as the winner for CSL (for) cheer and (for a Class 2A) sectional (for) dance was surprising, but only in the sense I had no idea how well the judges saw them. They both work so hard in their preparation and it was great to see the hard work pay off.
Q: Of all the things that fall under your purview, what are you most proud of when you think about 2017?
A: More and more of our coaches and athletes are believing we can be very successful in athletics here at Maine East. We also had 14 varsity teams earn the IHSA Team Academic Achievement Award (for the 2016-17 school year).
Q: When you reflect on 2017, what was a teachable moment that really stands out to you?
A: Resilience. Seeing teams have heartbreaking losses and showing up the next day not sulking, but now even more determined. Girls volleyball had a tough loss to a very good Maine West team this past season and then came back the next day and beat the first-place Highland Park team. Maine West, Maine East and Highland Park all ended up tied for first (in the Central Suburban North) at the end of the season.
Q: What was the most challenging part of your job over the last 12 months?
A: Dealing with student-athletes that made poor decisions and had athletic code violations.
Q: When you think ahead to 2018, what will make you most excited to come to work?
A: Supporting our coaches and student-athletes any way I can. Also, I love showing off our beautiful school by hosting IHSA events. We are hosting both girls and boys sectional basketball in February and March.
Q: What are the top three things on your to-do list in 2018?
More Top Picks Best Screen Settings To Reduce Eye Fatigue
A: Increase participation, encourage professional development from coaches, build student-leadership to assist in positive school branding.
Brett Christie is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press