CHICAGO MARIST TRACK AND FIELD

 On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, Northside Head Track Coach Jon Gordon received a phone call at approximately 8:58 am from the Northside administration informing him that the winner of the 2009 Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award was Eric Nelson, and that Coach Gordon would be presenting the award at the Senior Awards luncheon at noon.

 The Senior Male Athlete award is given annually at Graduation to the best Athlete in the Senior Class. It is the highest honor an athlete can receive at graduation.

 For the first time in Northside history, a member of the Northside Track Team won the award, Senior Captain Eric Nelson.

 Eric Nelson is one of the greatest Track athletes in the history of Northside to ever wear the uniform. He is also the only Northside male athlete to ever win multiple IHSA Sectional Titles in any sport. Eric Nelson has earned 10 Varsity letters at Northside (4 in Golf, 2 in Basketball, and 4 in Track). Eric Nelson has the speed of a sprinter, the strength of a thrower, and the endurance of a distance runner. He holds the school record in the Shot Put, Discus, Triple Jump, High Jump, and the Distance Medley Relay. He has also scored more points by himself at Track meets, than entire teams of 50 or more athletes, on several occasions.  

  In Golf, his Junior year, he missed qualifying for State by one stroke, but learned from it and became a better player. His Senior year he led the Mustangs to an upset victory over Whitney Young for the City Title, and in an exciting one hole playoff to determine the individual City Champion, Eric Nelson won the playoff hole to become the individual Golf City Champion as well. Northside Head Golf Coach Chris Oehlerking recently stated, “Eric understood the game within the game of golf. He understood that golf was about facing adversity and mastering your own mind. He understood the persistent pursuit of excellence determines winners, not the results of the match. Eric displayed a passion for the game and strived for excellence every day.”

 In Basketball, it was a privilege to watch him play underneath the boards, go up for a rebound, and provide iron clad defense that helped the Mustangs to an Conference Championship his Junior year, and an amazing 20 points comeback at the IHSA Regional tournament his senior year. It was also awesome to watch him participate in a slam dunk contest at the Pep Rally prior to Pack the Gym Night.  

 It’s not the records that he holds, the city titles, the IHSA Sectional Titles, and the IHSA State appearances that makes him a champion, but the path that he took to get there that makes him a Champion.

 As a Freshman, Eric Nelson won the Sophomore City High Jump Title with a jump of 5’10 and also broke the school record in the Hurdles as a Freshman. He also won the Varsity MVP award as a Freshman. The Northside Coaching staff had big plans for Nelson in the High Jump and Hurdles his Sophomore year. However, he was injured at the end of his Sophomore Basketball season, and was not able to run or jump.

 Most people would have called it a season. Eric Nelson had a burning desire to not only comeback, but to help his teammates while he was injured.

 However, the only Track events available to an athlete that can’t run or jump were throwing events (Shot Put and Discus). To be a thrower, it takes great strength, explosiveness, and awesome technique. It’s unheard of for a high jumper to become a thrower.

  Eric Nelson was different, and was determined to help his teammates any way he could, while he recovered from his injuries. Eric Nelson spent hours in the weight room, earning a 20 pull-ups t-shirt, a 155 lbs bench press t-shirt, then a 175 lbs bench press t-shirt, and then a 205 lbs bench press t-shirt, and learned how to throw a Shot Put and Discus, all in an effort to help his teammates anyway that he could, while he was recovering from his injuries.  Eric Nelson’s time in the weight room, Shot Put Ring, and Discus cage paid off, and as a Sophomore, he became the Mustangs top thrower, and broke legendary Chris Zysko’s Shot Put and Discus school records as well. When his legs healed, he was not only one of the best throwers in the City, but finished second in the Varsity City High Jump competition as a Sophomore. He also competed in the Shot Put, Discus, High Jump, and Triple Jump for the Mustangs at IHSA Sectionals as a Sophomore, and won the Northside Track & Field MVP Award.

   His Junior year, he had the greatest Track season in the history of Northside. Imagine going to every Track meet on the season schedule, and winning every High Jump competition, breaking every stadium record, and every meet record, on your way to the State Championships. Does it sound impossible? Eric Nelson did it.

   Eric Nelson improved from a Sophomore personal record of 5’10 to a Junior personal record and school record of 6’6!!! Eric Nelson was the most improved athlete in Illinois. In addition to High Jump, Eric Nelson broke school records in the Shot Put, Discus, 4x400m Relay, and the Distance Medley Relay during his Junior year. Among other awards, Eric Nelson won the Northside Track & Field MVP Award, and the Most Improved Award during his Junior year.

  In November 2008, as part of a promotion to bring the Olympics to Chicago, Mayor Delay chose Northside Senior Eric Nelson to spend a day with the U.S. Olympic High Jump Champ Jamie Nieto, out of all of the athletes in Chicago.

   Eric Nelson took 4^th at the Illinois Prep Top Times Meet (Indoor State Championships) during his Senior year in High Jump, and helped his teammates place 8^th and break the school record in the Distance Medley Relay, and reach the Medal stand for the first time in Northside history. He also won the City Indoor and Outdoor Titles in High Jump, and broke his own school record in the Triple Jump on multiple occasions. On his very last throw of his high school career, he broke the Northside Discus School record as well. On his way to the State Championship, Eric Nelson once again won every high jump competition during his Senior year, and he won his second consecutive IHSA Sectional Title!

   He has also been a leader in the class room, earning the Academic Award for the Golf Team, and has had an impact in the community as well. On several occasions, while his teammates attended Team Tailgate parties after Track meets, Eric went instead to help out at a soup kitchen.

  Eric Nelson is not only Captain of the Golf and Track Teams, but a mentor to hundreds of athletes. At practices, and meets, Eric Nelson takes the time to mentor Freshman, which is special because many seniors won’t talk to underclassman. Many thought Northside Freshman middle distance runner Fabian Lara would never jump higher than 4’0 his freshman year. But through daily encouragement from Nelson, and a lot of hard work, Fabian Lara went from 4’0 to 4’6, and has become one of the Mustangs top Freshman throwers as well. The Northside throwers always work harder and throw five feet further in his presence.

  Eric Nelson also had a big impact on the growth of the Team. When the Northside coaching staff would ask new athletes what motivated them to join the team, they would answer "Eric Nelson”. Eric Nelson shares the sport with everyone at Northside and goes out of his way to invite everyone to join the team, and make everyone instantly feel welcome and a part of the Team, regardless of ability. Many athletes took up the sport during their senior year as a result of the encouragement they have received from Eric Nelson.

   At the end of every practice, Eric Nelson leaves the weight room by shaking the hand of every member of the Northside Coaching Staff. Eric Nelson is one of the greatest athletes, leaders, and individuals in the history of Northside College Prep.