Announcement
2013 Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Patrick Brennan
On Monday, June 10, 2013, Northside Head Track & Field Coach Jon Gordon received a fantastic email from the Northside administration informing him that the winner of the 2013 Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award was Patrick Brennan, and that Coach Gordon would have the honor of presenting the award to him at the Senior Awards luncheon.
Patrick Brennan will be honored at Navy Pier at the Senior Awards luncheon at noon, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 on the cruise ship, the Spirit of Chicago.
There are over 23 sports at Northside College Prep. 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 only the fourth time in Northside history, a member of the Northside Track & Field Team won the award, Senior Captain Patrick Brennan.
Every great Team has a leader, someone who will do it everyday, no matter what, and that leader for the Northside Track & Field Team is Patrick Brennan.
Patrick Brennan was one of the first athletes to arrive for 6:30 am summer practices, and stayed at Track practices long after practice ended, as late as 7 pm, doing extra core training and weight training. Patrick Brennan ran year round, and worked hard to improve. Patrick Brennan's work ethic and dedication is second to none.
During his athletic career, Patrick Brennan qualified for State in both Cross Country and Track. In Track, Patrick Brennan qualified for State in both his Junior and Senior year.
In his Senior year of Track, Patrick Brennan qualified for State in a record 4 events. At the IHSA State Championships, he led Northside to the finals with an upset victory over East St.Louis, and helped the Mustangs break the school record in the 4x800m Relay. Patrick Brennan was also IHSA Sectional Champion in the 800m run. In Indoor Track, Patrick Brennan won the Indoor City Title in both the 1600m and 4x800m Relay. Patrick Brennan anchored Northside to a School Record in the Middle Distance Medley Relay at Spartan Relays. Patrick Brennan also scored the most Varsity points on the Track Team, by a Senior, and the Team benefited accordingly with the first IHSA Sectional Title in Northside history.
In Cross Country, Patrick Brennan ran a 15:43 at the Chicago Public League Championships to earn All City Honors in his Senior Year. Patrick Brennan also earned All Regional Honors, and led Northside to a second place finish in the Class 3A IHSA Regional Championships.
Patrick Brennan also had a GPA of 4.88, and will be attending Notre Dame.
It’s not the records that he holds, the Sectional titles, and city titles, that makes him a champion, but the path that he took to get there that makes him a Champion.
Freshman Year, Patrick Brennan didn't score a single Varsity point, or win any Track Awards.
During the past four years, Patrick Brennan has improved, and developed more than any athlete in the State, through pure hard work.
Patrick Brennan went from a 6:16 1600m run at the 2010 Niles West Indoor Classic (Freshman Year) to a personal best 4:35.48 1600m run at the 2013 IHSA State Championships! Patrick Brennan dropped one minute and 41 seconds (6:16) from Freshman to Senior Year in the 1600m run (4:35).
In the 800m run, Patrick Brennan went from a 2:46 800m split in the 4x800m Relay at the 2010 Spartan Indoor Classic (Freshman Year) to a personal best 2:01.57 800m split at the 2013 IHSA State Championships! Patrick Brennan dropped 45 seconds (2:46) from Freshman to Senior Year in the 800m run (2:01).
In Cross Country, at the Libertyville Invitational (September 17, 2011), Patrick Brennan ran a three miles time of 18:23. At the 2011 IHSA State Championships, Patrick Brennan ran a personal best time of 16:37. At the 2012 Chicago Public League Championships, Patrick Brennan ran a personal best time of 15:43. A time drop of two minutes and 40 seconds!
At the end of every Track meet, Patrick Brennan leads the Team Huddle, and honors each member of the Team. Patrick Brennan is one of the greatest leaders, athletes, and individuals in the history of Northside College Prep.
