News and Announcements
TRACK & FIELD REGISTRATION MEETING, FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013, 3:39 PM
On Friday, January 11, 2013, Registration for Northside Track & Field TEAM will begin at 3:39 pm, in the Northside cafeteria. After registration, a motivational TEAM meeting will take place in the Northside cafeteria. Please arrive early to Registration. Thanks.
The following forms must be turned in on January 11, 2013, in order to be eligible to attend practice:(3) ATI Physical Therapy Consent Form,
(4) IHSA Drug Testing Waiver Form,
(6) Concussion Awareness Form.
If you have any trouble getting an appointment for a Physical, contact Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon at Jongordon9@aol.com, and he will refer you to a doctor.
After registration, practice will commence on Monday, January 14, 2013 from 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm. All athletes should bring running shoes, and a Water bottle to practice. Distance runners must be prepared to train outside. Please bring a hat and gloves. If you have anything to place in storage during practice, please bring a combination lock. There will be no one available to hold any personal items during practice. Thanks.
Many athletes have covered hundreds of miles this winter, and spent hours in the weight room preparing to capture the Sectional and State Titles. We certainly hope that you too have been conscientious about your winter training. Remember that in less than a week you must be in top condition for our first team practice. We want you to report to the first practice READY TO TRAIN.
No one will be cut from the Team until May 2013 (IHSA Sectional Roster) provided they work hard, and miss no more than 9 unexcused practices from January 14, 2013 through May 25, 2013.
Athletes in basketball, wrestling, and swimming may join the Team when their respective season reaches a conclusion. Students in the musical, girls soccer, girls softball, boys volleyball, and boys and girls lacrosse will not be permitted to join the TEAM. Students who have Team manager obligations to another sport will not be permitted to join the Track TEAM. Athletes with any other special circumstances need to get them approved by the coaching staff in advance. Thanks.
Northside Track & Field is fun, and the experience is priceless. The most frequent question we have received from Incoming Freshman and New members of the Team is what if they don’t have any running experience? Start now. You are going to be a part of a team where your teammates care about you and depend on you. We will make you great!
A Coaching Staff and Team Captains dinner will follow the Registration meeting, on Friday, Jauary 11, 2013, at 5:00 pm at La Brasa Roja Restaurant (3125 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60625).
Track & Field is the ultimate Team sport. It teaches you to push yourself harder than you ever thought you could, and at the same time, your performance means everything to the other athletes on the Team.
In 2012, the Northside Track & Field Team qualified 15 Girls and 9 Boys for the IHSA State Championships. Northside had a total of 24 State qualifiers, the most State qualifiers of any school in Chicago.Including relays, 28 School Records were broken during the 2012 season. It was the highest number of SCHOOL RECORDS BROKEN by any TEAM in Illinois in 2012.
In 2012, the Varsity Girls won the first IHSA Sectional Title in any sport in Northside history! A banner is proudly displayed on the GYM wall to honor the Northside Varsity Girls Track & Field Team.
In 2012, the Varsity Boys finished second in the Indoor City Championships. Northside also had the Indoor State Champion in the 400m run, and Class 2A Athlete of the Meet, Mac Melto. The Sophomore Girls finished second in the Chicago Public League Outdoor Championships.
The Northside Coaching staff is looking for additional sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers, throwers, middle distance runners, and distance runners to join the Team. No experience is necessary to join the Northside Track & Field Team. We will make you great!! Everyone will get the opportunity to train for five months with the finest coaching staff in Chicago before we make any roster cuts.
WHAT IF I HAVE NEVER COMPETED IN TRACK & FIELD BEFORE?
It doesn't matter if you have never competed in Track & Field in your life, we will make you great. Many Northside Sports (i.e. Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Golf) already prepare you for Track & Field. There are 18 events in a Track meet (100m Dash, 110m Hurdles, 4x100m Relay, 200m Dash, 4x200m Relay, 300m Hurdles, 400m, 4x400m Relay, 800m, 4x800m Relay, 1600m, 3200m), and its not just about running. There are 6 Field Events that require speed and strength. We need GREAT athletes for strength and technique events, including Jumping Events (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault) and Throwing Events (Shot Put, Discus). Every event is worth the same amount of points, and every athlete is vital to the success of the TEAM. The difference in winning a championship has come down to a single point on frequent occassions.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES? DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF NORTHSIDE'S FIRST STATE TITLE IN ANY SPORT?
Mandatory Practice - Monday - Friday (4:00 pm - 5:45 pm) - Beginning January 14, 2013. If you have an interest in after school clubs and/or Musicals, lacrosse, Girls Soccer, or Men's volleyball, the Northside Track & Field Team is not for you. We are looking for students who their teammates can depend on, and who are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to become an athlete.
Northside will contend for the IHSA State Title in 2013!!!, and it is important for the TEAM to have athletes that we can count on everyday. A sneak preview of the Mustangs 2013 Track & Field Schedule will be available under "Student of the Sport".
Basketball players, Swimmers, and Wrestlers, will NOT be required to attend practice until their respective season ends. Students preparing for final exams will also be excused from practice with "advance notice" on any day additional exam preparation is needed.
Distance runners will be required to train outside if it is 10 degrees or warmer. Dress appropriate for practice (hat and gloves required). Throwers need to be prepared to take 40 or more throws a practice. Weight Training will be mandatory after every practice for ALL events.
If for any reason, you can't attend the the Friday, January 11, 2013 Track & Field Registration Meeting, contact Head Mens and Womens Track Coach Jon Gordon at Jongordon9@aol.com or 773-935-1617. Official Practices will begin on Monday, January 14, 2013 at 4:00 pm.
Northside Track & Field Class of 2012 - Where are they now?
PAT DUFFY - Tulane University - French Honor Society - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
EZRA EDGERTON - Grinnell College - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
DAN GRAHAM - University of Southern California - National Merit Finalist - Spanish Honor Society- Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
YUWEI LEI - University of Chicago - National Merit Finalist - National Honor Society - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
MAC MELTO - DePaul University - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
KARLY RABER - John Hopkins University - Spanish Honor Society - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
CODY RIOS - University of Illinois at Chicago - Prairie State Achievement Award
VERONICA SCHWARTZ - Syracuse University - Prairie State Achievement Award
JOSEPH SMITH - Illinois Institute of Technology - Prairie State Achievement Award
LISA WENDT - University of Southern California - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
JOSH WILLIAMS - Northwestern University - National Merit Finalist - Illinois State Scholar - Prairie State Achievement Award
Northside Track & Field TEAM honors Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon with a Watermelon Pinata filled with a thousand dollars wrapped around candy!
On Friday, June 1, 2012, the Northside Track & Field Team was honored at the East Bank Club. It was the most successful season in the history of Northside College Prep. 28 athletes earned Watermelons and a plaque for breaking a school record in an individual event and/or relay.
The Varsity Women won the first IHSA Sectional TEAM title in the history of Northside in any sport! A banner is being placed on the GYM wall to honor the team. The Sophomore Girls finished second in the Chicago Public League Championships! Among the 28 school records, members of the Varsity Women's Team also broke the school record in the 1600m and 4x200m relay at the IHSA State Championships! The school record for shot put and the 100m dash was broken at the IHSA Sectional Championships!
The Varsity Men finished second in the Indoor City Championships. Northside also had the first Illinois Prep Top Times Champion, in the history of the school, Mac Melto. School records broken in 2012, in the 100m Dash, 200m Dash, and 400m run were faster than the best marks in the Class 2A State meet. Among the 28 school records, members of the Men's Team also broke the school record in the 4x800m relay at the IHSA State Championships! The school record for Long Jump was broken at the IHSA Sectional Championships!
Northside also had several alumni become heros to the Team in NCAA Track & Field Meets throughout the country!
The most impressive number of the year, was a record, 24 athletes qualified for the IHSA State Championships in an individual event and/or relay! The experience at the state meet was priceless.
The Northside Coaching Staff would like to thank the Northside Boys and Girls Track & Field Team again for their hard work this season. The family-type atmosphere of the Northside Track & Field TEAM is second to none. You are the greatest individuals, on and off the field. This TEAM has enriched us immeasurably and we hope that the athletes take as much away from this season as you have given us. Thank you again for the greatest Track & Field season in Northside history!
The Northside Coaching Staff can't say Thank You enough times for the most incredible banquet of our entire coaching careers.
At the end of the banquet, the Northside Track & Field TEAM honored each member of the coaching staff.
Northside Assistant Coach Jose Nebrida was unable to attend the banquet due to a trip to Arizona. However, the TEAM made a special presentation to him. A Crystal Apple, with the engraving, "Not bad for an old guy", was awarded to Jose Nebrida. Jose Nebrida is a volunteer coach, and he purchased apples at his own expense, for the entire Team for every practice this season. He was also a volunteer official at every meet he attended, and a great ambassador for Northside.
T-shirts from the IHSA State Track & Field Championships, and very generous gift cards, were given to Northside Sprints Coach Mark Morgan, Sprints Coach David Diaz, Hall of fame Jumps and Hurdles Coach Ed Wallace, Throws Coach Charles Milbert, and Certified Athletic Trainer Whitney Harris.
The athletes also gave inspirational speeches, praising each member of the coaching staff.
Northside Captain Josh Williams then presented a large glass plaque, engraved with a Poem, to Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, on behalf of the Team, which read:
"A Thank You to Coach Jon Gordon"
"For a Coach who could always clearly see, much more than we thought we could ever be."
"Who taught us to train and discipline, the minds and bodies we were in."
"Who raised expectations, hopes and dreams, for every athlete on the Boy's and Girl's Teams."
"Who inspired us to go beyond normal endurance, while helping us to gain self-assurance."
"Watermelons and PR's were great motivation, and often led to great celebration."
"Through seasons that were hard fought and points that were sought, we are all so much greater for what you have taught."
"-2012 Northside College Prep Track & Field Team-"
Northside Captain Pat Duffy then gave a speech, praising Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, for his tireless efforts, workouts, Team atmosphere, Gatorade, and Pasta Parties. Pat Duffy then presented Gordon with a very large bag of homemade cookies.
The Northside Track & Field Captains, Nathaniel Agharese, Mac Melto, Pat Duffy, Ezra Edgerton, Dan Graham, Taylor Provax, Lisa Wendt, and Golda Kaplan, then presented Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon with a Watermelon Pinata.
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon took several swings at the Watermelon Pinata with a steele pole, and it finally broke open with a BIG surprise. Twenty dollar bills wrapped around fifty individual pieces of candy, poured out of the Watermelon Pinata, for a total of $1,000.00!
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon has been involved in the sport of Track & Field for over 20 years, and has never received anything like this before in his life. He is forever greatful to the Northside Track & Field TEAM, and parents for their very generous gifts.
The entire Northside Track & Field Coaching Staff would like to thank the Northside Boys and Girls Track & Field Team again for their hard work this season. You are the greatest individuals, on and off the field. It is a priviledge to coach this TEAM. Thank you again for the greatest Track & Field season in Northside history!
The Northside Track & Field Team was honored at the East Bank Club on Friday, June 1, 2012 with an Italian Buffet Dinner, which included: Mushroom Tortellini in white wine, herbs, and cheese, Chicken Vesuio with potatoes and peas, Pan-Seared Salmon in tomato-fennel sauce, and Cheese Stuffed aracini with marinara on the side. Antipasto, included Romaine Hearts with caesar dressing, Prosciutto with melon, Vegetable Antipasto Salad, Mushroom and Spinach Salad.
The Italian Buffet Dinner also included: Flatbread, Grissini, Filone, and Ciabatta with dipping oil and parmesan. Desserts included, Tiramisu with espresso sauce, Fresh Fruit, and Cannolis.
