News and Announcements
VARSITY SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: BRIAN MCMANUS
From Freshman Year (5:24.97) to Sophomore Year (5:00.10), Brian McManus has dropped 24.87 seconds in the 1600m run!
Brian McManus also won the 3200m run twice at Fenton High School, including the Ostberg Sophomore 3200m run Indoor Championships.
Brian McManus has also been a cornerstone of the Northside Sophomore 4x800m Relay. Brian McManus helped Northside WIN the 4x800m Relay at Evanston High School, Geneva High School, and the Eric Nelson Classic.
Brian McManus has tremendous work ethic, Great Sportsmanship, and will be one of the Captains of the Northside Cross Country Team in 2015.
Northside Track & Field TEAM will be honored at the East Bank Club on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 5:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 5:45 pm.
On Friday, June 5, 2015, the Northside Track & Field TEAM will be honored at the East Bank Club. The East Bank Club is located at 500 N. Kingsbury Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654. Dinner will be served at 5:45 PM. The Northside Track & Field Banquet has been compared to the Heisman Trophy presentation.
The Northside Track & Field awards banquet is one of the most meaningful events of the school year. It represents the official acknowledgement of the athletes accomplishments before the entire Team, administration, parents, and guests. A record 131 athletes, parents, and guests will be in attendance!
Among other awards, Varsity letters, Junior Varsity letters, Sophomore letters, and Freshman numerals will be awarded at the Track & Field Banquet.
The 2015 Northside Track season has been was one of the most successful seasons in the history of Northside College Prep. 39 athletes earned Watermelons and a plaque for breaking a school record in an individual event and/or relay!
The Northside Varsity Men WON the Group "A" division of the Indoor City Championships for the second consecutive year. Trophies will be awarded at the Banquet to all 24 members of the Indoor City Championship Team, including Relay alternates, and athletes in attendance at the Indoor City Championships to support the TEAM!
Northside also won individual City titles in the 4x800m, 3200m, High Jump, and 4x400m Relay at the Indoor City Championships. City Champion Enamel Pins will be awarded to athletes that won individual titles in the 4x800m (Max McCoy, Matthew Gomez, Troy Hu, Alex Ortiz), 3200m (Kyle Friedler), High Jump (Ari Perlmutter), and 4x400m Relay (Malcolm Grba, Danny Rosen, Porter Abbey, and Tom Frejowski) at the Indoor City Championships.
Northside also had an Illinois Prep Top Times Indoor State qualifier in the 800m run (Danny Rosen). . Northside Junior Danny Rosen reached the Medal Stand in the 800m run at Illinois Prep Top Times!
At the IHSA Sectional Championships, Northside earned ALL SECTIONAL HONORS in the Triple Jump (Matt Osborne), 4x200m Relay (Keith Jones, Garret Barch, Justin Washington, Philip Wdowiak), 400m Dash (Tom Frejowski), 110m Hurdles (Garret Barch), 300m Hurdles (Porter Abbey), 1600m (Danny Rosen, Malcolm Grba), and 4x400m Relay (Keith Jones, Philip Wdowiak, Malcolm Grba, Tom Frejowski).
Northside also qualified for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships for the EIGHTH consecutive year!! Since 2008, Northside is the only Track Program in the CPS that has qualified for the IHSA State Championships for eight consecutive years! It also the only Sport at Northside that has been to the State Championships for eight consecutive years.
At the 2015 IHSA State Track & Field Championships, Northside Senior Tom Frejowski ran an outstanding time of 51.47 400m dash. An IHSA State qualifying Medal will be presented to Tom Frejowski at the Banquet.
Northside also had several alumni become heros to the Team in NCAA Track & Field Meets throughout the country! Wesley Laytham at Davidson. Charlie Mesimore at Cornell. Cooper Eben at Duke. Mac Melto at DePaul. Simon Kafka at Beloit. Alex Gordon at Macalaster.
The following awards will also be announced at the Banquet: Most Sophomore points scored by a Freshman (Asher Rappaport), Most Sophomore points scored by a Sophomore (Jacob Cosby), Varsity Century Club Award for 100 points+ season (Malcolm Grba, Danny Rosen, Matt Osborne), Most Varsity points scored by a Freshman (Kyle Lowenthal), Most Varsity points scored by a Sophomore (Jacob Cosby), Most Varsity points scored by a Junior (Danny Rosen), Most Varsity points scored by a Senior (Malcolm Grba), Most Varsity points scored on the Team (Malcolm Grba), Sportsmanship Award, Senior Leadership Award, Academic Award (Freshman, Sophomore, Varsity), Mustang Award for Work Ethic and Mental Toughness (Freshman, Sophomore, Varsity), and MVP Award (Freshman, Sophomore, Varsity).
The 2016 Northside Track & Field Captains will also be announced at the Banquet.
A gourmet Italian Buffet Team Dinner will be served at 5:45 pm on Friday, June 5, 2015 at the East Bank Club.
All Athletes and/or guests will have the following at the banquet:
Chicken Vesuvio with potatoes and peas
Pan-Seared Salmon in tomato-fennel sauce
Cheese Stuffed Arancini with marinara on the side
Flatbread, Grissini, Filone and Ciabatta with dipping oil and parmesan
ANTIPASTO
Romaine Hearts with caesar dressing
Prosciutto with melon
Vegetable Antipasto Salad
Mushroom and Spinach Salad
PASTA
Mushroom Tortellini in white wine, herbs and cheese
DESSERT
Fresh Fruit, Tiramisu with espresso sauce, Cannolis, Coffee and Tea
2015 Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Malcolm Grba
On Tuesday, June 2, 2015, Northside Head Track & Field Coach Jon Gordon received a fantastic email from the Northside administration informing him that the winner of the 2015 Senior Male Athlete of the Year Award was Malcolm Grba. Grba will be honored at Navy Pier at the Senior Awards luncheon at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 on the cruise ship, the Mystic Blue of Chicago.
There are 29 sports at Northside College Prep. The Senior Male Athlete award is given annually at Graduation to the best Athlete in the Senior Class. Head Coaches of all 29 Northside sports vote to determine the winner of the Senior Male Athlete Award. It is the highest honor an athlete can receive at graduation.
For only the fifth time in Northside history, a member of the Northside Track & Field Team won the award, Senior Captain Malcolm Grba.
Malcolm Grba is one of the greatest athletes to ever wear the uniform. Malcolm Grba has the strength of a thrower, the speed of a sprinter, and the endurance of a distance runner. During his Senior year, Malcolm Grba was co-MVP of both the Cross Country and Track Teams. Malcolm Grba also scored the most Varsity points for the Northside Track & Field Team.
Malcolm Grba has earned 9 Varsity letters at Northside in Cross Country, Track, and Baseball.
During his athletic career, Malcolm Grba has qualified for STATE in Cross Country, 4x800m Relay, 800m, 1600m, and 4x400m, and pitched a no-hitter for the Varsity Baseball Team against Steinmetz.
Malcolm Grba holds FOUR SCHOOL RECORDS, including the 1000m run, Discus Relay, 4x800m Relay, and the 4x1600m Relay. Malcolm Grba also holds the Stadium record in the 800m run (2:00.12) at Lake Forest Academy. The 4x800m Relay is also named after him, at the Mustangs home meet, the Eric Nelson Track & Field Classic.
Malcolm Grba was also the first athlete in Northside history to do 41 consecutive pull-ups.
Malcolm Grba joined the Northside Track & Field Team during his Sophomore Year of High School. From Sophomore year through Senior year, he has WON the 800m run 14 times!, helped Northside win the 4x800m Relay EIGHT times, Malcolm Grba has WON the 1600m run SEVEN times!, helped Northside win the 4x400m Relay SIX times, and has also posted victories in the Discus, 400m, and 1000m run!
In the 1600m run, Malcolm Grba dropped 8 seconds from Sophomore year (4:44.68) to Junior year (4:36.10). Malcolm Grba dropped another 11 seconds (4:36.10) during his Senior Year with a personal best time of 4:25.81. Malcolm Grba is ranked as the second fastest miler in Northside history!
Malcolm Grba also has one of the highest GPA (5.0612) out of 35,000 Chicago Public School student-athletes.
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 Malcolm Grba.
Malcolm Grba is a leader on the Track and in the weight room. He is an expert at strength training. He leads the Team through intense "core" training sessions after every practice. He has earned every Northside Track & Field Bench press t-shirt and pull-ups club t-shirt. He regularly trains with 50-55 lbs dumbells, and has taught his teammates a free weight circuit training program that helps them stay healthy throughout the season, maintain proper running form, improve running economy, speed, and have explosive finishing kicks.
His attitude has carried the Mustangs to great success. He has helped put multiple banners on the gymnasium wall.
Malcolm Grba had major impact in the Mustangs winning the Sophomore Boys City Track & Field Title (2013), IHSA Sectional Track & Field Title (2014), and the Indoor City Championships in 2014 and 2015.
In Cross Country, Malcolm Grba ran a personal best three miles time of 15:39.70 in his final race of his Senior year. Grba also broke the Northside Two miles time trial cross country record at River Park Track with a 9:59.20.
It's not the records that he holds, the IHSA State appearances, Sectional Titles, and City Titles, that makes him a champion, but his character and work ethic that makes him a Champion.
His work ethic is second to none. Malcolm Grba ran between 50-60 miles a week during the summer in preparation for the 2014 Cross Country season and 2015 Track & Field season. During his Senior year, he had several obstacles to overcome, including an illness in Costa Rica, and conquered every medical hardship. In addition to training in Costa Rica, Malcolm Grba also trained in Chicago during the summer, and frequently traveled with several teammates to train on the U.S. National Cross Country course in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
He spent his Junior year training during the summer at high altitude in Peru. While he was training in Peru, he walked four miles a day to a local school to help children with English and Physical Education classes, and rebuild their Track. Grba was named as a 2013 New Balance finalist for the New Balance local heros.
He is also the mentally toughest athlete on the Team. Prior to the 2013 CPS Varsity Cross Country Championships, Malcolm Grba was hit by a car riding his bike to school on a Friday morning. He suffered multiple injuries, including bruises, cuts, and a concussion. No one thought he would be back at practice for weeks. Malcolm Grba was at practice the very next monday, ready to train for the City Championships. In his very next race, at the Chicago Public League Cross Country Championships, Malcolm Grba earned All City Honors by placing 15th overall with an outstanding time of 15:54.47. In 2014, Malcolm Grba earned All City Honors again with an outstanding time of 15:41.30.
Malcolm Grba is also a great Captain, leader, and has personally mentored many athletes on the Northside Track and Cross Country Teams, including Danny Rosen, Alex Ortiz, and Kyle Friedler.
Malcolm Grba always put the TEAM first, and was always willing to do anything to make the TEAM better. Malcolm Grba also pushed his Teammates in all of the workouts, on the Track, and on the roads, to make the TEAM better. Malcolm Grba is a very special individual.
At the end of every Track meet, Malcolm Grba leads the Team huddle, honors his teammates, and motivates each member of the TEAM. Malcolm Grba is one of the greatest leaders, athletes, and individuals in the history of Northside College Prep.
In the Fall of 2015, Malcolm Grba will be attending, and running Cross Country and Track for NCAA Division I Tulane.
Senior Tom Frejowski competes in the State meet for the third year in a row! Junior Danny Rosen BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD in the 1000m Steeplechase!
On Thursday, May 28, 2015, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon, and Sprints Coach Vernon James, traveled to Champaign, Illinois for dinner with IHSA State Qualifier Tom Frejowski and Northside Junior Danny Rosen.
Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon treated his coaching staff, Senior Tom Frejowski and Junior Danny Rosen to Dinner at Olive Garden, in Champaign, Illinois. On the eve of the IHSA State Championships, Northside was celebrating a season in which they had 39 athletes earn a Plaque by breaking a school record, and that number would reach 40 by the end of the IHSA State Championships.
After dinner, the Northside Track & Field Team departed for Charleston, Illinois in preparation for the IHSA State Championships at Eastern Illinois University.
Tom Frejowski has qualified for the IHSA State Track & Field Championships for three years in a row. He ran in the Northside 4x400m Relay at the State Championships during his Sophomore year (2013). During his Junior (2014) and Senior year (2014), Tom Frejowski qualified for the IHSA State Championships in the 400m Dash.
At Eastern Illinois University, the Mustangs stayed in an "Olympic Village" atmosphere with State Qualifiers from across the State. Northside stayed in Thomas Hall, which was located less than a block from the stadium. Thomas Hall was complete with a Big Screen Television, Air Hockey Tables, and Pool tables.
On Friday, May 29, 2015, upon arrival to O'Brien Stadium, Tom Frejowski was given a State Qualifier Pin from the IHSA, along with his race number.
As the athletes began warm-ups for the 400m Dash, the stadium was filled close to its capacity, and spectators, fans, and Teams, had to park over a half mile away from the Stadium because of the size of the sell-out crowd. Outside the Stadium, there was a large festival of Track & Field souvenir vendors.
The 2015 IHSA State Championships was an incredible experience for Northside Senior Tom Frejowski and Junior Danny Rosen.
In the 400m Dash, Northside Captain Tom Frejowski ran the first 200m in 22 seconds, and then ran the final 200m in 30 seconds for an official time of 52.13.
After the IHSA Prelims reached a conclusion, the Northside Track & Field Coaching Staff, and athletes traveled from O'Brien Stadium to Smoky's House BBQ for Dinner.
After Dinner, Athletes from around the State, including collegiate athletes, prepared for Open races under the lights at O'Brien Stadium.
At 6:30 pm, the Open races commenced, Under the Lights, at O'Brien Stadium.
In the 300m Hurdles, Northside Senior Tom Frejowski ran a PERSONAL BEST time of 48.45.
In the 400m Dash, Northside Sprints Coach Vernon James has not raced in 8 years. At the State meet, he came out of retirement and ran an impressive time of 54.15.
In the 800m run, the field featured 35 athletes. Northside Junior Danny Rosen finished in third place overall with a season best time of 1:59.61.
In the 1000m Steeplechase, Northside Junior Danny Rosen BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD (3:07.21) with an official time of 3:04.95. The previous record was 3:07.21. Danny Rosen broke the school record by almost 3 seconds with a personal best time of 3:04.95. Danny Rosen will receive a WATERMELON for breaking the school record, and will be honored with a plaque at the Northside Track & Field Banquet on Friday, June 5, 2015 at the East Bank Club. Northside had 40 athletes break a school record in 2015! Northside Senior Tom Frejowski finished in 24th place overall in the 1000m Steeplechase with an outstanding time of 3:14.77.
After the Steeplechase, the TEAM and coaching staff walked from O'Brien Stadium, into town for Pizza. It was an outstanding experience.
PACK YOUR BAGS! NORTHSIDE IS GOING TO STATE for the 8th CONSECUTIVE YEAR! Frejowski 51.49! 4x200m 1:33.16! Rosen 4:22.96! Grba 4:26.90! Osborne 40'01
On Friday, May 22, 2015, the Northside Varsity men traveled to Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois for the Chicago Northside IHSA Sectional Championships.
Northside hosted the 2015 Class 3A IHSA Sectional Championships, and the meet was a huge success. The meet ran efficiently and finished in record time. Oak Park River Forest Head Coach Tim Hasso praised Northside for hosting an outstanding IHSA Sectional meet, and after the meet invited the Chicago Northside Mustangs to attend Oak Park River Forest home indoor Track meet in 2016.
Oak Park River Forest High School won the IHSA Sectional title with 225 points. Lane Tech finished in second place with 69 points. Whitney Young finished in third place with 60 points. St. Ignatius finished in fourth place with 41 points.
Chicago Northside finished in fifth place with 30 points. and posted victories over: 6. Taft (24 points), 7. Proviso East (22 points), 8. Jones College Prep (18 points), 8. Prosser (18 points), 8. Lincoln Park (18 points), 11. Steinmetz (14 points), 12. Schurz (6 points), 12. Lake View (6 points), 14. St. Patrick (4 points), 15. Von Steuben (2 points), and 16. Foreman (0 points). Northside had a record of 11-4 on the day!
In 2015, 30 Northside athletes earned a school record plaque, and one athlete broke a Stadium Record! (Lake Forest). Northside has broken more school records than any TEAM in the State of Illinois during the 2015 season. The records, and personal best performances continued at the IHSA Sectional Championships.
In the 400m Dash, Northside Junior Tom Frejowski QUALIFIED for the IHSA State Championships by finishing in SECOND place with an outstanding time of 51.49. Tom Frejowski earned All Sectional Honors by placing in the Top Six. Tom Frejowski was also awarded a MEDAL for placing second overall. Tom Frejowski will leave for Charleston, Illinois for the IHSA State Championships on Thursday afternoon. Frejowski will compete in the Prelims on Friday, and the Finals on Saturday.
In the Triple Jump, Northside Senior Matt Osborne finished in THIRD place with an outstanding jump of 40'01. Matt Osborne was awarded a MEDAL for finishing in third place overall.
In the 1600m run, Northside Junior Danny Rosen BROKE THE SCHOOL RECORD with a PERSONAL BEST time of 4:22.96. Northside Senior Malcolm Grba outkicked the defending City Champion (Kedsu Worku, 4:26.94, Whitney Young) to the finish line with an outstanding time of 4:26.90. Malcolm Grba and Danny Rosen earned All IHSA Sectional Honors. Danny Rosen and Malcolm Grba are the greatest milers in Northside history! Danny Rosen and Malcolm Grba were awarded MEDALS for finishing in fourth and fifth place respectively.
