New Trier’s Henry Freedman makes a move on Loyola’s Luca Lazarettoduring the IHSA boys lacrosse final. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL LERNER
The New Trier High School athletics department did not just have a banner day on June 1.
It enjoyed a … banner day—times four.
Four of the school’s sports teams competed on the final day of their respective seasons and went 4-for-4, with two of the programs claiming state championships and the other two earning third-place hardware.
“I’m happy for the athletes and the coaches,” NTHS Athletic Director Augie Fontanetta says. “I’m also happy we built additional trophy cases two years ago and put them in an area at the school where we could display the big trophies more prominently.”
NT’s boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse squads won state titles in Hinsdale. The boys overwhelmed Warren Township High School 16-4 in the first final, and the girls avenged their title game loss to Hinsdale Central last spring with a convincing 12-4 defeat of the Red Devils.
NT’s boys volleyball team, meanwhile, finished in third place at the state tournament in Hoffman Estates. NT’s girls soccer crew then matched that showing after downing Lyons Township High School 2-0 in the third-place match in Naperville.
“Remarkable,” Fontanetta says. “Playing for third place is sometimes tough because it’s not easy to get motivated for it after dealing with the disappointment of a semifinal loss. But our volleyball and soccer players were excited to play and compete one more time with their teammates.”
Several of Fontanetta’s “teammates”—or his administrative colleagues—hit the road before the athletes hit the court and the fields. Super- intendent Dr. Paul Sally took in the action, as did Principal Denise Dubravec, who attended the trophy presentations in Hoffman Estates and Naperville.
NTHS Assistant Boys Athletic Director Paul Moretta supported and cheered for Trevians, too. “We divided and conquered,” says Fontanetta, who started his day in Hoffman Estates and ended
it in Hinsdale.
NTHS Assistant Girls Athletic Director Jim
Burnside would have been wherever Fontanetta neededhimtobeonJune1,buthehadtobe with New Trier’s girls soccer team at North Central College in Naperville for a very good reason.
He’s the team’s head coach.
“I truly believe we have the best coaches in the state,” Fontanetta says, adding, while chuckling, he had to kick people out of Burnside’s office on May 28 so that the coach could fully prepare for NT’s Class 3A supersectional match against Stevenson High School later that day.
“Our coaches are committed to excellence, just like the kids are,” continues the AD, who had New Trier senior attackman Henry Freedman also watched the school’s girls water polo team place fourth at state and the boys tennis team take state runner-up honors on the previous two weekends. “Our coaching staffs are deep. Our coaches coach here for a while. And the athletes’ parents, along with the support we get from other members of the community, provide a wonderful base for our programs.”
Burnside’s nephew Emmett Burnside had an airtight excuse for not watching Uncle Jim’s soccer team battle on either May 31 (when the Trevians lost a 2-1 state semifinal to Barrington High School’s two-time reigning state champion Fillies) or June 1. Emmett, a son of NT girls cross country coach John Burnside, was too busy, as a middle blocker, helping NT’s boys volleyball team win two of three state tournament matches in Hoffman Estates last weekend.
Some highlights from New Trier’s highly successful weekend on the field, the pitch, and the court:
BOYS LACROSSE: Trevians senior attackman Henry Scherb poured in five goals and de- livered three assists in NT’s 16-4 rout of Warren in the championship game. Another attackman named Henry (Henry Freedman) finished with four goals and an assist, and senior middie Gavin Randle had three goals. Juniors Cooper Yaccino (three saves) and Brian Dolby (one) shared time in goal for the victors (20-5).
New Trier coach Tom Herrala improved to 200-56 in his 11th season with program. Freedman and f reshman middie Johnny Hackett each tallied two goals in NT’s 8-6 defeat of Neuqua Valley High School in a state semifi- nal on May 30. Senior middie Brian Sitzer dished a pair of assists.
GIRLS LACROSSE: NT junior attack Annie Thompson and junior middie Charley Meier scored three goals apiece in the Trevians’ 12-4 defeat of Hinsdale Central in the title game, a day after junior middie Claudia Shevitz had a hand in 10 goals (seven goals, three assists) in a 15-14 semifinal victory over Glenbrook South. Junior attack Lucy Murray notched a combined five goals and five assists in the wins for New Trier (22-1-2). New Trier’s Macy Zaban, a sophomore middie, contributed two goals in the semifinal.
Trevians senior goalkeeper Kate Burnham stopped five shots in the title game and six in the semi.
NT coach Pete Collins’ overall record after 18 years at the school stands at 365-72-12.
GIRLS SOCCER: New Trier forward Emma Weaver netted all three of her team’s goals last weekend, including the pair in the 2-0 defeat of Lyons Township in the third-place contest. Trevians senior keeper Meghan Dwyer made a com- bined six saves in two matches.
Coach Jim Burnside (529-76-37, in 23 seasons at NTHS) has guided teams to six consecutive top-three state finishes. His 2014, 2015 and 2016 clubs captured state championships. Burnside also coached NT girls soccer teams to state titles in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Making its sixth straight Elite Eight appearance in boys volleyball, New Trier placed third at state for the first time in program history after edging Oak Park-River Forest High School 29-31, 25-22, 25-21 on June 1. Junior hitters Peter Brown and Colin Heath struck for 16 and 11 kills, respectively, and senior setter Zach Salberg lofted 35 assists. Senior libero Aaron Schatz averaged a team-high 13 digs in three state matches for New Trier (32-8), which finished fourth at state last spring and runner-up at state in 2016.
The Trevians lost in straight sets to Glenbard West in a state semifinal, also on June 1, after topping St. Rita in three sets in a state quarter- final on May 31. NT coach Sue Ellen Haak owns an overall record of 519-168 after 18 seasons at the school.
