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Gurnee's Warren Township High School recognizes spring sports success

Warren Township High School's state championship girls softball team and other squads that made a splash in the spring season were recognized at a meeting Tuesday night.

Mark Pos, athletic director at Gurnee-based Warren District 121, said a record four varsity teams advanced to statewide competition for titles. The Class 4A softball championship was the first in Warren history for any girls team sport.

"It was truly a spring to remember here at Warren," Pos told the school board.

Certificates honoring the varying achievement levels were presented to the athletes in varsity girls softball, boys volleyball, girls track and field, and boys lacrosse

First-year coach Bryan McNulty led the Warren girls to their softball title. In addition to their on-field excellence, McNulty said, the girls shined in helping the community through volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and Warren Special Recreation Association.

District 121 board President John Anderson said he was in East Peoria to witness the girls softball team make Blue Devils history.

"It was the craziest thing I've ever seen," Anderson said. "The only people who weren't nervous were these girls. The rest of us were pacing like a bunch of wild animals. They were playing softball, laughing, having a good time."

Boys lacrosse finished second in the state. Coach Greg Janczak thanked the District 121 board for agreeing to start a lacrosse program seven years ago.

"We've been able to take this program to heights we didn't expect seven years ago," Janczak said.

Girls track and field coach Ryan Dunn praised Brittny Ellis who led the team with a second-place finish in the 200-meter dash and third for the 400-meter dash.

Dunn also told the crowd that Ellis is one of 16 male and female athletes who will be on Team USA for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China for two weeks in August.

"That's an incredible achievement for (Ellis)," Dunn said. "Obviously, she's very excited to do that."

Ellis, who will be a senior for the 2014-15 academic season, could not attend Tuesday night's District 121 school board meeting due to a track competition.

Boys volleyball finished second in the state. Coach Yun Chen said it was a significant achievement.

Twitter: @DHBobSusnjara

  Brittny Ellis, who is on Warren Township School girls track and field team, will participate for Team USA at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games for two weeks in August. George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
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