Fremd, Prospect awarded Daily Herald Frisk Cup trophy
Balance.
It's all about balance in the battles for varsity sports supremacy in Mid-Suburban League girls and boys sports.
Fremd and Prospect high schools demonstrated that overall varsity balance in the fall, winter and spring and wrapped up the prestigious sports awards for 2008-09 that are presented by the Daily Herald.
Fremd's girls staged a powerful finish in spring sports to win the Bob Frisk Paddock Trophy and knock Barrington's Fillies off the No. 1 spot they had held for a record seven straight school years.
Prospect's boys defended their title in the battle for the Bob Frisk Paddock Cup by posting 11 first-division finishes and piling up enough points to hold off Barrington for the second straight year. Barrington had a streak of four straight Cup victories before Prospect climbed to the top in 2007-08.
For the first time, the two awards given by Paddock Publications now carry the name of Bob Frisk, who retired from the Daily Herald in December after 50 years as an enthusiastic supporter of high school sports. The announcement was made at special events in December by Publisher/CEO Doug Ray and Vice Chairman/Executive Vice-President Robert Y. Paddock, Jr.
With the cooperation of the Mid-Suburban League Board of Control, Frisk had originated both the Paddock Cup (1968) and Paddock Trophy (1976) for the newspaper.
Points are awarded for each school's finish in Mid-Suburban League varsity competition only, and every sport is treated the same way. There are no "minor" sports. They're all major at the varsity level in the Cup and Trophy competitions.
Conference champions receive 14 points, an important plus in the standings, and the runner-up earns 12. Points then are distributed down the line according to the final MSL standings. Success in state tournaments is not a factor.
There is a formula that determines points for varsity sports that do not have overall standings but only divisions.
The key to winning the awards or even being in title contention is to avoid as much "down" time as possible. Schools must try to keep from having too many second-division finishes in MSL varsity competition.
Through a 1997 agreement with the MSL Board of Control, complete standings of Nos. 1 through 12 are not published. Only the first-division schools are announced each year in girls and boys sports. The publication of the final point standings 1-12 put so much negative emphasis on some schools that it created bad feelings within the communities involved.
The awards were initiated by Paddock Publications to emphasize overall success and not advertise athletic programs that might have problems in any particular school year.
Girls sports
In the 33-year history of the Paddock Trophy, six Mid-Suburban League schools have claimed the top prize for girls - Fremd, Barrington, Schaumburg, Hersey, Palatine and Arlington. Barrington has 11 titles in the past 15 years.
Until Barrington's streak of 7 straight, Palatine had been the major success story. The Pirates' programs has won 7 Trophy titles for girls, including 6 straight from 1980-81 through 1985-86.
Fremd, which once owned a streak of 3 straight Trophy wins, returned to No. 1 status in 2008-09 with first-division finishes in 11 sports, including 4 conference championships. The Vikings showcased 10 sports that finished no lower than fourth overall in the MSL and averaged 10.54 points.
Barrington (9.58) held off Prospect (9.42) for third. Hersey (8.50), Buffalo Grove (7.54) and Conant (7.35) rounded out the first division.
Boys sports
Prospect now has won 6 Paddock Cups. The Knights had a streak of 3 straight titles from 1978-81 and then added No. 4 in 1984-85. They returned to the top in 2007-08.
Prospect finished fourth or better in nine sports in 2008-09 in averaging 9.92 points and holding off Barrington, which finished at 9.23.
Buffalo Grove and Fremd tied for third with an average of 8.65 points per sport. Conant came in at 8.42 and Rolling Meadows rounded out the first division with 7.73.
Arlington, Hersey, Prospect, Fremd, Schaumburg and Barrington have all retired a Paddock Cup because of at least 3 straight victories.
Bob Frisk Paddock Trophy
Girls sports
Average points per sport; 14 maximum
1. Fremd 10.54
2. Barrington 9.58
3. Prospect 9.42
4. Hersey 8.50
5. Buffalo Grove 7.54
6. Conant 7.35
Bob Frisk Paddock Cup
Boys sports
Average points per sport; 14 maximum
1. Prospect 9.92
2. Barrington 9.23
3. Buffalo Grove 8.65
3. Fremd 8.65
5. Conant 8.42
6. Rolling Meadows 7.73