Bartlett's magical run gives adversity a big slap in the face

Many times in life, we find things spiral out of control and we're left wondering why.

A little over a year ago, that's how Bartlett girls basketball coach Denise Sarna had to feel.

The season had ended, Sarna's Hawks had finished 17-11 and had great promise for the future. Bartlett was returning the core of its team and had its sights set on 20-plus wins, maybe a conference championship, and a long run in the postseason for this year.

Then the cloud came. And it was a dark one. An unfavorable eligibility ruling came down from the IHSA concerning the residency and guardianship status of promising freshman Ashley Santos. Bartlett was forced to forfeit its 17 wins. The media scrutiny was heavy as everyone tried to explain the situation. Bartlett's appeal was heard by the IHSA but not enough evidence was presented for the state to overturn the decision and Bartlett's record was officially recorded as 0-28.

But now, as we enter sectional final Thursday, the cloud is gone. Santos has transferred to Geneva, which is also in a sectional final, and Bartlett has moved on.

Here's the neat part - the Hawks will be playing tonight, too. A team with only one senior, albeit a darn important one in tri-captain Nicolette Gutzwiller, Bartlett has won 12 of its last 13 games and upset the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds on its way to a Class 4A sectional final matchup tonight at Lake Park against Fenwick. The Hawks are 21-9 and finished second in the Upstate Eight Conference. They are in the Sweet Sixteen, a far cry from the gutter the program was kicked to over the Santos situation.

It's the first time since Lindsay Schrader and Co. finished second in Class AA in 2005 that Bartlett has reached a sectional final. And for overcoming the adversity of the situation, the Hawks can stand proud, regardless of the outcome of tonight's game in Roselle.

"It's a credit to our immediate basketball family, all of us who are still here," Sarna said Wednesday before practice. "Regardless of what happened all of us, parents, players and coaches, learned what negativism, jealousy and hatred in sports can do. This year, our parents have been great. They've had pizza parties for the kids and done a lot of other positive things."

The girls on Sarna's team have moved on as well. Many of them don't even have driver's licenses yet, so once again the resiliency of youth that continues to amaze us is winning out.

"The kids have refused to focus on the negative," said Sarna, acknowledging that the situation took enough of an emotional toll on her that she questioned coming back. "I couldn't be prouder of a group of kids who have been through more crap than any group of kids could imagine.

"We've moved past it and we've learned from the negative things that surrounded our team."

One of the major reasons the Hawks have been able to do that is because of the solid leader and role model they have in Sarna. Does everyone like her or agree with me on that statement? Probably not. But in 35 years in this business, I have yet to run across a coach that someone didn't take issue with for some reason. It comes with the job. But Sarna, like most coaches, is an educator first. It's her job - her obligation - to make girls basketball at Bartlett High School a learning experience within the educational system. Too often today we get wrapped up in who the best player is or who the best team is and we forget that interscholastic activities are meant to be an extension of the classroom. I've known Denise Sarna for over 20 years and I can tell you she never loses sight of that.

She had to face this season with a new assistant coach after Pat Arnet retired. She got lucky and landed another positive role model on the bench next to her in Brad Hunt. But most importantly, Sarna had a group of players returning who believed in her and believed in her mission for Bartlett girls basketball.

"They've refused to let this season be one of negativity," Sarna said, praising her captains - Gutzwiller, Jacki Gulczynski and Nicole Beck - for being at the forefront of that. "This season has been one of nothing but positives and I can honestly say this is one of the best groups of kids I've ever worked with."

Whether or not Bartlett pulls off its third upset in a row tonight and wins over Fenwick really makes little difference at this point. This group of Hawks, and their coach, have already proven to be winners in life, and that will mean much more in the future than any basketball game.

Job well done, ladies.