Fremd wins close races for Bob Frisk Paddock Cup and Trophy

Every varsity athlete contributes.

Every girl and boy in Mid-Suburban League varsity sports plays an important role.

That was never as evident as in the 2009-10 high school year in the two dramatic battles for varsity sports supremacy in one of the premier conferences in Illinois.

Fremd and Prospect high schools staged two of the greatest races in Mid-Suburban League history before finally settling the top positions in the Bob Frisk Paddock Trophy for girls and Bob Frisk Paddock Cup for boys.

When the dust had cleared and the final finish line crossed, Fremd's Vikings emerged as No. 1 in both competitions but with just a paper-thin margin of victory over charging Prospect, a solid contender through fall, winter and spring.

How close?

Fremd's girls averaged 10.35 points per sport when 14 is the maximum available. Prospect averaged 10.26. Barrington finished No. 3 at 9.77, Hersey was No. 4 at 9.08, Schaumburg was No. 5 at 8.08 and Palatine was No. 6 at 7.46.

This marked the second straight MSL championship for the Fremd girls and fifth overall since the Paddock Trophy was initiated in 1975-76.

Fremd's boys averaged 10.65 points per sport. Prospect averaged 10.58. Palatine finished as No. 3 with 9.50 point per sport, Barrington was No. 4 at 8.48, Conant was No. 5 at 8.23 and Buffalo Grove was No. 6 at 8.19.

This marked the first Cup victory for the Vikings' boys since 1997-98 and the 10th overall since 1967-68 when Arlington High School won the first award. It also snapped a string of two straight Cup victories by Prospect, which has 6 overall.

Last year, the two Mid-Suburban League varsity awards given by Paddock Publications added the name of Bob Frisk, who retired from the Daily Herald in December of 2008 after 50 years as an enthusiastic supporter of high school sports.

With the cooperation of the Mid-Suburban League Board of Control, Frisk had originated both the Paddock Cup for boys (1968) and Paddock Trophy for girls (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 considered major at the varsity level in the Cup and Trophy battles.

Conference champions receive 14 points, an important plus in the standings that definitely helped Fremd, 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 in the standings as possible. Schools must try to keep from having too many second-division finishes in MSL varsity competition.

Championships obviously play an important role because of the bonus points with 14 for a title and 12 for the runner-up school.

Fremd's girls and boys combined for an impressive total of 8 MSL championships in 2009-10 and 4 runner-up positions. Prospect had 3 championships and 4 runner-up finishes.

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.

In the 34-year history of the Bob Frisk Paddock Trophy for girls, six Mid-Suburban League schools have claimed the top prize -- Fremd, Barrington, Schaumburg, Hersey, Palatine and Arlington. Barrington has 11 titles in the past 16 years.

Nine schools have won the Bob Frisk Paddock Cup for boys since it was initiated in 1967-68 - Fremd, Prospect, Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Barrington, Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Conant and Arlington.

Bob Frisk Paddock Cup

(boys sports)

Maximum points per sport ­- 14

Average points per sport:

1. Fremd 10.65

2. Prospect 10.58

3. Palatine 9.50

4. Barrington 8.58

5. Conant 8.23

6. Buffalo Grove 8.19

Bob Frisk Paddock Trophy

(girls sports)

Maximum points per sport - 14

Average points per sport:

1. Fremd 10.35

2. Prospect 10.26

3. Barrington 9.77

4. Hersey 9.08

5. Schaumburg 8.08

6. Palatine 7.46