Walters wins an award for what we’ve known all along
We already knew this.
We knew the meaning of the agenda item from the Feb. 20 Glenbard District 87 board of education meeting, the item pertaining in part to Glenbard East football coach John Walters.
Along with district counselor Michelle Mandley, musical accompanist Stephen Uhl and teacher Deirdre Winkelhake, the board awarded Walters the district’s “Inspire ... Empower ... Succeed” award.
It goes to faculty and staff who take initiative, make a difference in their students’ lives and provide outstanding student service or achievement.
Glenbard East athletic director D’Wayne Bates nominated Walters for the “Inspire” award. It was the first time the coach had won it.
Being the Rams football coach did come into play. At the meeting the board brought up Glenbard East’s 2023 football season, when the team reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1999.
Not counting the shortened and delayed COVID-19 season of 2020-21, since 2018 Walters’ teams have averaged 8.6 wins and made the playoffs each season.
A Glenbard North High School graduate who teaches driver’s education and physical education, Walters also received credit for substituting in the dean’s office when called upon and for his ability to speak Spanish to students when they’re behind the wheel.
He was praised for his work ethic, his coaching and for being inclusive in his work with students and their families.
But we knew that.
“I certainly feel blessed to receive something like this considering all the great teachers and coaches we have here at Glenbard East,” Walters said.
Cream of the crop
A personal favorite annual announcement by the Illinois High School Association is the release of its All-State Academic Team. The 2023-24 list was released Feb. 20.
One female and one male from each of the IHSA’s seven districts are chosen along with 12 other at-large selections to comprise a first team. Every IHSA member school, more than 800 of them, are invited to nominate athletes.
The nominees need to have at least a 3.50 grade-point average on a 4.00-point scale after their seventh semester, had to have participated in at least two IHSA activities in each of their last two years in school, and have “demonstrated outstanding citizenship,” the release said.
IHSA All-State Academic Team members will be saluted at a banquet in Bloomington on April 8.
Congratulations to the following first-team members, listed with their school and sports:
Annika Chudy, Vernon Hills, gymnastics, track and field;
Leah Gaidos, Barrington, golf, bowling;
Katherine Klimek, York, cross country, track and field;
Patrick Hilby, Aurora Central Catholic, cross country, basketball, track and field;
Owen McGrory, Libertyville, football, wrestling, lacrosse; and
Ben Zima, Glenbard South, basketball, volleyball.
There is also an All-State Academic Team honorable-mention group. Those students include:
Sophia Berger, Stevenson; Charlie Blackmer, Vernon Hills; Jack Lesher, Marmion; Bryce Loeger, Conant; Megan Molenhouse, Rosary; Ella Petersen, St. Charles North; and Brian Schlesinger, Naperville Central.
Speaking of Patrick Hilby...
The Aurora Central Catholic senior is in the final season of a sparkling high school career before he leaves for Wisconsin on a full scholarship, according to Chargers track coach Troy Kerber.
Feb. 15 on North Central College’s great Al Carius Track in Naperville, Hilby won his 800-meter race by more than eight seconds. As of Feb. 27 his time of 1 minute, 50.50 seconds ranked No. 1 in the nation on the leader board at Athletic.net.
“Quite honestly, he was not even close to fully exerting himself,” Kerber said.
On Feb. 4 in Boston, at the New Balance Indoor Gran Prix, Hilby ran a mile in 4:10.10. The nutty thing about that was Hilby placed eighth in the field, with one runner, JoJo Jourdan of Utah, breaking four minutes.
Hilby will be heading back to The Track at New Balance on March 9 for the New Balance Nationals Indoor. Outdoors, he’ll also compete at the Arcadia Invitational in California over April 4-5, Kerber said.
In 2023 in Charleston for the IHSA boys state outdoor finals, Hilby earned his fifth all-state honor — four in track, one in cross country — by winning the Class 2A 800-meter run in a 2A-record 1:50.49, among the top 15 times ever run by a high school boy, according to IHSA records.
After the 2023 high school season on June 1, Hilby ran a personal-best 1:48.81 at the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis, second by .22 seconds to former Hinsdale Central superstar Dan Watcke.
A couple weeks later, June 18 at the 2023 New Balance Nationals Outdoor, he placed fourth at 1:48.87.
We’ll see what the spring will bring.
“He’s really fit right now,” Kerber said.