Here's hoping this Summit translates to more participation

Arturo Escobedo and Sal Dominguez understand how beneficial participation in sports has been for them at Wheeling.

But Escobedo and Dominguez don't want to be the minority in an ethnic group that is or is close to being the majority at some schools. Administrators such as Steve May, Wheeling's assistant principal for student activities, don't want to see that happen, either.

So, today at Forest View in Arlington Heights, Escobedo and Dominguez will take part in the inaugural Hispanic Athletic Summit, which was organized by May. More than 250 Hispanic student-athletes from 13 high schools are expected to attend and share ideas that include ways to increase participation among their ethnic group.

“I think it's a great idea that other schools agreed to do this,” said Dominguez, a sophomore who is involved in football, wrestling and baseball. “We can think of better ways to get people involved. We want to know what other schools are doing to get Hispanics involved in sports.”

Escobedo, a senior who wrestled and played soccer, is also excited about the event.

“Other schools might be doing something we're not and we can start doing it to get Hispanics involved,” Escobedo said. “They can teach us what they're doing and we can teach them what they're doing.”

It's vital toward success at Wheeling, where May said last spring the school's enrollment was about 45 percent Hispanic. May said that's when he got together with a group of athletic directors that included Palatine's Jerry Dobbs, Maine West's Chris Addante and Mundelein's Perry Wilhelm.

“We talked about what schools were doing to increase participation,” May said. “We thought it would be a good idea to get kids together and get them to one place, to talk to them and let them talk to each other about what their schools are doing and what we could be doing.

“The most important thing is we want all of these kids to have as good of an experience as you and I did, and all these other kids did.”

As word spread, more schools were interested in participating. West Chicago, Round Lake, Zion-Benton, Fenton, Rolling Meadows, Highland Park, Joliet West, Joliet Central and Waukegan will also have students at today's summit.

Other areas that will be discussed are barriers to Hispanic participation in athletics, the benefits and positives to athletic participation and ways schools are helping Hispanics participate.

It figures to help the adults better understand these issues as well.

“Maybe we're not doing a good enough job of getting kids to summer camps,” May said. “Maybe we aren't doing a good enough job of educating the parents that it's not going to hurt your grades but it's going to help your grades if you participate in sports.”

Just ask Escobedo, who said he is the first in his family to play organized school sports. He is a high B average student who will also be the first in his family to go to college at the Robert Morris campus in Waukegan, where he wants to study business management and marketing and hopes to try and play soccer.

“Sports helps me and encourages me to work harder,” Escobedo said. “It helps me organize my time.”

Escobedo and Dominguez said they don't see language barriers as a problem. They said many of their friends participate in sports but they said some of the common reasons for those who don't are having to work, having to baby-sit siblings or not liking the coaches.

“Sometimes they don't know the coaches so they just say that as an excuse,” Escobedo said.

“I do know some kids who have really good talent and don't feel like playing,” Dominguez said. “I try to get them out but they say it's not for them.”

What May hopes to accomplish is to make kids, coaches, parents and administrators find better ways to work together and realize sports benefits everyone.

“There's a need and we wanted as athletic directors to address that need,” May said. “We want to let the kids take some ownership and empower them a little bit.”

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com