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You are currently on page 4 Archived Guest Logs: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 page 4 Most recent page
CommentsI too am a concerned parent and have read many of the recent conversations. I have many questions that I seems not to know the answer to. 1.Where is all the raffle ticket money, transportation fee money, outside fundraisers, and booster club membership money go to? What spending have we seen from this cash. Is there some kind of breakdown information sheet for that spending available for the stakeholders? 2.How many coaches get paid and how much? Shouldn't this be public info just like a teacher's salary? Some of them are there each day, some once a week, and others JUST on game nights. Where are the funds coming from to pay for the large varsity staff? 3. Why are all of the booster club committe people varsity coaches? How come some parents are not on that at the top? We are the main financial contributors to this so can't we have a say to where the money is going? 4.Were those stadium lights paid for with CPS or Booster Club money or both. Why didn't we do something about the practice field of dirt,rocks, and glass first? Don't our kids use the practice field 20 times as much as the 4-5 home games? Won't a quality practice surface protect from injury and ensure a better simulated surface for games? We need to start more dialogue amongst us and do what is best for Lane now and into the future. As the team preaches about family, we need to get more involved too and make it a 3 fold effort from parents, coaches, and players. Parents can have a lot of say of who the leader is or isn't. Afterall it is our sons they work with day in and day out. Administrators open their eyes and ears when MANY parents start to get involved! With the weight room being closed for so long, I feel we are already down 10-0 in the 1st quarter of next year's opener. Imagine if we open against a great opponent like we have the last 2 years what it could be like. Our kids deserve the best opportunity to win! We need a 12 month commitment to the program from the top down rather than July-October. Our kids never seem to be playing in November at all. We are the 2nd largest high school in IL with some of the highest quality student/athletes this state has in one building! Go Lane Go! Let's help this program out and get involved more!
CommentsDoes Lane have any other sports than football anymore? It would be different if the football team was good. So, why the big fuss over their coaches and players?
CommentsWe played tough last year, despite the lack of any special talent. We had no DI players on our team last year. Unlike Gordon who had George, one of the top receivers in state. So, even though we had a down year as far as talent, we still finished a respectable 6-5. That is way better than Gordon's 0-9. The seniors on this years Lane Team was one of the best freshmen classes at Lane in the last 10 years. There were at least 2 players who had the potential to be Div 1 scholarship winners, with at least 4 to 5 more players who should be going on to play college football. What happened that these players didn't fulfill their potential. What happened to that 6-5, 330 lb three time all city off tackle from last year ? Where did he go on to college at ?
CommentsLane hasn't had or built any special talent in the past 10 years or so. Stop making excuses for a school that doesn't have a good team anymore. And, it seems all the south side schools have all the all-city players and not Lane. Is this because Lane has no talent or bad coaches?
CommentsThe south side has most of the all-city talent for a couple reasons. For one, the development of elementary school age football programs by Chicago, has elevated the game everywhere. For a while most of the talent was coming from the Northside where football at that level was more established. Secondly, most of the Southside schools concentrate only on two sports basketball and football. So, most of their athletes gravitate towards those two sports. Yes Dunbar, Hubbard, Simeon, and Morgan Park can beat us handily in football and basketball but put them up against our cross country, track, lacrosse, softball, baseball, swimming, water polo, and other sports and they have no chance. At Lane, our athletes are spread out in a multitude of sports. We won a record 13 city championships in 2005-06 school year in varsity level sports. The previous record was 10. Thirdly, the demographics at Lane has changed from what it was in the 70's and 80's. Lane is now predominantly more Latino and Asian that it has been in the past. Culturally, those cultures don't put as much emphasis on high school sports as other cultures. Also, lane is now about 61% female. Thus the girls sports are thriving (lacrosse, girls soccer, track, swimming, etc) Plus, talent goes in cycles, in the 70's and 80's Lane had plenty of college talent. Whereas, Hubbard and Morgan Park had a dry spell during those years. Now it's the opposite. But, Morgan Park will not have a Demetrius Jones (current QB at Notre dame and Morgan Park Alumni) type talent every year. One these years some of the northside schools will find and develop more talent. Heck even Taft, Mather, and Steinmetz had DI talent in the past. But is is not all about talent on the field. It's about the program. Lane, along with Dunbar, Curie, Simeon, Morgan Park, Hubbard, and Simeon all have a programs that are advanced in the Public League. I don't admit those school are in par with the Mt.Carmels and Maine Souths in the world. But there is a lot of improvement to be made by everyone. I'm confident that the Public League and the north side city schools (St. Patrick, Gordon, St. Ignatius) can all improve their programs. But it will take a lot of dedication, commitment, and care from parents, staff, athletes, and the community.
CommentsLane Tech Wrestling at the Lincoln Tournament in Lincoln, IL. took 7th out of 19 teams. Missed top 5 finish by 25 pts.led by *Champ. 160 Jamelle Williams, Defeated no. 2 seed in 1st round 2-1, then cruised with a pin, then a 20-5 win, capping it off with a 13-4 finals match. Never taken down in the tourney *Champ. 125 Justin Cobb Soph. 4 solid victories. *189 Koshion Barfield 2nd Place. Lost 8-5 in finals to kid ranked 3rd in state. Very good tournament *Tog Ganbold 125, 5th place. Unbeaten after 2nd rd. loss *Scott Minneci 145, 5th place. Unbeaten after 1st rd. loss Justin Vargas 6th place, Stevie Santana 8th, Raymond Baranda 8th
CommentsGreat to see all the sports teams flourishing at Lane these days, especially the Girls' teams. But, I'm afraid with the lack of success and costs, it will not be long when Lane cuts their football team like they had to do with their hockey team.
CommentsI wish that all of the lane tech football haters would shutup. just because you aren't good enough to be apart of it doesn't mean you should take your frustration out by blasting us on every little thing. if you don't do anyting to help the program you have no right to criticize the players or the coaching staff at lane tech. you don't know what goes on with the program outside our record and our field conditions. this is still the same coaching staff that took lane tech all the way to the prep bowl without a loss two seasons ago.
Commentswinner of the Pup Bowl is like being the valedictorian of summer school, doesn't matter....state matters...wasn't that one of the reasons for firing brady as city isn't important....pressure's on rio and his boys this year....nobody left to blame for their failures, but, themselves.....I feel bad for the players
CommentsIf this is your argument..... "I wish that all of the lane tech football haters would shutup. just because you aren't good enough to be apart of it" .......then, why is the worst sophomore coach still on the staff?
CommentsCongratulations to Jamelle Williams for his success so far this wrestling season.Jamelle played on the soph football team for me both his freshman and soph year. He was always a quality kid, very coachable and extremely hard working. As a freshman , he was one of the key players on a 13-0 city championship team. As a soph , he was a team captain and a great leader. Jamelle was always willing to work real hard in the weight room and was probably the strongest freshman in the past 10 years , achieving warrior rank as a freshman. I also took him and Steve Thompson to the high school national powerlifting championships in Milwaukee when Jamelle was a freshman, where Jamelle placed third and Steve placed second. I always thought getting my players involved in these competitions was a great thing because it exposed them to really strong kids from around the country , almost all of who were also football players and wrestlers(many of who were walking around with state championship patches on their school jackets). When you see kids benching over 400 and squatting and deadlifting 600 to 700, it gives you a real good idea of what you can achieve. Most important though is that Jamelle is a great student and I hear he has already been accepted to many top colleges. Good luck Jamelle, you're the kind of kid who makes Lane proud. Brady
CommentsCongratulations to the Lane Tech wrestling team for defeating both St. Ignatius 47-21 and Marian Catholic 43-36. Vs. Ignatius, Lane was led by pins from 145 David Mihaila, 160 Jamelle Williams, 171 Yuriy Koverko, and 215 Justin Vargas. Lane also received wins from 119 Tog Ganbold, 125 Justin Cobb, 152 Robert Hannan and 285 Stevie Santana.
CommentsAgainst Marian Catholic, Lane came back from a 30-6 deficit to rally and catch Marian Catholic. After Lane pulled within 8, Capt. Jamelle Williams's (17-5 rec.)8-5 decision pulled Lane within 5. Then 171 Yuriy Koverko's (6-0 rec.) pin put Lane ahead by 1, coming down to the last match, Capt. 189 Koshion Barfield (17-4). His pin clinched the victory for Lane. Lane(8-5) was also led with wins by 119 Tog Ganbold, 130 Raymond Baranda, 135 Nestor Rivera, 140 Artur Kujawa, and 145 David Mihalia.
CommentsEveryone knew all the fuss about Brady would die down and all you lanehaters would crawl back inside your holes.
Commentsour basketball team sucks
Commentstheres alot of bad staff at lane....most of the good football players had left the team cuz they were sick of the bulshit from the coaches except brady cuz he was the best coach......if we want our athletic teams to succed we need to start building stronger players....lane is pretty weak in the weight room .....wrestling is our only good sport this year
CommentsI agree. My good friend is a captain on the wrestling team and he quit the football team his senior year to wrestle at nationals. Because the events conflicted for 1 week into the football mini camp he had to quit. And personally I don't blame him. After nationals and hard work he is 20-5, on the verge of being ranked in the state along with another teammate, and helps lead probably Lane's best athletic team this year by far.
CommentsThere is no reason an athlete can't wrestle and play football , especially the one that has been mentioned here, Jamelle Williams . There have been a lot of great athletes who have done both with great success, most notably John Dergo who led Morris to a state championship in football and ended up with a wrestling scholarship to Illinois. Jamelle would of helped the football team this year without a doubt, and you have to question how come he was not even on the team after playing three years. Jamelle is the kind of student that other teams build state championship programs around.
Commentslast place in conference for basketball? the coach thinks he can run a catholic school type basketball program at lane? another joke just like the football team and their coaches. love live girls sports and other boys teams!
CommentsVarsity basketball coach Leroy Jarka is doing a good job based on the talent he has. There is only one player above 6'3" on his team. He only has one solid scorer in Shelton Jackson, who Jarka says he thinks is the best player to come out of Lane in 30 years. Well apparently he might have forgetten about Adrian Moore who played for Lane Tech in the mid 1980's. Moore was a dominant player in the northside of Chicago that year. He was on some high scoring Lane teams. In one game he helped Lane score over 100 points vs Amundsen. Scoring over 100 points in a high school game is almost unheard of. Moore ended up getting a scholarship to play for Iowa State but unfortunately his career there never panned out due to injury. Jarka has to just do the best he can for the team this year based on the talent (or lack of) that he has. Hopefully, he can find more talent in his basketball camps he runs for elementary school kids. It takes time to build a program. A player like an Adrian Moore comes only rarely for a program like Lane but if Jarka makes the program fun and hardworking and focuses on developing a solid program, eventually we will attract some more talent like Lavonte Dorrity, a top 10 in the state rated freshman from Foreman and the plethora of talent that seems to find it's way to Von Steuben. There's alot of good players out there. Lane has a lot more to offer in academics, tradition, and greatness over most of the other nothside schools. That is why Adrian Moore went here instead of going to Westinghouse or Farragut in the 1980's. So I'm confident we can eventually build the boys basketball program up to par with some of our other sports like our Wrestling, Boys Soccer, Girls Lacrosse, Girls Softball, and Baseball teams.
CommentsIf jarka is building the basketball program then why is the battle for last place so important? seems to be real negative
CommentsIt seems to be that everyone has little to no respect for Lane’s varsity football team. In regards to the future of Lane’s football team, I will remain optimistic. I do know first sure, that Lane has some new/old talented up and coming players on their rosters. My advice to any parent that has a child involved in any sports program: Get Involved! If everyone would work together with respect and one common goal, all will achieve success To all the past / present parents, players, students, and coaches of Lane Tech; Why are (you) disrespecting Lane’s Sports Programs! We have enough outside enemies to do it for us. It is sad to read some of these discouraging comments. Some of our kids still have to and want to participate in these programs. It’s hard to be number one, but it’s not impossible. I will continue to support my child in any and every sporting program that he/she is involved in.
CommentsLane is never going to get the number of great athletes that some other CPS schools get . What it is going to get get is a bunch of good kids every year that can be developed into good athletes and good to excellent teams.Lane has to play to its strengths in most sports , and that is to have good , smart , well disciplined players who by their senior year have been developed to close to their maximum potential. A school like Lane should win because we have a large number of players who have worked hard in their respective sports for 4 years and have peaked as seniors.If you follow a lot of the top football programs, you'll see that a lot of their players don't start till their senior year, primarily because they cannot beat out the seniors who were developed over 4 years.The baseball team at Lane seems to be following this strategy and it is obvious it has been very successful for them.I would guess that many of the other successful teams at Lane are similar in that they have a large number of 4 year seniors who have worked hard and been coached so they are close to their maximum potential.A good program in my opinion will succeed over time against programs that aren't as good , even if they have superior athletes. Look at Hubbard's football team this year , 7 division one scholarships and once again knocked out of the state playoffs and a season ending loss in the prep bowl.
CommentsJohn Dergo pissed hot for Steroids at Illinois. How legit was he at Morris?
CommentsBig Lane Tech Wrestling Quad at Dundee-Crown! Lane Tech vs. #8 state ranked Oak Park, Lane Tech vs. Dundee-Crown, and Lane Tech vs. Chicago (Corliss) tomorrow. Lane Led by Tog Ganbold (20-6), Yuriy Koverko (7-0), Koshion Barfield (18-4) and Jamelle Williams (18-5)
Commentswe need lollino back fast.
CommentsIf Nobiling likes Evanston so much have him go teach there as well. He's just another pe/de teacher that makes good money and doesn't coach at Lane. He should just keep quiet and stop correcting people. How many of the pe/de teachers coach at Lane? 2?3? Why are these people allowed to do this? Every other school's pe/de tecahers coach a sport, And, you can't Rio because all he does is sit in the golf cart at practices. Nice leadership! Politics at it's best. Go, Lame, Go! Who runs the school? Rio or Lobosco?
CommentsThere are many teachers thru the entire CPS system who teach at public schools but then choose to coach at suburban and Catholic schools, it's not just a Lane thing. Usually these are coaches who are good coaches who want to be successful and get frustrated with what goes on at CPS or in their individual schools.Usually there is more money , better facilities and more support from administration when you go outside CPS.There are also coaches who get burned out fighting for the success of their teams and athletes and just kind of give up and go teach drivers ed where it's less work and aggravation for more money.A lot of coaches at Lane woild much prefer to be at Lane if the situation was better. And it's really sad when you have coaches who truly want to be at Lane and get pushed out.
CommentsWhere is the conflict that forces these coaches not to coach at Lane or go to Drivers Education? Are they fighting with Rio? It appears to me that football gets all of Rio's attention and every other sport is secondary. Why is this? And, if all the other coaches are getting crapped on by Rio, why don't they ban together and force Lobosco to step in and settle things? Possibility, a new AD that works with everyone?
CommentsHoffman for AD. The People's Choice!
CommentsHoffman would be a great AD , hopefully he'll get the job when Rio retires.Think he would get great backing from all the coaches and we be fair and put the overall athletic program before any individual sport.That's whats it going to take for Lane to continue to progress athletically and continue the move toward the next level.
CommentsRe: "Where is the conflict that forces these coaches not to coach at Lane or go to Drivers Education?" It's comments like everything that's going on in here now that makes people not want to coach. Comments from outside people who "think" they know what's best for the sport or the program. That's not even mentioning all the other politics involved when coaching in CPS. Oftentimes a coach in CPS will get student-athletes who only just started playing the sport when those same student-athletes in the suburbs have been playing those sports for years. There's more money in coaching in the suburbs. There's more support from parents in the suburbs. There's more support from the greater community in general in the suburbs. There are so many things stacked against you when you coach in CPS that it doesn't make coaching fun, the reason why many coaches get into coaching in the first place. I don't know anything about the whole Rio/Brady situation, I'm just saying in general those are some reasons why people don't want to coach in CPS schools.
CommentsCoach, Thanks for your comments. However, the reality is that there's a lot of people earning really good salaries at Lane and not giving back. There has always been a certain faction at Lane that controls the student's futures and it appears that it always runs through the athletic department.
CommentsIn Wrestling, Lane Was overwhelmed and humbled at Dundee Crown, but showed some resilliancy. Along with wresling #8 Oak Park, Dundee-Crown (State Honorable Mention), and Corliss, #24 Prospect was added into the mixed to Give Lane its toughest competition of the year.
CommentsLane Lost to Dundee-Crown 43-25. They didnt win a match until the 160 wt. class when Jamelle Williams stopped the bleeding with a pin, followed with a 16-2 win for Yuriy Koverko (171, 10-0 this yr.), a pin by Koshion Barfield, and wins by Justin Vargas and Stevie Santana.
CommentsNext was #24 Prospect. Lane lost 47-16. Lane's only wins didnt come until 171 when Yuriy Koverko's major decision made the score 41-4. 215 Justin Vargas and 285 Stevie Santana got pins. Koshion Barfield wrestled #4 ranked Peter Zintak, while Jamelle Williams lost to Brandon Zaucha, ranked at 171. Although Barfield was pinned and Williams lost 5-2 they wrestled tough.
CommentsLane also lost to #8 Oak Park 60-15, but defeated Corliss 49-29. Vs. Oak Park Lane, got a 5-3 win by Williams, and falls from Korverko and Barfield. Oak Park, loaded with ranked wrestlers at 119, 125, 130, 140, 145, 152, 215, and HWT, just overpowered the Indians. The match vs. Corliss featured the rematch of last yrs. city championship match at 160. Unfortunately Johnathan Freeman of Corliss bested Williams 3-1. But his teammates were able to pick Lane up, getting wins from Barfield, Koverko, Ganbold, Cobb, and Minneci.
Commentswe need nobiling fast. NOT!
CommentsRe: "Where is the conflict that forces these coaches not to coach at Lane or go to Drivers Education?" It's comments like everything that's going on in here now that makes people not want to coach.(The old saying is 'if you can't handle the heat in the kitchen, then get out.") Comments from outside people who "think" they know what's best for the sport or the program.(Maybe, some outside influence is what is lacking as good coaches are leaving, getting fired, or stepping down.) That's not even mentioning all the other politics involved when coaching in CPS.(Then, getting out CPS would be good idea altogether.) Oftentimes a coach in CPS will get student-athletes who only just started playing the sport when those same student-athletes(That's where being a 'GOOD' coach comes in to play. Someone that can work against the odds. It seems like some coaches are quitting on their players and programs because they can't win with their booses all the time.) in the suburbs have been playing those sports for years. There's more money in coaching in the suburbs. There's more support from parents in the suburbs. There's more support from the greater community in general in the suburbs.(People should understand and accept these differences and move on. if they can't, then, working in the suburbs would be a good idea.) There are so many things stacked against you when you coach in CPS that it doesn't make coaching fun, the reason why many coaches get into coaching in the first place.(If people are that passionate about coaching, then, they should put up more of a fight against the people and circumstances they claim force them out.) I don't know anything about the whole Rio/Brady situation (After reading countless posts, that situation seems to be a power play that Brady lost and Rio used Brady as a 'scapegoat' for his team's failures.), I'm just saying in general those are some reasons why people don't want to coach in CPS schools.(Then, thank you for your efforts and good luck on your future endeavors in the suburbs.)
Commentswithout sports this school is nothing and thats wat we are turning out to be
Commentsstop projecting wins on this site.....wat kinda idiot projects city championships they should just shut this school down
CommentsOr Maybe you should just transfer since it is not satisfying you enough! The publisher is giving his honest opinion about how he thinks his beloved indians would fare in the respective sports. He wants to see his teams succeed, and it just motivates the teams not projected to win city or state to push even harder. Stop insulting this sight, or just stay off it.
CommentsThe NFL awarded Lane Stadium a $200,000 grant and I think that's GREAT!!!! Just make sure the moneu doesn't end up in Rio's hands. Otherwise, they'll have 50 coaches next year for a team which will bow out in the first round of state playoffs and the second game they play in city playoffs for football.
CommentsYeah, Rio Construction will get the work and they'll have a new football-only field, travel to road games in air-conditioned buses, and have caterd meals. While, the baseball team practices in cow manure, gravel, and mud. The girls teams have to play home games at the other teams fields. And, all teams besides football have to car pool, take yellow school buses, or ride the CTA.
CommentsAnybody know who the two weak teams Rio will schedule to play Lane's football team in pre-season next year in? That's along with the real weak teams in their conference. I'd bet they will not schedule Lockport or Simeon again. Maybe, they'll play a team like Phillips, Bowen, Carver, Kenwood, Crane, Amundsen, Al Raby, Wells, or CVS.
CommentsWOW! $200K! I guess no candy and sticker sales this year for Lane Football lower-level coaches. I guess since they all were fired or left that this is a good thing that they received the money now.
CommentsThe bowling championship must have been somewhat exciting as 46 pins separated the 1st through 4th place teams. And, Lane beat Payton by one pin. But, the coverage seems a litte drab. Wasn't anyone there to describe the action at all?
CommentsThat's a lot of money. Man, Rio could buy himself a 'Pope-mobile' to sit in during football practices with a phone to call his goombas, a wet bar, air-conditioning, and a driver.
CommentsOh, and don't forget a sidecar for Rio's 'melonhead' son.
CommentsWRESTLING: City Qualifying Meet @ Taft High School Friday Jan 26 The top three individuals from this northside qualifier will advance to the City Tournament Sat. Jan 27 at the Armory, 53rd and Cottage Grove. Lane is looking to win back to back city championships. Among the Northside qualifier, Lane will have to compete with Mather and Taft. At the City meet Lane will be competing with Kelly, Hope (boasting two state qualifiers), Corliss, and Bowen. Lane is led by All-City Koshion Barfield, Scott Minneci, and Jamelle Williams. Others to possibly win the title or place include Yuriy Koverko, Tog Ganbold, Stevie Santana, and Nestor Rivera
CommentsThat's great news about the NFL grant. It will do nothing but help a lot of Lane's teams as well as other teams from the northside.Stadium should now be able to be used well over 100 times a year for all type of sports and activities. Just remembner that although thats a big chunk of money from the NFL , it will need to be matched with another $400,000 to $600,000 to finish the project. Hopefully, all the people who have pledged their support will follow thru and a new field will be a reality by next season. While Coach Rio and I have had our disagreements , and I'm no longer in the program, he , as well as all the Field of Dreams people deserve a congratulations for getting this grant. Brady
CommentsI am also a very concerned parent, where is all the money going????? With the amount of money that the kids have to pay and fundraise, there should be plenty to up keep the facilities. What about all the money they raise in the Turkey Bowl, in the student/staff basketball game, and in the student/staff 16" softball game (Vegas, Rio?). How is it fair for the football team to ride in coach buses to their state playoff game, and get catered food afterward, but other teams have to car pool to their games. How many city titles has the 16" softball team won in the past 7 years? I believe 4 or 5 city championships... but still they have to carpool to ALL of their games, AND they were still required to pay the so called "Transportation Fee". Does anyone find it interesting that one of Rio's assisstant coaches supplies Lane Tech with most of its apparel?? How many people have to question the financial integregity of Rio before someone does something about this?? The one bright thing for Rio right now... is that the basketball team is doing so bad that it takes the heat off him for a bit. Too bad that Coach Jarka doesn't realize how bad he is being used, watch your back Coach Jarka! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!! The only ones who suffer when the athletic director is not fiscally responsible are the kids. Bottom line... the school needs to track their money better, get rid of Rio, and guide the athletic department in a new direction!!
CommentsWAKE UP!!!!Everyone is afraid of Rio!!! And, nobody will do anything!!!Lobosco, Dean, Choi, and Savoy are all in his backpocket. When Rio saus jump, they jump. Rio got his buddy, Foley, moved to Marshall with his crap and he still went untouched.Rio probably knows about all the crap happening in other schools on south and west sides...especially, the CPS Sports Administration and they fear he may rat them out. CPS!!! What a system!!!
CommentsI hear Lockport and Simeon have been replaced on football schedule by Kenwood (4-5,3rd place Chicagoland conf , had 38-0 loss to Whitney Young) and CVS (5-5 ,5th place Illini conf team, had a 61-0 loss to Hubbard). Well , that should be 2 wins hopefully .
CommentsWell, that should secure a 1st round state football game at home and more revenue to be pilfered
Comments". Does anyone find it interesting that one of Rio's assisstant coaches supplies Lane Tech with most of its apparel?? WOW! Sounds a little bit like a conflict of interest. Are you talking about Coach Chronis? I know Coach(?) Kezios doen't show up for practices, but, is at most of the games. Did he get paid? I know he's Rio's best friend...Parents should really start questioning these guys...
CommentsYou Know I have not been on this web site in some time because I was starting to wonder if I was the only alumni that thought Rio was out of line. Since reading some of the latest remarks I feel a lot better about Lane Techs future. It only takes our voice to get things changed.... We need to keep it up.... So 200,000 from the NFL huh? That would be great with a crack entry level coaching team. I hope that all Lane Athletic Teams will be able to benefit from this.... Lets keep an eye on that grant money.....You know Bad guys usually stay Bad guys!!!! Jake 1982
Commentsis this chronis the same guy that provides all gym uniforms jackets, shorts, and caps for the school's book store, is he the same guy on the football varsity coaching staff, sells them their t-shirts, is president of the lane tech football booster club, and working with centennial foundation? seems fishy...............
CommentsThe NFL grant is a good thing, I don't see any potential problems regarding Lane or Rio. If there will be problems, it will probably come from the CPS involvement with it,they're the ones who control the stadium . What good will a state of the art stadium do if CPS doesn't staff it or make it available for use .Or what if the CPS doesn't follow thru on their obligations like they didn't follow thru on their share of the money for the lights . Rio was involved on a good one on this issue , if there is a fight on this one, it will probably be with CPS and not Rio.
Commentsjust keep the money away from rio
CommentsYou know what? All of you people that are bad-mouthing Rio are full of it. Were you the one's who sat there for almost 2 years trying to get money to fund the renovation of the fields? As far as the baseball team practicing on manure, where were the baseball parents and the baseball coaches during all of those meetings? If they want better playing fields they need to get involved too. Not sit on their behinds expecting everyone else to do the work for them. Hard work goes into trying to find the funds to do these things. EVERYBODY needs to help out. The last time I checked, money didn't grow on trees. Also, all of you that are making nasty comments about the football team and the other athletic teams not being good... let's see how well you run, hit a ball, or throw a football. It's people like you that know how to criticize others when you can't do any better!
CommentsThis Guest Book has had recent comments critisizing Rich Rio (the Athletic Director and football coach) and Tony Chronis (Assistant Football coach and football booster club President). I'd like to state my own thoughts on the subject. One, it's probably only one guy making these comments. The reason he is choosing to be anonymous is because he can't publicly state who he is on these pages. He's good at crisizing on his computer at home but not very good at doing anything else very meaningful like serving on the Fields of Dreams committee or volunteering for football games. I'm OK with people voicing their opinions but at the same time I'm not sure how much crediblity you can get if you just sit there at home critisize people without any back up to you claims. You talk about pilfering, stealing, and other big accusations. Where is you proof? I fyou see it go to PRinciple Lobsoco yourself and tell her... but I bet you haven't done that. What has Rio done that's been so bad? I see a guy who has led Lane to a record 10 or more city championships in varsity sports over the last 3 years, a guy who ran a superemly successful Lane Tech Thanksgiving holiday Tournament, a guy who in his administration had lights installed for the first time in Lane history, a guy who is trying to get the funds for a new track, new baseball fields, new soccer fields, a guy who works hard every day to make Lane better. There are 1,800 statues in the city of New Your Park district including one a Ghandai, not one statue was erected for a critic. Rather there are statues of doers and shakers in history. For the longest time, Lane has been great... the school of champions. But in order to contiue that greatness, we need to improve Lane every way we can. Critiziing won't buid Fields, only lot's of hard work for a common cause will make the dreams come true. Support the cause!!! - A Lane Tech Alumni
CommentsThis guestbook is like a daily soap opera for me. It's hilarious!!! Please Mr. Publisher, don't get rid of this from your site. I do think it may be more than one person making post both for and against Coach Rio. And, I noticed the poster mentioning an anonymous poster making false accusations posted anonymously themselves. FUNNY!!!The age of the internet!!Keep up the posts as they're entertaining a lot of people. Thanks for the comic relief during this boring winter.
CommentsLOL LOL LOL!!! Altough this winter is not too boring with the Bears going to the Super Bowl.
CommentsI'll tell you where the $ goes....pockets. anything to counter that Rio???? Why not answer some of these questions? Or better yet, turn yourself in, I think they go easier on you if you come clean....And we can get our school back!
CommentsNo sure about New York's statues, but, there is a statue of Gene Siskel in the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago
CommentsGreat News -Cheerleading now being recognized as an official IHSA Completive Sport. Having an intense background with youth sporting programs where the cheering program was just as popular, recognized and completive as any other sports program. This is a great addition for these young ladies in high school. The only comment I have is unless Lane has added more or upgraded the cheerleaders that cheered at the 2006 Varsity football games, Lane will be in over their heads. Those girls were horrible.
CommentsGreat News -Cheerleading now being recognized as an official IHSA Completive Sport. Having an intense background with youth sporting programs where the cheering program was just as popular, recognized and completive as any other sports program. This is a great addition for these young ladies in high school. The only comment I have is unless Lane has added more or upgraded the cheerleaders that cheered at the 2006 Varsity football games, Lane will be in over their heads. Those girls were horrible.
CommentsTo the last entry who said that the cheerleaders at the football games we're "horrible". I think that may be an incorrect word. Horrible compared to what? Compared to the cheerleading squads from the Public League schools we we were great. Most of the other schools have like 10 people in their cheerleading teams. We have about 50. Cheerleading is a very popular sport at Lane and they definitely support the team. I love how the cheerleaders make a new banner for every game. That takes some effort. Plus, give them a break, this is the first year of competitive cheerleading for Lane in the IHSA. We ahve a serious coach, lots of girls that participate, and they help in school spirit. We are only one of 6 Public League school with a team out there. That is awesome!! Maybe next year we can build up to even bigger and better things like creating a CO-ED Squad. Go Lane cheerleaders!!!!
CommentsThat is awesome that they are making banners for every game. I was commenting solely on their performances at the games and of how they use to stand around posing instead of cheering. I am all for Lane, but I do know like all other sports program you have to bring it to be the best. Cheerleading is no different, 3 fans cheered louder than a squad of fifty of Lane’s cheerleader.
CommentsI also would like to say: that competitive cheering is not about making banners (again that is great that they do) it is about having a solid performance. I made that comment being a former youth cheerleader judge. NOT TO TEAR Lane down .
CommentsTo the last person who posted. I have to agree with some of your points. The Lane cheerleaders probably have a long way to go before being competitive with teams like Sandburg(who won the state championship). Heck we we didn't even win the city cheerleading competition last year. I heard some south side school won the city championship last year. You're right Lane's team probably needs more improvement. They do a good job with banners, with singing the school song after every touchdown, with the variety of cheers, and definitely with participation. So I think they do a pretty good job being cheerleaders at football games but to be successful in competitive cheerleading is a whole other story. I really don't care wheter we are as good as Sandburg or the other schoosl that do very very well in competitve cheerleading and beat us. I'm not concerned about us winning or losing competitions. What I am concerned about is that our cheerleading coach Dierdre Shultze stresses to the girls the difference between cheerleading and competitive cheerleading. Cheerleading is about cheering for the team during games whereas competitive cheerleading is about choergraphed performance. As long as Shultze is serius about competitive cheerleading, I'm sure she can find a group of girls who are more than willing to put a serious effort in competitive cheerleading. Dancing and cheerleading is gettign popular now. Look at teh box office success of the movies Bring it On! and most recently Stomp the Yard!! Lane has the talent and interest for our cheerleading program to evolve into something bigger. But like all of other sports it will take a lot more serious effort and committment to get us there. As long as we put the effort, then we are a success. I don't think any of us will be staisfied with a team that shows up. Let schools like Curie do that. We can do much much more.
CommentsLane Cheerleaders Once again CPS will have to compete with the Suburban schools. Which we all know always have an one step advantage. In many suburban youth programs such as Main South, Naperville, Proviso East and West, Leyden East and West , Hoffman , Arlington Heights , Addison, Oak Park, Boiling Brook, and many many more . The girls entering high school probably have actual experienced and competed in real cheerleading competitions so again they are step ahead of CPS. Then you will have the south side schools such as Harvey, Thornridge, Simeon, and through in Whitney Young: those girls have natural talent and with proper coaching they will be ready to Bring IT. Lane will have to prepare.
CommentsHey we've got some natural talent too. Check out the muscles on Alexis Dillon; she is #20 on the varsity girls basketball team (see her picture on the January 22 artcle). Also, in todays article picture, we've got that 5'11" sophomore Maria Joyce; she's built like a beast of an athlete and is bigger than some guys on the boys basketball team.
CommentsAlexis Dillon is as cut as Bears Running Back Thomas Jones!
CommentsCheerleading natural talent is not to be compared to man less and alone NFL RUNNING BACK! Thomas Jones is said to have the biggest arms/biceps in the NFL, and that is what you want to compare your cheerleaders too? Save that comment for the football or wrestling team -
CommentsYou can make fun of the cheerleaders all you want, but, they're in better shape than the football team and probably stronger, too!!!!!!!!!!
Commentsprobably , that is way the can't cheer the are too manly-
Commentsi'll agree that there are a select few cheerleaders who are athletic and fit, but there are quite a few overweight cheerleaders. i shake my head in disapproval when i see those particular girls perform. perform.
Commentsshake you head about unfit cheerleaders? what about the unfit football players?
CommentsThis website has hit a new all-time low. Attacking cheerleaders and the coach. Give me a break. This woman does this for free. She takes no money and spends hours with the girls. The previous coach ripped off the girls and left the school. Ladies, keep rocking and don't listen to the naysayers.
Commentsrumor is that the rio construction company has won the bid to redo the backfield. the company cinched the deal be putting a bar inside the third base coaching box. (lol)
CommentsGreat News! Thanks for sharing!! Hopefully, they'll have Annisette and some cool drinks with umbrellas in them. In addition, to a trolley to lug them back and forth from the school.
CommentsWhile the cheerleader coach is a great person and works real hard , I believe she is paid just like other coaches. It's possible though that she doesn't accept the money.
Commentsthe school of champions..thieves..drunks..molesters..pshycos..etc..
CommentsIn no words did I attack any cheerleader’s personal appearance. I know plenty of size ten and over girls that would out perform and out dance any size 10 and under cheerleader. They are also very confident and beautiful too. My comments are based solely on their cheering capability. I stand by my last comments that those Lane Cheerleaders that performed at the past football games and that are now performing at the basketball games are not ready to compete in any IHSA COMPETITION! And maybe the coach should get paid. She might do a better job with the girls.
CommentsThere's obviously some (one or two) disgruntled people out there who have a problem with Rio and maybe their experience at Lane. To that person I say that it's ok to state your opinion, but we don't want to here a complaint. Instead of just saying this school or Rio *****, add an anlysis. Say why so we can have feedback to improve ourselves. For example, instead of saying the Brady firing was ridiculous, make an anlysis that makes sense. For example, the other day I saw a football player lifting weights. For most of the time in the weight room he was working on his biceps. That's great if he wants to look like Thomas Jones, but if his goal is to be the best offensive lineman that he can be, then he's going to have to work on more than just his bicep muscles. He'll need to do squats, deadlifts, work on his diet etc. It's not that players fault. He needs proper coaching. Well, with the firing of Brady and no replacement being named, there is no sophomore football coach guidng players on off season workouts. That means there are a lot of future Lane Tech football players out there working out on their own without proper coaching. Now how successful will Lane's football team be if that continues? Conclusion: Rio may have made a hasty decision firing Brady without having a definite Sophomore coach to replace him right away. So, if you want to make a criticism of Rio, or this school, at least soem kind of analysis so we can improve the school. Anythinng else is just pure venting or worse anonomously attacking someone. By the way the football player working out his biceps in the weightroom is a true story. The players need soem more guidance during offseason conditioning. It's not just the cheerleaders, it's also the football players!!
CommentsI heard that they are serioulsy considering working on the current Lane cafetaria and make it a multi-purpose room to be used for more that just eating. The intention is to have the room used for things like a dance room for our cheerleading and pom teams. I've seen the dance teams practice in rooms that were formerly shops. Not an ideal palce to practice. If we want our cheerleaders to compete in the IHSA we need to get that cafterai transformed ASAP. Does anyone have an update? Also, I don' think anyone was intentionally poking fun at a cheerleaders personal appearance. Rather I think that person was stating a comment based on the fitness level of our cheerleaders. While most of them are fit, some of them, just like our athletes in all of our sports need better off season conditioning. By the way I've seen some large and good cheerleaders at Division I college programs!!!
CommentsBTW, cheerleading is not a sport. An extra-curricular activity, but not a sport. I'm not saying that it doesn't deserve respect or support, but don't equate it to track, swimming, volleyball, basketball, or other athletic competitive sports.
CommentsThere's two types of cheerleading 1) cheerleading at games 2) competive cheerleading Most fans of football and basketball games just see category 1). I agree with you most of those cheerleaders are there to support and cheer the team and it's an extracurricualr activity like joining a club like the Camera Club or the Vietnamese Club. However the second category of cheerleading, I call it competitive cheerleading is a long series of choreography. There are judeges who judge the sport, much liek in gymnastics and figure skating who then give the team a score. the higest team wins. That type of cheerleading is defenitely a sport. Many Divison I college programs even give some cheerleaders athlethic scholarship liek they do their football players. Tehn again, some also give scholarships for bowling and some other sports you wouldn't think are sports. Lane is very good in the category 1 type of cheerleading. We have lot's of participants who cheer on the team. But in the second category, Lane has a long way to go. To start with, they probably need to hire a paid coach who will put in the full committment and secondly and change the cafeteria to a transformable multi-purpose room that could be used for cheerleading.
CommentsTo be honest with the person asking for people to start asking for ideas of ways to improve things, instead of people blasting and insulting people with their posts, people will not send ways to improve things because they feel it will only help the person they don't agree with or like in charge. And, YES, the only people hurting from this is the students. Unfortunately, this seems to be true with a lot of people.
CommentsEx soph football coach Nick Bertani has a new position as a varsity off line coach at York high school, a team that was very successful last year. If Brady coaches next year , it will probably be at St Pats, although he may take a year off and concentrate on his gym, personal training , and running powere lifting meets.Lugo has had some interest from several suburban programs.It sounds like all will or could land at good programs with more responcibility then they had at Lane.Yet if you asked any of them, I'm sure they all would say they would rather be back at Lane.
Commentslane 39 york 20 lane 26 shamrocks 24 shamrocks suck in baseball (lol)
CommentsTo the users of this Guest Book: As the Publisher of LaneTechFan.com, I'd like to make a few comments regarding some recents posts on this site. First of all, I'd like to say that I'm a firm believer in free speech and in freedom of expression. Even if the message that you are trying to say is debateable or even offensive to others I'm OK with that. One of the biggest reasons I formed this site was to hopefully provide a forum or venue for people to talk about Lane Tech. I understand that there are people out there with some very strong emotions and no matter what anyone says, will not ever change. However, there has to be a line cross between stating your opinion and verbally defaming someone. In other words, I think it's OK if you say I don't like a person and here's why. But it's not OK to accuse a person of being stealer without any back up. So please, readers the next time you post something in this guestbook, please consider what I just said. I've made it my personal policy not to edit or delete any comments on this guestbook and I will do everything in my power to keep i tthat way to keep it that way. This is a Lane Tech Fan website. ---- The Publisher
Commentsi love this guestbook because all of the insults on it are so funny and true .....lane tech=overrated
Commentswhy are the salaries of lane tech teachers and coaches posted in the message book...one of the teachers is my division teacher...i was just wondering if they know of this because its pretty private. Also it is being compared to other teachers.
CommentsPublic officials salaries are public information. That is because they are meant to serve the Public and they are there because of the Public. Included in that group are Public School teachers and administrators who are there to teach the Public. You can find the salary of any teacher, adminstrator of Public official (even Richard Daley and President Bush). The person (I'm not this person) who listed the teachers salaries stated their source (www.thechampion.org). Public officials generally don't want to overly publisize or brag how much they make for fear of voters not liking what they see. But that being said, I think it's a but tactless of the person who posted the salaries. I don't think it's tactless to post them because they have every right to do so to try to make a point. Rather ,it is tactless because if they had any kind of integrity they would have no problem stating their own name as the person responsible for posting the salaries. So in other words, this person would rather hide then tell their name because he or she did not have the guts to give their name. For fear of retribution.
CommentsBonjour! What a super websight! Very refreshing to peruse from where we live in Paris (France). I eat frogs and drink wine. Woold like more informatons on this. Best regards! Mikael.
CommentsIt was a stressful day for the Lane Tech Wrestling team. Lane took 4th in city, after leading in the semi-finals. The turning point of the tournament was the 189 semifinal match between Koshion Barfield, and defending city champion Raymond Brown. Barfield lost a close 7-6 match, after questionable reffing calls, and afterwards was DQ'ed for his actions afterward. This caused Lane to lose all of his contributed team points which decided the championship.
CommentsLane was led by Champion Scott Minneci (140), All-City runner up Jamelle Williams (160), and All-City Selections Tog Ganbold (119, 3rd), David Mihaila(145, 4th, first yr. wrestler), Justin Vargas (215,4th) and Yuriy Koverko (171 5th). With a chance of losing Barfield for the Regionals Lane must rise to the occasion if they want to repeat as IHSA regional Champions, after a lackluster performance in the second day of the City Championships. The IHSA regional will be held at Mather HS, on Saturday.
CommentsTo All Lane Tech Players, Students, Coaches, Facility, Parents and Fans - Let these words of wisdom in the following team quotes and teamwork quotes inspire and motivate you! "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends Together E veryone A chieves M ore For the Players “You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.” "The only disability in life is a bad attitude." “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” “When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.” One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." Teams do not go physically flat, they go mentally stale. "Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake." The achievements of the team are the results of the combined effort of each individual. “The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say ‘I’. They don’t think ‘I’. They think ‘we’; they think ‘team’.” Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward the teams objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Strength lies in differences, not in similarities. A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind. The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side” “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” "Nobody gets muscles by watching ME lift weights." "You must have discipline to have fun." "You were born an individual, don't die a copy!" “You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.” “The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.” For the Coaches The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great. The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses. A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results. If you put good people in bad systems you get bad results. You have to water the flowers you want to grow. If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea" "The basic building block of good team building is for a leader to promote the feeling that every human being is unique and adds value." “Coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.” "Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize."
CommentsThe bottom line is this, there are MANY people (Students, Parents, other Teachers, Ex-Coaches and Current Coaches) who question Rich Rio's ethics, and for someone to claim that it is just one person, give me a break. Someone mentioned that Rio "guided" lane tech to 10 city championships, which is grossly mis-stated! Most of the other head coaches at Lane Tech have to schedule their own non-conference games, make their own copies, order their own equipment, fend for transportation to games for their athletes, and organize their own tournaments...etc. Rio does not support all sports the same, and that is too bad for the kids. More people would speak up in person if they didn't fear retribution, some people can't afford to lose their coaching position/teaching position because they need their coaching/teaching jobs to support their families. Another person wrote that people shouldn't make alligations without proof, which I agree with, but while reading some of these postings, I am reading people giving proof on some of these issues, but oddly enough these issues with proof being given aren't the ones being addressed by whomever is sticking up for Rio... is that because whomever is choosing to stick up for Rio knows that some of this stuff is really true? Fact: Tony Chronis is the supplier of the school apparel, he is one of the Varsity Football Coaches and he is heading the Field of Dreams committee... isn't this a conflict of interest? Fact: All athletes were made to pay the $60 transportation fee, however, many don't have transportation provided for them (Varsity Boys softball, Varsity baseball, Freshman boys basketball, Varsity girls softball) just to name a few. So, where is all of that money going to? There should be more accountability, income/expenditure reports should be made public, fraud does not descriminate. If ALL of the athletic dept accounting was published, seems to me that many of these alligations would be put to rest, this seems like a fair suggestion for everyone involved... the students and Rio. As far as his "guidance" of the other coaches, Fact: there has been such a turnover in coaching at Lane in the Rio era, with MANY choosing to stop working for Rich Rio's athletic dept, and find coaching jobs, and sometime teaching jobs, elsewhere. One should question why multiple current teachers at Lane, who formally coached at Lane, are now coaching at different schools but are still teaching at Lane. Doesn't this raise any red flags about the athletic dept? Anyway, those are a few facts that I feel "Proof" has been offered about, and can be substantiated, that no one seems to want to stick up for in the Rio camp. In the end, yes, we need free speech, but even our government has a system of checks and balances, and I think that Rich Rio's athletic dept should have them too.
CommentsAll I ever wanted to do was help out at Lane , initially being contacted by Ron Rio to help set up the strength program . The following year I was asked to be an asst coach on the soph team. Two years later I was asked to become the soph head coach, then two years after that I was asked to also be the head freshmen coach in addition to being the soph coach. During the course of all this I was asked to run freshmen mini camps,come to open houses , put equipment together, run the weight room at school ,video tape the games, make copies of tapes etc , etc . There was never a thing I was asked to do for the football program that I didn't do.I thought I was doing a good job by having winning teams , constantly sending 40 some soph on to varsity who were excited about playing varsity football , who worked hard in the weight room prior to their junior years. Obviously I was not doing the right things, because now I'm on the outside looking in at all this turmoil . All I ever wanted to do was be a football coach at Lane Tech and just a soph coach at that. My greatest dream was to stand on the sidelines someday in Champagne and watched what I had helped build win a state championship. Brady
CommentsBrady- I wish you would go away! When I read anything that you post it makes me cringe! You are the epitome of fake! Do you really believe that you are a fair coach? Take your crying@$$ to your gym and lift weights! I can’t wait until the day I can let you know what and how I feel about you face to face
CommentsAt least Brady posts his name, unlike you. Yours truly, Mom
CommentsTo the Brady Hater.......B&W GYM is at 5920 N Ridge in Chicago. Fell free to stop in tough guy!!!!!!!
CommentsLet these words of wisdom in the following team quotes and teamwork quotes inspire and motivate you! "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends Together E veryone A chieves M ore For the Players “You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.” "The only disability in life is a bad attitude." “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” “When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.” One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team. Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." Teams do not go physically flat, they go mentally stale. "Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake." The achievements of the team are the results of the combined effort of each individual. “The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say ‘I’. They don’t think ‘I’. They think ‘we’; they think ‘team’.” Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward the teams objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. Strength lies in differences, not in similarities. A successful team is a group of many hands but of one mind. The nice thing about teamwork is that you always have others on your side” “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” "Nobody gets muscles by watching ME lift weights." "You must have discipline to have fun." "You were born an individual, don't die a copy!" “You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose.” “The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.” For the Coaches The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great. The best job goes to the person who can get it done without passing the buck or coming back with excuses. A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results. If you put good people in bad systems you get bad results. You have to water the flowers you want to grow. If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea" "The basic building block of good team building is for a leader to promote the feeling that every human being is unique and adds value." “Coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.” "Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize."
CommentsFact: Rich Rio Guided Lane Tech to 13 city championships not 10. 2003-04 season 10 city championships, 2004-05 season 10 city championships, and 2005-06 season 13 city championship. All of those are records for city championships by a Public League team. Obviously Rio did not coach all of those teams, but guess who hired most of the coaches and staff? Rio. Guesss who was the athletic diretor and making most of the big decisions during those times? Rio. Who coached Lane's first city championship in football since the 1980's when the 2004 team won it all? Rio. Rio just doesn't support football, Guess who is at Lane's home basketball games? Rio. guess who set up the new Lane basketball Thanksgiving Tournament? Rio. How many other coaches from other teams were there? I bet you the person critiszing Rio has never attended a boys or girls basketball game? So in other words who is doing all the work to help Lane? Rio. And who is doing all the complaining? Some guy who hides behind a curtain of anonymity claiming fear of retriubtion yet he never attends any games or helps Lane out in any way beside complaining.
CommentsFact: Tony Chronis (Football Booster Club President and Asst football coach) does supply the uniforms and equipment. What is wrong with that? He operates a sports equipment store. Who would you rather have the football team buy their stuff from? Dick's Sporting goods? Tony is a Lane Alumni, Lane football star in the past, played for the University of Illinois, and helps out the school any way he can. He does not head the Fields of Dreams Committtee (Marie Gross heads it up). As a booster club president, he is there to help the program beyond the level that normal funding provides. Every booster club operates this way. The Maine South booster club sells gear (like tony does) to provide extra goodies to their athletes to help "boost" thier sport. So what is wrong with Tony Chronis "helping" Lane out in that way. That is his job as Booster club president. We don't want to be giving our money out to Dick's. We want to support Lane in any way we can and if we have to buy it from the booster club president at a lower cost, then I don't see anything wrong with that.
CommentsPeople are sadly mistaken if they believe only one person is making all the posts criticizing the happenings at Lane. However, if you believe that you're in for a rude awakening!!!
CommentsWhat I find hypocritical is that: Rio bashing is allowed and Brady Bashing is not. If anything is said negative about Brady you have to meet him at his gym for a showdown or you have to leave your name and number on your post. Please! Brady you are not as well respected either, so deal with it. Just because there is no name added to my post, please let not misconstrue that I won’t speak up at the proper time and place or that I haven’t. What is good for the gander is also good for the goose.
CommentsWith all this nonsense Rich Rio is still in charge so what have you accomplished? Brady If all you ever wanted to do was help out at Lane, and if all you ever wanted to do was be a football coach at Lane Tech and just a sophomore coach at that. And your greatest dream is to stand on the sidelines someday in Champagne and watch what you had helped build win a state championship. Why all of this negativity? Why don’t you speak to Rio man to man about getting your job back it obvious that you are in deep depressing about this (as long as you don’t coach mine)? Now you say that you’re on the outside looking at all of the turmoil that YOU created.
CommentsCONGRATULATIONS TO THE LANE TECH CHESS TEAM! The Chess Team has shocked the world by winning its second city championship in two years…and this was suppose to be a rebuilding year for the young and inexperienced team! Lane Tech defeated Kelly 62 – 6, Simeon 60 – 8, Foreman, 60 – 8, Lincoln Park 44 – 24 and Walter Payton 39 – 29 to win the title. Congratulations to Kevin Velazquez, Paaras Modi, Olena Jaworska, Patrick Maciejewski, Jan Wieczorek, Chris Morales, Jae Lee and Javier Martinez for a terrific tournament.
Commentshi. im currently a Lane Tech cheerleader and honestly all i have to say is: take a walk in my shoes. for some of you people to think that cheerleading is not a sport, come take a look at our practices. cheerleading is just like any other sport. whoever said it doesn't 'equate' to track, well we run around the school to get in shape, so it actually does. about the oversized cheerleaders, get a life, cmon, you want to see stereotypical cheerleaders- then you'd say 'those dumb bimbos'. theres no winning. the last thing i have to say is this year the Varsity squad placed 9 out of 20 squads at the second ICCA competition, meaning we beat out 11 suburban squads. id like to see football, baseball, any other sport beat 11 suburban teams. we also placed 9 out of 15 at the IHSA competition, considering this was our first time ever competing IHSA, it was amazing. Cheerleading is just beginning to be recognized as a sport so hopefully more people will support our cheer squad.
CommentsAn interesting note. Paaras Modi, the nationally ranked chess freshman, graduated from the Field School located in Rogers Park in Chicago. Others who graduated from Field include Jamelle Williams, the captain of the wrestling team here at Lane. Also, it graduated Jerome Ward, a state champion for St. Rita in wrestling ranked 5th in the nation, Johnathan and Jeremy Montgomery and James Henley and Michael Stovall, who are all Division 1 basketball recruits, three playing for #3 ranked Lincoln Park and Stovall playing for Marshall. All are good friends of Williams who had expressed interest in attending lane (Stovall was at Lane his So. Yr.). I think it is just a shame that Lane couldn't grab some of these other phonomenal athletes when they were 8th graders, especially Jerome Ward, being he was Special Ed. I do know that Field had its own tackle football program in the CPS( which Ward and Williams played for), and this past year, Williams coached the kids to a 4-2 record, because he was unable to play for Lane. These kids want to go to Lane, and do well like their coach, but being that they live in this hostile neighborhood, they usually fall to the wayside to the influences of gangs and drugs. Now only if Lane's football teams can pick up athletes who actually has football experience, like williams, and not ruin them...
CommentsHi I'm a Lane Tech wrestler, and I totally agree with the cheerleader. The cheerleaders are dedicated in their SPORT(We could tell cuz we've shared gym space with them), and it pays off in the meets, being they did defeat many suburban schools, unlike the majority of other Lane Sports. They totally deserve the utmost respect from all Lane athletes. But also, Lane's Wrestling team had defeated a number of Suburban and Catholic schools, whether its head to head or in a tournament. We take pride in wrestling a schedule, in which the ONLY CITY TEAMS WE WRESTLE ARE THE TEAMS WE HAVE TO WRESTLE IN CONFERENCE. These two teams are living proof that hard work pays off, in the long run, along with some other Lane Sports teams.
CommentsTo the Wrestler and Cheerleader who wrote the recent posts. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication so far. As a Laneite who played for 3 teams while I was at Lane, I know how much hard work and dedication is required to become the best athlete you can become. I remember running outside to workout during the season. Even if it was cold (like it is today, about 10 degrees), I still ran outside to work out because I knew that if I didn't work out during the weekends my competition would be out there working out. Again, congratulations on your efforts so far and keep working hard in the future. Make Lane proud. Go Lane Go!!
CommentsIt's a mis-conception that Lane can't beat suburban schools. Granted, there are a few out there like New Trier and Naperville Central that are hard for anyone to beat in any sport, but for the most part lot's of our teams can compete with suburban schools. Look at the boys soccer team they beat Lincoln Way, Glenbard North, and Marist this year. Girls vollyeball beat Deerfield. Wrestling beat Marian Catholic and Elk Grove Village. Our chess team is ranked 17th in the state even ahead of New Trier. Our girls softball team has beaten Niles North, Evanston (13-1) and a slew of other suburban schools. Our baseball team regularly beats suburban and Catholic League schools (and is usually ranked in the top 40 in the state). Our girls track team beat Schaumburg the last couple years. Our basketball team has beaten Waukegan and even Lake Forest in the past. Our girls basketball team has beaten Regina Dominican and Niles North this year.Heck even our football team beat York two years ago in the state playoffs. So we can compete. Can we get better? Absolutely. Are we up there yet with New Trier, Wheaton Warrenville South, Lyons Township, Stevenson, and about a dozen or so more schools. No. But considering our facilities, considering our socio-economic status of our students, considering the lack of pay to our coaches, we are way up there. Like the wrestler who made a posting said, most Lane teams paly a suburban/catholic school like schedule. It does us no good when we play non-conference games against Public League opponenents. Plus the future looks good. This is the first year with lights at Lane stadium and there's talk of Lacrosse and girls soccer games will be played in the lights. Plus we have field Turf coming, a new track so we can host meets, and upgraded baseball fields. The future is bright!!
CommentsWhy does Rio need to make the way he allocates funds Public? It's probably because you want to know where the transportation fee money is going to. Well, guess what pays for the buses to send athletes to games. The freshman football team had to take a bus to go to their game in Kankakee this year. That is an expense, do you expect them to find their own transportation there? The soccer team needs transportation to goto games. I think the question should be not to make the use of money Public (that would just add more bueracracy and what wants more of that). Rather, the question should be why some teams are taking more advantage of the transportation fee than others. If the softball team has to find their own transportaion while other teams don't then that may be a problem that needs to be addressed. Whoever posed this question, have you ever asked Rio directly why? Making accounting Public is probably not the answer. Come on do they ask the athletic director at other schools top make their usage of funds public?
CommentsAs an alumni and a former player for Lane, I know most of the parties in the coaching situation very well. I went to school and played with most of the coaches and also played for Ron Rio and Al Manasin, for those that do not know Rich Rio was one of Ron's assistants. I also know Dennis Brady very well and have seen how he works with the Lane players both on the field and at B&W Gym. In the past from time to time I have watched the teams practice, the difference between the sophmore and varsity coaching meathods are different and somewhat disturbing. The reason the varsity can't keep players is that they are not supposedly tough enough to handle the verbal abuse given out by their coaches, I cannot tell you how many countless times I have seen Rio and his staff, curse out and belittle 16-17 year old kids, this isn't just a bad word or 2, they are long drawn out tirades that would get there butts kicked for if they ever were man enough to do to another adult. If I had kids at Lane that played for them I would immediately pull them from the team and call the Board of Education if this was ever done to my child. It is a wonder that the sophmores drop out of footabll rather than go to varsity. I implore any parent, booster and faculty members that can drop by and watch what goes on at the varsity practices and see for themselves. This is nothing but abusive, and does nothing to mold teen age boys into men but rather teaches them they wrong way to motivate and causes them to drop out of athletics. This type of coaching and behavior needs to stop, it doesn't work and no child should have to endure this type of abuse.
CommentsTo the last person who posted about Rio. First of all I can certainly understand how you may feel. For I cannot deny what experience you went through or have seen as a former football player and seen afterward. But, I have to question the word "abuse" you've used to describe how Rio and his staff treats his players. First of all, football is a very violent sport. After all, your intention in the defensive side of the ball is to shred whover is blocking you and hit the opposing team's ball carrier as hard as possible and get him on the ground. So, in essence what the coaches are doing are teaching young men to be violent in a controlled way (during games and practices). To teach kids effectively to do this requires a skilled coach. Often times those coaching methods require yelling to motivate kids to work harder. I challenge anyone to goto a high school football practice for any school, and try to find coaches who are not yelling as they give instuctions to the kids. I've seen other schools programs and I've seen Lane's programs during football practice; and believe me the environment is no different. In fact you can make an argument at some of the better programs those caoches are even more intense to the kids than the coaches are at Lane. So before anyone goes on any rampages o rmake any harsh conclusions about Rio, I encourage you to watch a football practice or talk to football coaches or players at other schools and you'll see what intense really is.
CommentsTo the defense of Brady, by nature he is probably a gentler guy than Rio. He will return your emails and phone calls sooner and you'll find he easier to talk to.
CommentsIn reply,to recent comments. By abuse I do mean verbal abuse, not challenging a kid to be better but profanity laced tirades that are demeaning and have no place in high school sports. The incidents that I have seen lasted for as long as 30 seconds. Remember I played at Lane with many of the coaches and never saw anything close to what I have seen from Rio and his current coaching staff by the likes of Ron Rio or Al Manasin. I played in college and I also coach for a catholic school and if I or any other coach did anything close to what I have seen we would be immediately dismissed. I also have several friends that coach for suburban and other catholic schools and it is the same there. This is bullying not coaching, a coach should be admired and looked up to, they should inspire kids not tear them down. Each year we participate in a program that is developed and taught by Notre Dame, it is called Play Like A Champion Today. I think the current coaching staff should attend 1 of these seminars and step into the 21st century. In addition they are still coaching the way they learned the game back in 1976, football has evolved, the use of blocking rules ( which Lane still uses ) went out over 20 years ago. I have seen Dennis Brady and his coaches at many coaching clinics but cannot remember the last time I saw a varsity coach at one. They think they know it all, I guess the current state of affairs shows they need to upgrade. I wonder how the current staff would feel if they had a coach teaching them back in 1977 when they played the way the game was played back in 1947. Maybe people will wake up and realize that the current coaching staff is out of touch, out of date, and hopefully out of time.
CommentsLane Tech Wrestling: IHSA Regional Sat. Feb 3. 9:30 AM At Mather High School. TOp 3 in each class advance to the sectional. Come support!
CommentsAfter reading the recent posts concerning the 'verbal abuse(s)' players are getting from the Lane Tech football staff, it appears a change is needed and should be made as soon as possible. And, it seems the coaches left on the staff are nothing more than Coach Rich Rio's 'YES-men' and are very 'out-of-touch' with the way things are in 2007, not the 1970's. LET'S GET LANE TECH FOOTBALL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY. If the remaining coaches are truly loyal to Lane Tech, they should all step aside for the betterment of the program, school, and players.
CommentsThere are three major red flags with Lane's football program. First , is the tremendous attrition in the program. There are very rarely more then 12-18 seniors who have played all four years. Second , is the turnover of good coaches. Over the years, the program has lost numerous coaches with previous suburban or collegiate coaching experience, or collegiate or beyond playing experience. Some of these are still in the building , but no longer coaching football. Third is the very small amount of players who go on to successfully play football in college. I'm not just talking about Div 1 or 1a scholarship winners , but also about players going on to be successful at Div 2 or 3 schools.
CommentsI'd like to address the point of red flags the last reader brought up. You mentioned the attrition and that there are rarely "12-18 seniors that play all four years." First of all that's not true there were 30 seniors on the Lane Tech varsity roster in 2006, that's not much different then our city championship 2004 team. Then we had the juniors, seniors, and even a freshman on the roster and we had a healthy sized roster. Now, is the roster size comparable to Lincoln Way East, Mt. Carmel, Stevenson, New Trier, etc. No. But we are not Mt. Carmel and we don't play in the Catholic League. We play in the Chicago Public League. Now comparing Lane's program to the Public League we are way up there in roster size compared to all the other schools. In fact next to Morgan Park, we probably have the largest size roster in the ENTIRE PUBLIC LEAGUE. Lane Tech is a Public League program that clearly stands above the rest of the Public League. I would put Lane in the same category as Hubbard, Simeon, Morgan Park, Dunbar, as far as a quality Public League program. Can Lane and the rest of those schools use improvement. Of coures we can! We all should thrive to be like Mt. Carmel. But remember even Mt. Carmels conference has schools like Leo, Hales, St. Ignatius, and 0-9 Gordon Tech that could definitley need more talent and more numbers. Attrition for most of the schools out there is a major issue. This includes Lane and most schools. Lane absoultely needs more attention to attracting and retaining it's athletes for all of it's sports. Then, again so do most if not all schools out there. Let's work on the solution and get more athletes. A good start is developing furhter our freshman programs.
CommentsAs far as the lack of DI or DII talent at Lane. All I can say is that the level of talent goes in cycles. In 2004, our footbal team had a plethora of talent in All City players Couri Benz(QB, now at a DI school for baseball), Xavier Torres (now at Central Michigan on a football scholarship), Ed Cortez (Harper), Dwayne Pillow, Deon Flowers, Tiff Hamilton, etc. With them we beat suburban school York in the playoffs and won the city championship. But those guys graduated. So we had to do with the talent we had teh last couple years. Last years group put the effort but they could not help that anyone had the 4.50 speed, strenght and cathching ability like Xavier Torres. All you can ask for anybody is effort in improving. Last year, York had the talent and we're able to make it to the state semi-finals. They had the talent last year but for years they we're dry. It goes up and down for every school. Even Mt. Carmel lost to Morgan Park a couple years ago. Some years Lane is blessed with D1 and D2 talent, other years we are not. But hey at least we are not like Whitney Young, Taft, or Mather who has not produced anyone in years. Can we imrove on developing talent? Abosultely. But so can everyone else. Developing the talent you have is a major concern for every school including Lane Tech.
CommentsThere may be 30 seniors listed on the roster , but by the end of the season there were only 18 senior players who left who played all 4 years . Some quit, some were cut , some took a year or two off, but the bottom line is that there were only 18 players who stuck with the program for the entire 4 years.
Commentsbetween 18-30 seniors is a good number for any Public League school. Alhtough I'd love to see it more like 25-40.
CommentsHaving players have to go on to junior college because they have poor test scores and grades and possibly play one year is hardly a major accomplishment for a school like Lane.Part of a high school coaches job is to stay on top of the players with the talent to get scholarships to make sure they do get them. Making sure they work hard in the classroom and getting them physically ready to move on to the next level.Also,doing whatever he can to get as many of his players as possible into lower level colleges . Lane this year should have 10-11 players who have a chance to move on to play college football at some level. I have yet to see anything in any of the papers about any Lane players going anywhere. Check the Sun Times , there are listings almost every day of where local high school players are going to.I have yet to see one notice about a Lane player.
CommentsThe talent is still there, Lane is still not only one of the largest schools in Illinois but in the country. When you have 40 plus members on the sophmore team and the same with the freshman team you should have a varsity squad of at least 60 players. But when you run kids off and lose almost half of your seniors then you have records like what we have seen the last couple of years. The problem is only getting worse, the current varsity staff are still coaching the way they were coached back in the 70's. Football has changed tremendously since those days but Lane's staff has not kept up with the times, couple this with losing players the way they have been and then firing the one coach who had the knowledge and experience to teach them the proper technique and the right excercises in the weight room will just further worsen things. Back in in 1980 or 1981 Lane lost in the semifinal round to Gordon by less than a touchdown, Gordon won the state championship the following week. That team had a several kids who worked out at B&W gym with Dennis Brady. The current varsity staff does not have the knowledge to compete nowadays and also does not have the communication skills necessary to relate with the kids to properly motivate them. Time is running out, it is almot impossible to get rid of a tenured coach like Rio in the CPS so hopefully he will retire soon and take his staff with him, then we can get some new blood to return the program to where it should be. There is plenty of talent as I said in the beginning, just not anyone on the current staff that can develop or motivate it.
CommentsWhat was the road that Lane took to get to the semifinals that year (1980 or 1981)? Who did they beat?
CommentsPer the IHSA Records: 1980 season 1st round Lane 13 Curie 6 2nd round Lane 27 Robeson 6 semi-final Gordon Tech 15 Lane 8. 1981 season 1st round Fenwick 29 Lane 6.
CommentsIf a school does not produce D1 talent in one or two years does not make it a bad program. Yes, Morgan Park and Hubbard each have mutiple D 1 talent this year, but DI talent runs in cycles. How many DI kids did Hubbard and Morgan Prdoduce in the 1980-90's when we had Greg Smith (Purdue), Alex Rodriguez (Ohio State), Cyron Brown (University of Illinois, Denver Broncos), Kevein Krebs (Northwestern), etc. It goes in cycles, Lane's time wil come around again. I just hope it's sooner rather than later. A team like Dunbar hasn't produced anyone major in the last 5 years or so yet no can claim their coach Johnson is not doing a good job there. He utilizes the talent he has and get's the best out of them. Remember soprts is not about winning or producing D1 talent. Rather it's getitng hte best out of the athletes you do have. Dunbar is doing a good job. LAst year they beat Maine West in football. Maine West has kids with a lot more money and about 10 times better facilities. Yet Dunbar went in their house and beat them. It' sbecause thier coach is dedidicated to the program.
CommentsBeating Curie and Robeson to get to the semi-finals is not a big feat. But beating York and Fremd in the first round of the playoffs like Rio's led teams have done is a major feat for a Public League School.
CommentsPer the IHSA Records: 1982 St. Rita 22 Lane 0. 1983 no state playoffs. 1984 no state playoffs. 1985 Gordon Tech 19 Lane 13 (City Champs that year). 1986 Naperville Central 14 Lane 6. 1987 Mt. Carmel 17 Lane 7. 1988 Evanston 35 Lane 21. 1989 Lane 21 Gordan Tech 14, Lane 21 Evanston 14, Quarters Palatine 19 Lane 18. During the 80's Lane beat two teams from outside the Public League and that was thanks to the 1989 team. 1990 Evanston 22 Lane 8. 1991 Lane 7 Evanston 0, Loyola 27 Lane 6. 1992 Maine South 23 Lane 13. 1993 Glenbrook South 22 Lane 21. 1994 no state playoffs. 1995 no state playoffs. 1996 no state playoffs. So prior to the Rio's taking over, Lane beat one team outside the Public League in the first six years of the 90's. Did not qualify for the State for three straight years until the Rio's took over. Again, per IHSA Records.
CommentsWell, since Lane added two pooches to their pre-season schedule this year in football, instead of teams like Lockport and Simeon. Expect Lane to head to the state playoffs again to face a mediocre Fremd or York team or some other 5-4 suburban school. Write this down, today is 02-04-07....Lane will win 2/3 games in pre-season, blow through their conference undefeated and head ino post-season 7-1, win 1st first round of CPS playoffs (8-1), go to state and lose 1st round game at home (8-2), get a bye when returning to CPS playoffs, and lose 3rd round game in CPS playoffs(8-3). How do I know this? Because with the exception of three teams in the past 20 years, this has been the case. This I'm sure of as I'm sure the Cubs will fail to win the World Series and the sun will come up tomorrow. yes, 8-3 is a good record to people not in the know, but, for someone that does know, same old story.
CommentsSo, the point is if beating Cuie and Robeson isn't a great feat in 1980. Neither is padding a schedule with lower tiered CPS teams to pump up your overall record and get more state playoff points to guarantee a weak 1st round opponent in state. If you ask anybody from Fremd or York, all would say those teams which lost to Lane were their worst teams in years. And, both teams made complete overalls in their philosophies and staff after losing to Lane. What does that they you? It tells you that if they lose to a CPS school, something is wrong with the things they are doing and it isn't just one person's fault. ie) Brady getting blamed for Lane's program, I mean Rio's program, flaws.
CommentsLane Tech Wrestling. There is no better way to rebound from a disappointing tournament, than to win the IHSA Regional title the next week. Thats exactly what Lane did as they edged Ridgewood 265-235.5 in the Regional at Mather. The was Lane's 2nd consecutive title. It was a complete team effort as the whole team contributed points and qualified for the Sectional Tournament either as a wrestler or an alternate.
Comments1980 opponents Lane Tech beat in State Football Playoffs: Curie (8-4)w/Coach Pete Hester, Robeson (9-1) w/Coach Roy Curry and a team which included Mickey Pruitt. The following year both teams quailified for state playoffs: Curie (6-2), Robeson (9-1). So, both teams were more than your average CPS pooches. And, the Gordon Tech team which beat Lane and won state, featured: Ron Plantz (Notre Dame), Kevin Jennings (Notre Dame), and Pat McAvoy (NIU). And, other college-bound players: Dave Dietz, Leroy Foster, Bill Jeske, Ed Cendejas, and Dave Taghon. While, Lane sent only Bob Popowski(Michigan)to a D-1 school.
CommentsLane was led by champions 135 Nestor Rivera (Dec. 7-4), 140 Capt. Scott Minneci (Tech fall), 145 David Mihaila (Maj. Dec. 16-5), 160 Capt. Jamelle Williams (Dec. 9-8), 171 Yuriy Koverko (tech Fall), and 189 Koshion Barfield (Fall 57 sec.). Tog Ganbold and Reymond Baranda took 2nd. Justin Cobb, Adolfo Valdez, Justin Vargas and Stevie Santana also qualified with 3rd place finishes. Jeffrey Vuong won his first match of the season and it couldnt come at a more opportune time as he placed fourth making him an alternate for the sectional tournament. The Sectional will be held at Leyden High School in Franklin Park. With the first two rounds on Friday and the semis on Saturday. Good Luck.
Comments2007 Pre-Season Lane Football features Kenwood, CVS, and Evanston w/a combined 2006 record of 13-15 and 4-year combined record of 45-67 w/one state qualifier (Evastion '03). Since 2003, Kenwood is 9-26, CVS is 17-20 and Evanstion is 19-21. And, don't get anyone started on Lane's conference opponents and their records and years they've qualified for state since 2003. So, if beating Curie and Robeson in 1980 weren't great feats than neither has Lane beating York ('04) and Fremd ('02) in state playoffs. Or, the 'pooch' schedule for the 2007 season.
CommentsLane beat Hubbard in 1998. Hubbard won the Prep Bowl that year. Lane beat St. Pats the year St. Pats won their conference by beating St. Rita. Lane beat Montini and the following year Montini won the State. Lane has lost to two State Champs and the runnerup to the State Champs. All under the leadership of Rio. Since the Public League has entered the State, no coach other than Rio has led Lane to 10 straight State appearances. Talk about the talent that Rios teams have played against. When Lane pounded Morgan Park, Morgan Park had 5 D-1 scholarships led by Notre Dame Graduate Corey Mayes. When Lane lost to Morgan Park by one point that team eventually turned out 10 D-1 scholarships. The list and games can go on and on. Rio brought the open offense to the Public League. Smashed offensive records and now other Public League teams are running the open offense. Archaic coach that he is.
Commentsi'm a player on lane tech's team. i personally guarantee that we will make it past the second round of state this year
CommentsWhere is that open offense now? Where did his players end up? Only Xavier Torres has gotten a scholarship during the Rich Rio era. Where did Eddie Cortez end up? And, if Rio is such a good coach, why hasn't any of his teams advanced pass the 2nd round of state? And, why hasn't his teams won and competed every year for the city the 'By The Way' playoffs with the exception of 2004? Why did he schedule two pooches for pre-season games this year? One of the pre-season games will be against Kenwood (4-5 in '06), a team which plays in the Chicago Second City Conference and isn't allowed to play in the IHSA playoffs. And, one of the regular conference games will be against Steinmetz, a team which also played in a CPS conference which doesn't allow it's teams to compete in the IHSA Playoffs. Also, Lane's conference opponents last year (2006) combined for a record of 20-30, 40% Winning Percentage. Your guy Rio is a legend in his own mind and yours!!!
Comments2006 Lane's Football Pre-Season Opponents all beat Lane and they combined for an overall record of 15-14. Lockport (5-5), Evanston (4-6), and Simeon (6-4). Not a powerhouse in the bunch. The only team Lane beat is the post-season last year was Hype Park (9-3) by a score of 42-0. And, that doesn't say much about their conference. The teams which finished off Lane last year, Stevenson(8-3)42 Lane 12 in state (1st round) and Dunbar (8-6) 12-0 (City), were both teams Lane had no chance of beating and your 'legendary' coach took two L's.
CommentsLane's record in IL State Football games in the Rich Rio era is 2-9. Doesn't say much when you lose to teams and take satisfaction in losing. What's the point of just getting to the dance?
CommentsI bet you the person doing all the critisizing is not on the coaching staff at Lane, is not a parent of a player, nor does he volunteer for Lane in any way. He thinks he's helping out the team by crtisizing Rio, bt at hte same time he is not doing any thing at all to help the team. Instead of critisizing the leader who is out there working every day to make Lane better, why doesn't this guy go out htere and do something. Every single program can be critiszed. Heck even Rex Grossman gets flack and all he did was lead the Bears to the Super Bowl. The bottom line is this. There are about 60 Chicago Public League football programs. Lane is in the top 5. If you want ot critisize someone I think the place to go a different school. Try Mather who has good student athletes yet has fieldde bad teams the last 10 years and the same with Whitney Young. Or goto 0-9 Gordon Tech. You can say all you want about Rio, but that's proably all you're probably good at doing. Otherwise you would be coaching yourself.
CommentsLet me get this straight. Under that weightlifting guru Brady, Lane missed the the playoffs twice in the 80s and 3 times in the 90s prior to the Rio brothers taking over. If it wasn't for the Alex Rodriguez team of 1989 the Rio brothers would have the best state playoff results. Under Rich Rio Lane is 3-9 in the State and qualified every year for the State. What does that tell you about Rio's ability to coach. 1 D-1 player in ten years. How many D-1 players in the 80s and 90s prior to the Rios taking over. Almost the exact same record. The Rio brothers inherited Karlov's schedule. They qualified for the State with his schedule.
CommentsAll City-lineman Ed Cortez played well on the field but ended up at Harper College. It's not all the coahces fault when a player doesn't do his part off the field and study. It's not a shame losing to Dunbar or Stevenson. Stevenson is a preneial top to class 8A program. Dunbar is not a cake walk either. They had one of the best running backs in the city in all-city Emanuel Garner and their coach Johnson is an almost legendary Public Legaue coach who is an expert in bringing out talent with the players he does have. Plus i thing it absolutely helps Dunbar in that they are in the same conference as Hubbard, Morgan Park, and Simeon. We are wiht Taft, Whitney Young, and Mather. By half time those games are over wiht an easy Lane victory. In 2006, Lane was not blessed with a team with exceptional talent. We had our share of good players in DB/WR Chris Anton, All-City Adam Nelson, speedy Fuad Salami, and more but we weren't blessed with a Couri Benz or a Xavier Torres. They tried hard, but at the it's very difficult beating a team like Stevenson. Now if we had lost to Curie, Mather, or Whitney Young even with the talent we had ,then that is the time we start talking about coaching changes. But based on the talent we had, I think last year was a success. In the meantime, Lane is doing wha tit can do. We beat the teams we have to beat, play competitively against teams from good programs, and work hard in teh off season. What more can you ask for? Will bringing in a new coach be the solution. Even if you do he still has to play with the cards he is dealt with. You colud have had Lovie Smith coaching Lane last year and I bet you we would have had close to the same record. So I'm not sure bringin gin anew coach is the solution. We just have to take what we have and work with them to get better every day. That's all we can do.
CommentsLockport, Simeon, and Evanston may not have had excellent records, but you can't say those are bad teams we lost to. As recently as a couple years ago, Lockport won the state championship. Plus they play in a tough conference with state semi-finalist Lincoln Way East. Both Simeon and Evanston also play in great conferences. Simeon is with Hubbard and Morgan Park. While Evansotn is with New Trier and Maine South (3 state final appearances in 4 years). We played Evanston and Simeon real close, despite them having superior talent at the top. Simeon had Martez Wilson, the number one plakyer in the state of Illinois and all-city QB Jack Ramsey. Evanston had 4 DI players led by Michaeld Bolden h swill play at Northwestern. Despite that we played both of those teams very compettitvively. We led Simeon at the half before Ramsey and Wilson took over. Then with Evanston we led them in the 4th quarter before Bolden took over. We did not have any top level talent last year. Despite that, we played competitive .I think a lot of that has to do with the coahcin gof Rio and his staff. you gotta give the guy some credit. Could we have done better. Probably, but same wiht eveyrone else. I did no tsee any chronic problems with that deserve all this flak he has been getting form a few people.
Commentsthe legendary ex-sophomore coach was at the helm for 6 years. he beat two programs outside the public league in those two years. the powerhouses waukeegan and evanston.
CommentsAfter reading the post about coaches with college playing experience and past coaching experience being fired or quitting coaching at Lane, I was wondering if anyone knows where the current football coaches played their high school and college fotball at and have they coached anywhere besides at Lane?
CommentsGo ask them. Don't be afraid. They don't bite.
CommentsThis is all I know about the coaches backgrounds: Rich Rio- graduated from Phillips High School; now is the athletic director and head football coach at Lane. Tony Chronis- Lane Tech grad; played football for the University of Illinois; football booster club President; now is an assistant caoch for football at Lane. Luis Munoz- Lane Tech class of 1978; Fields of Dreams Comittee Member; Asst football coach at Lane since 1978.
Commentscorrection: Munoz was an asst at Lane since 1998.
CommentsA majority of the coaches are from the class of 78, unfortunately almost none of them played 4 years of college football and some played no college ball whatsoever. They are still teaching what was taught to them almost 30 years ago. As for the talent and lack of D1 talent, when you run kids off like they have, you lose a lot of top talent. If you look at enrollment compared to almost every school they play Lane is larger. The numbers alone mean Lane should have a better selection of potential talent and if they develop it they should be a perennial powerhouse in the state not the 5th or 6th best team in the CPS. Ask coach Luis Munoz how many kids that he graduated with on the football team played at least 3 years and if he tells you that they had anything less than 30 seniors on the team then he isn't being truthfull. Back in those days Ron Rio would not have tolerated some of the tactics used by his own brother that has caused kids to leave the program after their spohmore year!!!!
CommentsWhat tactics are you talking about? It can't be swearing. Some of the best coaches in the suburbs (e.g Rick Malnati of New Trier's basketbal team) swear alot. Yet they still produce quality teams. Other coaches like the Bears Lovie Smith and Tony Dungee have a much more mild mannered coaching style. Not every coach is like Tony Dungee who never raises his voice. I want Lane Tech to start thinking great and big things. We havethe potential to be a great school and truly live up to our name as the school of champions. We have to think big and most importantly start acting big. I challenge everyone to raise it up a whole another level than what we are currently doing. Coaches should be studying what great coaches have done (even if they we're from the 1970's) and start utilizing what they've learned; players should give it all they got. 15 years from now the players and coaches can look back and say that I gave it all I could. I put every cell in my body and every ounce of effort I could muster to becoime a champion. Or 15 years from now you could look back and say I only gave it a half hearted effort and forget about your high school playing days or coaching times. Instead, we should think like champions. I want everyone to be able to look back 15 years from now and say "I gave it all I got. I put the effort, I put the time and I'm so glad I did because I'm a changed person." Let's utilize the time we have been given because ultimately: "You only live once!"
CommentsBy tactics I mean taking a 16 -17 year old kid and cussing out with phrases like " you are worthless peice of S***" and doing it over and over again along with other choice words. This is not constructive criticism and does nothing except makes the kid hate the coach and the game. These are the type of things that go on at the varsity level, they are directed at the kids and in front of his teammate and within earshot of the freshman and sophmore teams, this is why so many kids are quitting the team they simply do not want to play for the a**holes that make up the varsity staff.
CommentsI'm a close friend and teammate of Coach Lou and I called him up after reading all this stuff. I asked him how he got back to Lane. He said he got a call from another friend of ours that was coaching the freshmen squad. He said Lane had just lost to Loyola 48-0 and that our buddies were embarrassed. He said some more calls were made and after a couple of more weeks there were seven more coaches. They were 1-3 when the last coach showed up and he said they went on a 7 game winning streak and won the championship. He said that Coach Ron Rio promoted him to the varsity but Ron died. Coach Rich Rio kept the same staff that Ron had. I can tell you that seven of my friends got scholarships. Dave and Chuck went to Western Illinois, Art went to North Alabama, Marshall went to Vanderbildt, Mark went to Northern Illinois, and Bob and Lou went to Northeastern Oklahoma State. We started talking about Ron and Rich and we both agreed that the two were adored by their players. We talked about how Ron would go into the shutes without equipment and took us on and how we feared Ron's forearm the most because you went flying when he hit you. We talked about a few other things but we'll leave those out. I asked him about how the game has changed and he said that he had to go to clinics and university camps to catch up on what's being taught. He told me he's going to a clinic this weekend in fact. The last thing we talked about was all this negative stuff being said about the coaching staff. He told me that there are 2-3 crybabbies complaining. I wish those guys good luck. They really care about the kids. He was telling me about a fundraiser they just had over the weekend to get a new track for Lane. He said he's never been this involved in the school but he says he loves it in spite of the crybabbies.
CommentsThe 2003 soph team also beat Montini on the way to a 13-0 record which included victories over Morgan Pk in the semi-finals and Hubbard in the soph city championship game. The 2004 Soph team record included a very close 28-21 loss to a Downers Grove South team that went on to finish 8-1. The 2005 Soph team record included a victory over Waukehan who had defeated that Lane freshmen team the previous year 48-8. The only soph losses in the last 2 years were to perennial power Lockport.
CommentsTo the close of friend of coach Lou, of all those coaches mentioned the only one who stayed and finished or for what I know even graduated was Art, not one of the rest of them ever made it on the field for any of those schools.
Commentsyou have bad information my friend. you need to get better intelligence.
CommentsDuring the past ten years I have become obsessed with high school football. I have seen Joliet Cathlic defeat Riverside Brookfield in one of the greatest football games I have ever seen. That includes pro and college. I would attend an afternoon game at New Trier and a night game at New Lenox. I have attended Naperville North vs Naperville Central were ten thousand people were in attendance. This year I attended eight Lane games. One thing deferentiates those schools from Lane Tech. Parent and alumni involvement. Their booster clubs show up and feed ten thousand people. At Lane games you have to walk to the visiting stands to get a bottle of water. We can discuss the coaches all day long but as long as we stay home and critizise we are not going anywhere. P.S. The weight rooms that some of these kids have in their basements put Lane's to shame.
CommentsThe last post made a lot of sense. Thank you for an EXCELLENT POST! All someone has to do is goto a football game from a top nothch suburban program and you will absolutley see the difference in how football games are run. In fact you don't even have to go to a top program. Take Evanston Township high school for example. Evanston is a school that is just as ancient as Lane (in fact Lane has a better stadium and gym) and has a good racial mix like Lane. But the main difference is parental and booster club involvement. Next year, we will play Evanston Township High school at Evanston and anyone that has gone to a Lane game and then goes to the Evanston game will immediately see a difference. When you enter the stadium, you are greeted by a smiling Mom who has volunteered for the booster club. At Lane you're searched before you even go in by some Chicago Public League Security staff. They are not affiliated with the school in any way and probably live in the south side, not the north side of Chicago. They are not harasssing but it just sends the wrong distrustful, unsafe type image. Can you picture a suburban couple going to Lane stadium and having to be searched when you enter. Come on does the Public League think this is the Olympics. Even at Bears games they stopped searched before you come in. It's time to stop the searches at Lane. Then at Evanston after you enter you can pick up roster with all the players and even a schedule of upcoming football games AND ALL FALL SPORTS. At Lane, you ahve to buy a prgram book for $2 and cannot get a roster for free. Luckily, a volunteer started passing rosters for attendees but even then I heard he was questioned by the Security for passing out rosters. Their motivation: they did not want to pick up rosters left in the stands after the games. Instead of encouraging a fan friendly environment in hohow the roster will help fans get into the game, they think of roster as an annoyance because they have to pick it up. THAT TYPE OF THINKING MUST BE CHANGED. We need Lane people up front not some Public League staff that has no connection with Lane whatsover. We need a community like it's being done at Evanston. Then at an Evanston game you have two places wehre you can buy food. One of then is staffed by a boatload of booster who offer every thing from Hamburgers to freshly grilled brats. The other is run by studennt volunteers. Lane's stand is staffed by one sometimes two or three Public League workers. Again, no LANE PEOPLE. Your tellign em we can't even find a couple students or moms or dads to help out. Then before the game Evanston has a tradition (they do it at Deerfield and Downers Grove to) where the marching band in full uniform, marches their home football team into the stadium and the crowd cheers on their home. Talk about a grand entrance. Our marching band has appeared at only two Lane games last year. They appeared with T-shirts, not marching band uniforms. Are you telling em we can't afford band uniforms? Evanston does not produce top tier football teams like Wheateon Warrenville South and Downer Grove South on a regualr basis. But that is a school with a rich history and proud people who take the time to volunteer for their Wildkits!! Lane Tech is not Evanston, but it is a great model to emulate and like the previous poster impleid, we need to step up and improve our football game operations. To be champions, we have to act like champions!!!!
CommentsI went to school with them, I think I know who played college ball and who didn't. Also who finished college from the 1978 class and who didn't.
CommentsIn addition, if all the coaches from the 78 graduating class played at the schools you mentioned in your comments after high school then explain why the only person listed in alumni that went on to play college ball from that team was Gino Belmonte who was our center and kicker.
Commentsgo lane tech wrestling
CommentsThank you to the person giving the football backgrounds of current Lane Tech football coaches: Lou Munoz, Art Fiumetto, Chuck Richards and Tony Chronis. But, can someone give me the football backgrounds, playing and coaching, of the following coaches: Rudy Mayfield, Mike Epstein, Cleo Husband, Jim Kezios, Pete Corcoran, Jim Stahl, Jake Nokes, Julius Farrell. Especially, Rich Rio and his son, Nick. Did each Rio play football in high school or college?
CommentsGreat post 11:16. Here are the answers. The School Board does not allow anybody but union workers to sell refreshments at the stadium. The parents wanted to build a new concession stand but were shot down by the Board. The parents then wanted to put up a tent and sell inside the stadium but again were shot down by the Board for the insurance and the unions. That is why when cookouts are held by the parents they are in the garden. The problem is that 95 percent of the people don't know where the garden is. The parents then wanted to do it by the backfield but who in their right mind would stand out in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. So it's not the lack of the parents will but the Board's lack of cooperation.
Commentswell, if you played with them in 1977 you would know who did what and you would write about them yourself. i suspect you weren't on the team. thou shalt not lie. you need to find out who's on the varsity staff. your source is bad. again, go ask them. don't be afraid. they don't bite.
CommentsInsurance? Unions? That's a lame excuse by the city. We shouldn't let that stop us. I bet you if we got the tribune or suntimes writing an article about that lame excuse by the city there would be some changes. Maybe someone should ask Lane grad Bob Sakamoto to write something about how the Chiago Public Schools are impeding volunteer efforts at Lane by using some weak excuse like that. I say the parents should have set up a tent anyway, then if the city tries to shut it down, get a trib photographer take pictures or get someone to video tape it and put it on YouTube. This is our school, not their school. We are doing something to serve the interests of the school. Or if it's a matter of insurance, maybe Lane could just purchase it like we did the lights. The Fields of Dreams committee is putting all this effort to get a track,lights, turf and upgrade the satdium, but if it still run by the city no one will want to go there. There's no use having great facilities if you can't feed the people, have guards that don't like people passing out rosters, and a system that does not promote volunteers. SOMETHING IS WRONG!!!!
CommentsWhat were the credentials of, the soon to be inducted into the football sophmore hall of fame, Brady? Where did, the soon to be inducted into the football sophmore hall of fame, Brady go to school? Where did, the soon to be inducted into the football sophmore hall of fame, Brady go to college? What coaching experience did, the soon to be inducted into the sophmore hall of fame, Brady have before joining Lane?
CommentsWell, call Sakamoto yourself. Get off your duff and report back to us when you find out what he says. The Fields of Dreams and Parents Club can't do everything.
CommentsIn order to understand unions and union rules, one must have a job.
Comments"you need to find out who's on the varsity staff. your source is bad. again, go ask them. don't be afraid. they don't bite"........that's not what all the kids say!
CommentsI'm not discounting the work of the fields of Dreams. In fact, I think what the Fields of Dreams is doing for Lane will forever change the history of Lane through all the new facilities and upgrades they will bring. Good Job fields of Dreams!! keep doing your job. All I'm saying is that the other part of the equation of actual football operations needs to be addressed (agian not by the fields of dreams)but by someone else. If the goal os to build Lane to another level, that areas of football operations needs to be seriously looked at. And telling someone to get off their Behind, is not going to do it. Someone needs to be in charge of it. As for who and how, I'm not sure but it's something that will eventually need to be seriously looked at if we want Lane to have a fan friendly environment.
CommentsTo both sides of the Rio / Brady debate. Whether someone has or has not played college ball is not the issue but whether they produce winning teams. All one has to do is look at NFL coach of the year Eric Mangini of the Jets. Here is a man who never played college ball, he was a coach of a semi pro team in Austraila, then became a ball boy in the NFL, then got involved in public relations for an NFL team and now is the coach of the year in the NFL. Not much of a resume but one heck of a coach.
CommentsHow pathetic. We can't get a bottle of water at a football game because the unions need to make $30.00 an hour to sell it. That is the same reason the stadium is falling apart.
CommentsThe amazing thing about CPS is that the Parents Club was going to do everything for free and they still said they couldn't do it because of the union rules and insurance. The leaders were Mr. Chase and Mr Bougher along with a couple of other parents. They tried.
CommentsCongradulations to the Girls Soph. basketball team. They lost to Hope in the City semi-finals. The team they beat to win the Freshman title last year. They had a great record of 22-6 . Watch out in 2 years ! G.S.
CommentsBitch and moan about the Field of Dreams Commitee and what Rio has done . The stadium is the same way it was when my dad graduated in '45 , when I did in'72 , my brother in '75 and my daughter would have in '09 if not for Rio and guys like Tony Chronis. You should complain to Daley and Schulter about the facilities . Coach Stahl graduated from Lane in 1975 and was the starting Q.B. during the '74 season . He played at John Carroll in Ohio and North Central in Naperville. He currently is the head coach of the Chicago Force women's football team. Quit all the complain ing and be thankfull that there are people working hard to improve Lane for every sport and ALL it's students. Glenn Stahl '72
CommentsThank you to the person giving the football backgrounds of current Lane Tech football coaches: Lou Munoz, Art Fiumetto, Chuck Richards and Tony Chronis. And, thank you to Glenn Stahl for the update on his brother Jum Stahl. But, can someone give me the football backgrounds, playing and coaching, of the following coaches: Rudy Mayfield, Mike Epstein, Jim Kezios, Pete Corcoran, Jake Nokes. Especially, Rich Rio and his son, Nick. Did each Rio play football in high school or college? And, who is Jim Kezios? I believe we should be able to know who the people coaching are kids are and what they have in terms of experience.
CommentsGo ask them. Don't be afraid. They don't bite.
CommentsTo Glenn Stahl: I know you graduated in 1972 from Lane. Is your daughter Sioban Stahl on the current Lane Tech girls sophomore team? Also, do you or your brother coach or teach at Lane? Congrats to the semi-finalist girls sophomore basketball team. They have one heck of class. I'm looking forward to see how they perform on the volleyball and basketball court next year. I'm expecting big things from Lane's girls volleyball and basketball teams next year due to the influx of talent on the Sophomore level. One sophomore, Maria Joyce, I hear started for varsity and is already a force THIS YEAR!!!
CommentsI know Mr. Bougher. He is the parent of junior quarterback Frank Bougher. Frank (I believe) led the sophomore football team to the city championsip in 2005 and will be likely Lane's starting QB for varisty in the 2007 season. Mr. Bougher is a good guy with great intentions. He is at every football game cheering on the Indians. Mr. Bougher also loves to entertain and makes sure other people have a good time. Two years ago, Mr. Bouger set up a grill at the Lane Tech vs. Waukegan football game. His food was so appealing he even gave out food to Waukegan football players who asked for it. Now that is a One HECK of a PERSON. In short, Mr. Bougher is the role model type of parent and fan than every school would be proud of having. To stifle the good intentions of a guy like Mr. Bougher, like the CPS has done, absoutley sends the wrong message to everybody. To use the excuse of Insurance and Unions is very "typical government employee like". Next, year will utilize the efforts of good people like Mr. Bougher wheter the CPS likes it or not. Whether thay means better Lane garden pre-game activities or throwing tail gaiting parties in the Lane parking lot (don't tell me they will disallow that), or throwing pre-game activites in the practice fields. We will get more volunteer effort to truly help make Lane the school of champions.
CommentsSomeone mentioned that Insurance was a reason why we don't sell food at Lane stadium. If that is the case, then why did they allow some Lane parents to sell Taffy Apples and other goods at the football game (Alumni Day) the last couple years?
CommentsJust wondering I have seen so many different names mentioned for varsity coaches that I would like to know how many coaches there are on the varsity staff. Are they all full time or do they take turns on different days, also what are their different responsibilities, such as offensive and defensive coordinator, line coach, linbackers etc.
CommentsThe Boughers are great people as are the Chases, both families have contributed greatly to the football program,and I know that I always appreciated everything they did for the program.Mr Bougher even went to the soph championship game and videotaped it on a very cold rainy night. The Chases have been around for 8 years and remained active after their son Brandon graduated .They now have a daughter who is a football manager. They too have done many things for the program, and have helped set up the banquet for as long as I can remember.There are some good parents from the freshmen and soph teams as well who have done a lot. Alex Brown's dad was always there to help out , helping to haul stuff over to Horner Park for the soph games. He even used to bake cakes for the coaches as well. On the freshman team I know Tyler Jones dad was very helpful as well as several other parents. Hopefully more and more parents will continue to be involved and help the program grow. Brady
Comments"Go ask them. Don't be afraid. They don't bite." Not me, wife, daughter, or son will ask. We don't anybody being called a 'crybaby' in our family.
CommentsCan we organize a summer picnic for anyone interested in helping out at Lane sporting events. We can have it a local forest preserve or a city park (Horner). It will give us a chance to meet each other and make plans for the upcomming school year.
CommentsI like that idea of a picnic or some kind of get together. I'm for any idea that can get more people involved at Lane. I'm open to whatever we do, whether it's getting more involvement from the Parents Club (football team), Parent Council, Football Booster Club, or creating some new entity ( a volunteer club?, Lane Tech Booster Club in general, etc. I'm open to it.
CommentsI'm interested in the picnic. Contact me at lanetechfan@yahoo.com
CommentsAround 1,200 students and parents were at Lane for a pasta dinner fund raiser last weekend. Thanks to the parents, coaches and friends who worked their tails off to make it a great evening.Centinial committee,Field of Dreams,dance team,soccer,track,football, basketball,male or female ALL Laneites helping to make the school better. It'll probably be too late for most of them but not for future classes ! Remember the honor of Lane. G.S.
CommentsWow! 1,200 people at a fundraiser for Lane Tech. That is amazing!!! Great job and congratualtions to all the organizers of the event. My only comment, is that as an Alumni, I would have loved to attend the event. Why did I not see any publicity of this event any where. I did not see it in the Alumni newsletter or on this website. Now if I didn't see it, I'm sure other did not as well. Again, great job! 2008, our 100th anniversary is coming up. Let's make it incredible!!!
CommentsThe only reason there were 1200 people is because Rio threaten the Letterman students. If they didn’t go they would be kicked of Letterman
Commentsthe last comment....whoever you are, go get a life. your an idiot!
CommentsIt's the truth! Ask any Letterman. I'm just telling it the way it is.
CommentsMaybe, they can have a dunk tank at the proposed picnic. Put Rio and Brady in the tank and you'll be able to raise enough money for a domed stadium.
Commentsjust shut up and go play.
CommentsWOW! It looks like Lane Tech may not be the SCHOOL OF CHAMPIONS for long. Softball, soccer, and swimming lost the championship in the past year.
Commentssoftball won dumbass
CommentsIt was mandatory for the 150 Letterman to go. Why shouldn't it be mandatory? These are the students that have benefited and will benefit the most from the Fields of Dreams efforts. The second reason was to get the student athletes together so that they can support each other which most coaches at Lane have stated is needed. The feedback was positive with the student athletes requesting that a BBQ be planned for the next event. There will be a future fundraiser so that the Alumni can get involved and contribute. Within the next couple of weeks the Fields of Dreams website will give an update to the supporters of Lane. You can support this Project by sending contributions to the Lane Tech Century Foundation or the Fields of Dreams. They are a 501 with all contributions tax deductible.
CommentsGirls softball lost last year to Taft and didn't even make it to the championship. Before the game they didn't even practice. It all went to their head. In the regular season Lane beat Taft twice.
CommentsThe girls softball team lost to Taft in the city championship last season. The team was probably down a bit because they had much higher aspirations in the state playoffs. There they we're unfortunate enough to be placed in the New Trier regional. In the first tround they blasted Evanston by a score of like 12 then in the regional fianl thye lost to New Trier 1-0 in a very close game. I was there. New Trier ended up like 4th in the state that year. The softball team is one of Lane's best run programs and can compete with the best suburban programs. Losing to Taft was not as bad as it looked. Although, it was a giant disappointment, girls softball is Taft's best sport. That is the only sport they really focus on and is the only sport where they have won a city championship in the last few years. Over the years, TAft softball has been very very strong and will challenge Lane again this year. They may have beaten us in girls softball but we won 13 varsity city championshps last year. Go Lane Softball!!!
CommentsWe are still the school of champions by far. The last 3 years we've set records for the most varsity city championships by winning 13 last year and 10 each the 2 years before. Other Public League schools may beat us in basketball (someone said Lane is the schools where the brothers can't play ball) but we beat them in everything else!!!
CommentsGirls soccer won the city championship last year against some tough teams. Payton has a team composed mostly of girls who played for the Chicago Lakefront Soccer Club. That's the best all around traveling club for girls in the city.
CommentsI wrote an e-mail to the Alumni Association asking them why they haven't put anything in the news letter. 150 lettermen forced to come and then they forced the other 1,100 to show up? Rio takes care of the Lettermen unlike schools such as Payton, who didn't even recognize this years senior football players. A threat probably but everybody needs a kick in the butt sometimes to get them moving in the right direction ! G S
CommentsYou're jealous of Rich Rio and his supporter's accomplishments. Not one person complained and that includes the parents. Someone has to lead because it isn't you. There's more coming down the road so you'll be able to cry some more. Good luck with the Alumni Association. They know the least of any organization at Lane about what's going on. What have they been doing for all these years? Why did it take Rich Rio and his supporters to do ALL of the work for FREE. That's where the uproar should be.
CommentsThe Lane Tech Alumni Association publishes their newseltter every quarter. So the information they provide in their newsletter is 4 months old. When they published their last newsletter, they probably did not know about this Pasta dinner event. Did someone even tell them the event was coing up? They do a good job in doing what it is supposed to do like give updates on Lane Tech Alumni and throwing a few fundraising events. They have their role just like everybody else does. I'd like to have a better collaboration with them and Lane Tech so we can all support current events at the school. Good job by the way on the event. Alot of it has to do with the leadership Rio is providing. He also asked the Lettermen (and women) to volunteer at the First Annual Lane Tech Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament. I saw Running Back William Moorehead ushering and serving as security. I even saw all-state soccer player Edwin Rodriguez sweeping the floorduring time breaks. In short it was a very organized and successful event. The Letterman precence there showed the visitors from Oak Park, Zion Benton, Evanston, and various college scouts and coaches (including Coach Webber of the University of Illinois) that a Public League School is capable of throwing an organized event. The Tribune, Sun-Times, and the Publisher of LaneTechFan.com was there to cover the tournament. I don't think any other Public League school but Lane Tech holds a holiday basketball tournament and invites Suburban school. Again, thank you for the leadership of Rio to throw very successful events like the past fundraiser and the Lane Thanksgiving Tournament. We are heading in the right direction. I'm pleased with the effort and I'm looking forward to bigger and more exciting things as we get closer to our 100th anniversary.
CommentsCongrats on the girls soccer team for winning the city championship last year. They did it with one of the Public League's all time best players in Jaqueline Vera. But Vera has graduated and is now at Loyola. Whoever, mentioned Payton being a threat hit it right on the money. Payton will be the team to watch out in the next couple years. They return 4 all-Public League players who we're all FRESHMAN last year.
CommentsTHe Alumni Association didn't know of the event in time that doesn't mean they can't put in some articles about the Field of Dreams efforts and the need for help. Lane has the most alumni in the country with Phd.'s we can't find enough high rollers and people with influence in the last 100 years of Lane alumni to come to our schools aid ? Sioban Stahl and Mia Spignola Freshmen on last years soccer champ.team both played for C.L.S.C. ,all the players from their 8th grade team made their high school varsity teams. They included Jazmine Espino, of Whitney Young, Allissa Dunbar ,of Payton both all city selections as freshman.Lane,Payton.St. Ignatius,Regina,Latin,Northside and Young all have girls from this club on their rosters, look how these teams finish in city and state playoffs.G S
CommentsHey ! write your names on your comments so we know who to respond to. Glenn Stahl '72
CommentsCONGRATULATIONS TO LANE TECH'S JAMELLE WILLIAMS FOR QUALIFYING FOR THE IHSA WRESTLING STATE TOURNAMENT! Williams (27-9) placed second at the Leyden Sectional tournament to become the first Lane Tech State Qualifer since the IHSA eliminated the City automatic bid to state 5 years ago. Williams defeated Leyden's Juan Giron, who placed 4th, 18-7, and defeated Elmwood Park's Kris Kwiecien in the semifinals 11-4 to secure a spot in the finals. Although Williams fell to #7 ranked Taylor Osbourn from St. Rita 11-1, his season will still continue. Congratulations, also to Lane's Justin Cobb and Yuriy Koverko for placing 4th at the tournament, making them alternates for the State Tournament.
CommentsCongratulations to Lane freshman Paaras Modi who placed 10th in the state in board 2 in this weekend's state chess tournament!!!
CommentsPayton, Young, Latin, and St. Ignatius all won girls soccer regionals last year and Lane won city last year. St.Ignaitius went to the class AA state supersectionals before losing to state runner up New Trier and Latin won the class A state championship. I would say all of those teams performed well last year. Give them a steady influx of talent from that Club soccer team and you'll see result like this or better every year. Girls soccer in the city needs more improvement; but if more girls play club soccer like Mia and Sioban did we'll see an improvement in the level of play. By the way Payton, Northside Prep, Lincoln Park, and Lane are all like suburban schools in the city as far as their academics and sports programs are concerned. Norhtside Prep and Payton are relatively new schools with developing programs. I heard the first principal at Northside Prep came form St. Ignatius. Whe he starteda the the school like 5 years ago, he modeled Northside Prep to be like St. Ignatius instead of a typical Public League School. Northside Prep students are very much like St. Ignatius students. That is they are competitve both academically and athletically. That is a good thing going on up there at Northside Prep. Give that school a few more years and watch how much they will improve their teams. Look out for their track and cross country teams. They hired this super coach Gordon, who has state aspirations for Northside Prep. Gordon is doing things like hiring assistant coaches for Field events in track. Most Public League schools only have one or two coahches at most for track but this Gordon guy is trying to assemble a powerful coaching staff like he did when he coached at Florida.
CommentsThe Alumni Association has done nothing and they're feeling the heat. The Lane Tech Century Foundation and the Fields of Dreams have done more in the past two years than the Association has done in the past 20 years. They initially gave some money to the Century Foundation but when they were approached to do more, they refused. They can't put anything in the newsletter because they don't know what's going on. Thank God the Century Foundation found one heavy hitter. That person is contributing 500,000.00 in increments.
CommentsEveryone has the role at Lane Tech. The Century Foundation is there to raise funds for the 100th anniversary of Lane, the Fields of Dreams is there to take the necessary actions to create better facilities for Lane, the Football Booster Club is there to booster the football team, and the Alumni Assocaition creates a newsletter to keep Lane Alumni in touch with "Alumni" news. I feel each orgainzation has done its job excellent thus far. Of course you want each organization to do more. The Alumni Assocaition has run a very successful carnival, newletter, an does Lane a great service by giving tours to visitors and Alumni. The association does not ask the football booster club help in the newsletter or the tours. Why? Because, like I stated to earlier, everyone has a role. The role of the Alumni Association is to provide the newsletter, give tours, and run a few fundraisers. That's it. Give the Alumni Assocaiation some praise for what it is. They have done a good job being what it is. You cannnot deny the contributions it has done for Lane thus far. Don't make it change if they don't ewant to change. To ask for more is like asking a duck to crow when it can only quack. I encorauge each organization at Lane to do it's part to be the best they possibly can to make Lane Tech a better place! We're not the school of complainers, we are the school of champions!!!!
CommentsIf the Alumni Association was doing its job there would be no need for the Century Foundation, the Fields of Dreams, or booster clubs. They would be taking care of these things just like the suburbs and private schools. The Century Foundation was formed because of the stagnant Alumni Association. Membership has been going steadily down. Look at what's been done the past two years and more is coming. All this with minimal help from the Alumni Association and this is coming from a lifelong member.
CommentsAgain, thank you for the addition of the century fondation, football booster clup and Fields of Dreams, you are doing a great contribution to the school. Do your part and leave the Alumni Assocaition alone. Let them contiue doing their part of making a newsletter and setting up tours. Continue doing what you are doing. The Alumni Association is not claiming credit for your efforts nor does it want the credit. You guys deserve the credit and deservingly so. Again, give the Alumni Assocatiation credit for what it's done so far (newsletter, carnival, and tours) and don't expect it to do more if it does not want to participate. Whether the Alumni Assocaition takes part in future activites is up to them not to you. You can ask a kid to partake in off season workouts, bu if he doesn't do it, you're efforts should probably better spent on the kids that do participate.
CommentsMr. Duck, we may all be different animals but we live on the same farm ! I'm sure that your'e under pressure from all the tours that you have. Just put some info about the Field of Dreams in the next issue and let the 1,ooo's of Alumni make up their minds to take a tour or help the future Lane Tech students ! G.S.
CommentsMr. Goose: I'm not part of the Alumni Asociation. I'm just trying to clear things up. All I'm saying don't ask a pig to quack. ---Mr. Duck
CommentsWhy shouldn't they take a more active role? They put out about four newsletters a year. How many tours do they give? One carnival. One golf outing. It doesn't look like they're overwhelmed. Why would you want an Association to stand on the sidelines when action needs to be taken?
CommentsI think everyone should take a more active role. Alumni, students, coaches, teachers, everyone. I agree there's alot to be done. An unlimited number of things need to be done. I'm not disagreeing with you on that. But whoever had been running the Alumni Association has been doing it the same way for the last 30 years. The newsletter is the exact same way it has been for the last 20 years. Obviously, it is not an organization that is embracing change as it could be doing. So leave them alone. Why do you even care or need them? Let them do their newletters and golf outings. Whereas the Fields of Dreams is doing things like upgrading facilities that will change Lane's history forever. Now if I we're in charge of the Alumni Association, I would absolutely take a more active role. I'd start by going to some Fields of Dream s meetings and footbal lgames, then I'd get some volunteer support for football and basketball games, ask more donations of time or money to Alumni for the 100th anniversary, and maybe even do something really gramd like do an all-classes prom. I heard they did an all-classes prom for a school in Minnesota, where they invited all the alumni for every year to one big party and fundraiser. It was very well attended and they raised tons of money. We have more alumni then practcally every school in the nation, we can absolutely run an event like this if someone puts thier mind to it. In short the Alumni Assocation has a lot of potential with our vast resources of very scucessful Alumni. Our alumni are not utilized to the extent they could be. I personally know several alumni that would be more than happy to help their old school if theyr we're only asked to help. But if the Alumni Association is not willing to help beyond what they've been doing, tehn we have to move on. Personally, I don't think we've done enough to work collaboratively with the Alumni Association. Has anyone called or talked to them lately? Their Treasurer Steven Eng seems to be a very receptive guy.
Commentsthis guest book is horrible
CommentsOn behalf of the Baseball Alumni, 10th Annual Baseball Alumni Reunion. Fri. March 2 8-11p.m. $40 at Dino's 7004 W. Higgins,Chgo. Il. 3 hours of pizza and beer proceeds go to the baseball team. Contact; Rick Wachholder '71 at 708-867-1848 It's open to friends of the program too. G.S.
CommentsThe role of the Alumni Association is to keep track of the Alumni, help Alumni stay in touch with others and finally LET THEM KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AT LANE NOW !
Comments4:02 wrote "I personally know several alumni that would be more than happy to help their old school if theyr we're only asked to help." Quit your whining and ask them to donate then!!! Don't wait for "someone else" to do it. Do it your damn self!
CommentsThe Alumni Association tried to kick out the Fields of Dreams out of the carnival this past summer. All they were doing were selling t-shirts and trying to get donations for the Project. That's how much the Association backs up Lane.
CommentsWhat reason did they give for kicking you out of the carnival?
Commentseverybody complains too much
CommentsThank you for providing the information about the upcoming Lane Tech baseball alumni event. To help promote events, activities, or big games I'm going to add a section in the left hand column that will list upcoming events and big games. We could have better promoted the past pasta dinner fundraiser. If anyone has anymore Lane related events to publisize, please email the publisher at Publisher@LaneTechFan.com. ---- Neil Hernandez, Publisher
Commentsthe baseball alumni meeting is on the 9th not the second
CommentsSorry, my mistake Baseball fundraiser on the 9th, Rick needs to know by the 2nd.
CommentsThey said the Fields of Dreams was violating their contract with the carnival. They didn't know that FOD already had spoken to the owner who said it was okay.
CommentsNeil, thanks for the section listing upcoming events. Everyone will benefit from it. Putting the dates and times for games is also a great way for Alumni to get out and watch our teams. G.S.
Commentsman this guest book is pathetic.....i go to other guest books of other high schools and all i see is students cheering on their hs team for every sport thats about to play a game.....why cant we do taht......all this guest book's purpose is to show the corruption in lanes coaches but who gives a **** ...if u want better teams its the athletes that should do better
CommentsThe last post has got some real points. Recently, there have been some negative dialouge going on mainly about coaches. In some ways that is good if it leads to more improvement at Lane. In other ways it distracts us from living up to our "school of champions" motto. He was right about other schools. I'll give you an example of how "SuperFans" of other sports are really like. Check out this link: http://www.windycityhshoops.com/sfm/superFanMan.htm -----If we get to the point where Lane has some "super fans" then maybe we can ask the publisher to change this website to "LaneTechSUPERFAN.com". What do you guys think?
CommentsBoys Swimming will be at the New Trier Sectionals this Saturday, Feb 17. New Trier has the best swimming program in the state and should qualify practically everyone in this sectional that has New Trier, Loyola, and then all Public Leauge schools. The Public League will get a first hand taste of New Trier swimming and hopefully get a jolt on how the top program in that state operates. New Trier has like 6 swimming coaches and their swimmers go into high school already having lot's of club experience. Their freshman can beat the ENTIRE Public League varsity COMBINED!
CommentsThere has not been a Public League Boys top 10 state finisher since Brandon Johnson of Kenwood finished in 3rd in the 100 fly in 1998. Lane Tech has not placed anyone in state since David Paschal finsihed 6th in the 100 free style in 1978. Our coach, Josue Sabilon (23 years old?) coached at a New trier swim club, is creating a swim club at Lane and will try to coach a Lane swimmer into the state meet. He's serious about the program and with a sophomore and freshman laden team this year swimming varsity, he has a couple years to develop his talent. Good Luck Josue!!
Commentsgo lane
CommentsPayton won the city 2006 JV girls city soccer championship. |