Welcome to the Northside College Prep Cross Country site.

DESIRE-PRIDE-PAIN-SPIRIT-COURAGE-TOUGHNESS
GUTS-HOPE-LEADERSHIP-HEART-CONFIDENCE-GOALS
DEDICATION-FAITH-ENTHUSIASM-CHARACTER-MODESTY
SACRIFICE-IDEALS-PERSEVERANCE-WILL POWER
DURABILITY-HUMBLENESS-EXCELLENCE 

Home of the 2011 IHSA Varsity Boys State Qualifiers!!! 

Home of the 2011 IHSA Varsity Girls State Qualifiers!!! 

Home of the 2011 IHSA Regional Varsity Girls Cross Country Champions!!! 

Home of the 2009 Chicago Public League Varsity Boys Cross Country Champions!!!

Home of the 2008 IHSA Regional Varsity Boys Cross Country Champions!!!

Home of the 2007 Chicago Public League Freshman Boys Cross Country Champions!!!

Home of the 2007 Chicago Public League Varsity Boys Runners-Up

Home of the 2007 Chicago Public League Varsity Girls Runners-Up

Home of the 2006 Chicago Public League Varsity Girls Runners-Up

Home of the 2005 Chicago Public League Varsity Girls Runners-Up

Home of the 2004 Chicago Public League Varsity Girls Runners-Up 

“The body achieves what the mind believes.”

While every athlete brings certain qualities to cross country, "natural" talent is not as important as pure, hard work. What you put in is what you get out. The only thing that separates first from last is building a strong running base and a lot of hard work. Come watch us or better yet, join us as we continue to build a winning tradition.

In 2012, classes will be dismissed at 3:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

2012 Practice schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 4:00 pm - 5:45 pm

In 2012, classes will be dismissed at 2:40 pm on Wednesday. 

2012 Practice schedule on Wednesday: 3:09 pm - 5:09 pm

Mandatory practices commence, Wednesday, August 8, 2012, 3:09 pm

For more information, contact Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon at Jongordon9@aol.com

Northside Varsity Track & Field Team 14-2! Northside Sophomore Track Team 13-3! Northside Freshman Track Team 15-1!, featured at: http://www.mustangstf.com/

 On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at 6 pm, the Northside Cross Country Team, Incoming Freshman, and Northside Parents will have a Pasta Party and Summer Training Information Meeting in the Northside Cafeteria.

 Cross Country is the largest fall sport at Northside College Prep. Northside College Prep has won an IHSA Regional Title in 2008!, a Varsity Boys Chicago Public League Title in 2009!, a Sophomore-Freshman Girls Chicago Public League Title in 2010!, and most recently, an IHSA Regional Title, and the Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls qualified for the IHSA State Championships in 2011!!!  

 Incoming Freshmen athletes and parents at the information meeting will be given a tour of the athletic facilities, locker rooms, Running Trails in back of Northside, Team Trophy Case, School Store, and be provided with Summer Training plans, and information about our FREE 25 Days Summer Running Camp.

 Villa Palermo Catering will provide the TEAM, Incoming Freshman, and Northside Parents with their first Pasta Party for the 2012 Cross Country Season. The menu includes: Shrimp Cocktail, Grilled Chicken Penne Pasta, Chicken Alfredo Pasta, Penne Pasta with Marinara, Fresh Bread, Garden Salad, and bottled water. All expenses are 100% paid for by the Northside Coaching Staff.

 The Team has Pasta Parties the night before meets for the athletes, and Tailgate parties after several races for both athletes and parents. Olympic athletes that have appeared at Team Pasta Parties include Gold Medalist Billy Mills and American Record Holder Todd Williams.

 On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, the Northside Varsity Men, Varsity Women, Junior Varsity Boys, Junior Varsity Girls, Sophomore Boys, Sophomore Girls, Freshman Boys, and Freshman Girls Cross Country Team were honored with a Team Dinner and Awards Banquet at Hackney's, at 1514 E. Lake Ave., Glenview, Illinois, in the "Old Shillelagh" room, from 5:45 PM - 9:00 PM.    

The Outstanding Freshman Award is voted on by the Varsity Team annually, and given to the athlete(s) that is the Best Freshman athlete on the Team.

 The winner of the 2011 Outstanding Freshman Boys Award was Malcolm Grba. In 2011, Northside Freshman Malcolm Grba earned All City Honors at the Sophomore Boys Chicago Public League Championships. Malcolm Grba also earned All IHSA Regional Honors and All IHSA Sectional Honors by placing in the Top 25. Malcolm Grba also broke the school record for pull-ups with 38. In the IHSA State Championships, Malcolm Grba was the eighth fastest Freshman in Illinois with a 16:38.

 The winner of the 2011 Outstanding Freshman Girls Award was Madison Weatherly and Elizabeth O'Conor. Northside Freshman Madison Weatherly and Elizabeth O'Conor both earned All City Honors at the Sophomore Girls Chicago Public League Championships. Weatherly and O'Conor also earned ALL IHSA Regionals Honors and All IHSA Sectionals Honors. At the IHSA State Championships, both Elizabeth O'Conor and Madison Weatherly ran a 19:24 to finish as the 26th and 27th fastest Freshman in Illinois!

 The Senior Leadership Award is voted on by the Varsity Team annually, and is given to the Senior athletes that provide the best Senior Leadership on the Team.

 Winners of the Senior Leadership award receive an engraved crystal clock, and also become canadates for the Patrick J. O'Connor Leadership award, the Senior Male athlete of the Year award, or the Female athlete of the Year award, which are chosen out of 40 sports, and announced at the Senior Awards Banquet in June.

 Past Northside Cross Country athletes to win the Patrick J. O'Connor Leadership award include: Dan Kittaka (2005), and Patrick O'Connor (2006). Past Northside Cross Country and Track athletes to win the Senior Male athlete of the Year award include: Eric Nelson (2008), Cooper Eben (2009), and Wesley Laytham (2010).

 The 2011 Northside Cross Country Senior Leadership Award winners are Pat Duffy, Mac Melto, Ezra Edgerton, and Karly Raber.

 The Most Improved Award is voted on by the Varsity Team annually, and is given to the athletes that have improved the most. It is one of the most difficult awards to win, because everyone in Northside Cross Country program improves dramatically during the course of a season.

 The Winner of the 2011 Most Improved Female Varsity runner is Caroline Owens. Caroline Owens was the Mustangs ninth fastest runner prior to the IHSA Regional Championships. After the lady Mustangs won the 2011 IHSA Regional Championships, Northside had a race for their five alternates. Caroline Owens ran a Northside Top 7 time, earned a spot in the IHSA Sectional Championships for the lady Mustangs. Caroline Owens ran the fourth fastest time on the Team at the IHSA Sectional Championships, helping the lady Mustangs qualify for the State Championships. At the IHSA State Championships, Caroline Owens ran a personal best time of 20:39. It was the fourth fastest Northside time in the State meet, and the 12th fastest time in Northside history!

 The Winners of the 2011 Most Improved Male Varsity runners are Mac Melto and Patrick Brennan. 

  At the Libertyville Invitational (September 17, 2011), Mac Melto ran a three miles time of 18:01. At the IHSA Regional Championships, Mac Melto ran the fourth fastest time on the Team with a personal best time of 16:51. A time drop of one minute and 10 seconds from the Libertyville Invitational. Melto ran the 20th fastest time in Northside history!

 At the Libertyville Invitational (September 17, 2011), Patrick Brennan ran a three miles time of 18:23. At the IHSA State Championships, Patrick Brennan ran the third fastest time on the Team with a personal best time of 16:37. A time drop of one minute and 46 seconds from the Liberyville Invitational. Brennan ran the 17th fastest time in Northside history!

 The 2011 Winners of the Varsity Most Improved Award were Caroline Owens, Mac Melto, and Patrick Brennan.

 This award is given annually to the Junior or Senior athlete with the highest Grade Point Average on the Team. It generally takes between a 4.92 and a perfect 5.0 to win this award. It is one of the most difficult awards to win at Northside.

 The winner of the 2011 Varsity Male Academic Achievement award was Dan Graham.

 The winner of the 2011 Varsity Female Academic Achievement award was Karly Raber.

 The Rookie Harrier Award is voted on by the Northside College Prep Varsity Cross Country Team. A plaque is awarded to the most outstanding athlete in their first year of Cross Country (It could be a Sophomore, Junior, or Senior).

 The Winner of the 2011 Male Rookie Harrier Award was Cesar Rufino and Patrick Brennan. Ceasr Rufino and Patrick Brennan both qualified for the IHSA State Championships in their first year running Cross Country! Sophomore Cesar Rufino earned All City Honors in the Sophomore City Championships by placing third overall. Junior Patrick Brennan and Sophomore Cesar Rufino both earned All Regional Honors. Patrick Brennan ran a 16:37 at the IHSA State Championships! Cesar Rufino ran a 16:38 at the IHSA State Championships! 

 The Winner of the 2011 Female Rookie Harrier Award was Lisa Wendt. Lisa Wendt joined the Cross Country Team as a Senior, and qualified for the IHSA State Championships in her first year running Cross Country! Lisa Wendt also earned All Regional Honors to help the lady mustangs win the first IHSA Regional Championship in Northside history! Lisa Wendt ran an outstanding time of 21:38 at the IHSA State Championships! It was the sixth fastest time ever run by a Northside athlete in the State Championships!

 The Mustang Award is voted on by the Varsity Team annually, and is given to the athlete with the best work ethic and mental toughness.

 The winner of the 2011 Varsity Male Mustang Award is Malcolm Grba. Malcolm Grba has incredible work ethic and mental toughness. He is one of the hardest working athletes on the Team, and is the last one to leave the weight room everyday. Malcolm Grba is one of the greatest Freshman in the history of Northside College Prep. Malcolm Grab is also the first Freshman athlete to ever to win the Varsity Mustang Award. Malcolm Grba also has great leadership skills.

 The winner of the 2011 Varsity Female Mustang Award is Taylor Provax. Since June, Taylor Provax has been one of the first athletes at practice everyday, and at the same time, the last athlete to leave practice. Taylor Provax's work ethic and mental toughness is incredible. Taylor has also been a tremendous leader for the Mustangs.

 The Varsity Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award (MVP) is voted on by the Team, and is given annually to the Most Valuable Athlete.

 The Winner of the 2011 Male MVP Award is Pat Duffy. Pat Duffy was the Mustangs number one runner at the Chicago Public League Championships, IHSA Regionals, IHSA Sectionals, and IHSA State Championships. Pat Duffy earned All City Honors, All Regional Honors, and All Sectional Honors. Pat Duffy is also a great Team leader. Pat Duffy ran a personal best time of 16:09 at the IHSA State Championships! Pat Duffy ran the eighth fastest time in the history of Northside!

 The Winner of the 2011 Female MVP Award is Madison Weatherly. Madison Weatherly earned All Regional Honors and All Sectional Honors. Madison Weatherly was the Mustangs number one runner at IHSA Regionals (2nd overall), IHSA Sectionals, and ran a personal best time of 19:24 at the IHSA State Championships!! Madison Weatherly ran the third fastest time in the history of Northside!! Madison Weatherly is the first Freshman athlete to ever win the Varsity MVP award!

  In 2010, the Northside Freshman finished in fifth place in the Chicago Public League Championships. In 2011, in one year, Northside went from Fifth place as Freshman to Second place as Sophomores in the Chicago Public League Championships!  

 The Northside Sophomore-Freshman boys had their greatest TEAM performance in school history to place SECOND overall in the 2011 CPS Sophomore Boys Cross Country Championships! Prior to 2011, the best performance in the history of Northside College Prep by a Sophomore Boys Team was fourth place in 2008. The 2011 Sophomore Boys also won the Dennis Ziomek Invitational!

 The Northside Cross Country Team was the first TEAM in the history of Northside to qualify for the IHSA State Championships in any sport.

 Pat Duffy, Ezra Edgerton, Patrick Brennan, Cesar Rufino, Malcolm Grba, Simon Kafka, Mac Melto, Raymond Siddiqi, Robert Szmurlo, Nathaniel Agharese, Dan Graham, and Alex Gordon received their IHSA State Qualifier Medals at the Northside Cross Country Banquet.

 The Northside Cross Country Team was the first TEAM in the history of Northside to qualify for the IHSA State Championships in any sport.

 Elizabeth O'Conor, Madison Weatherly, Mary Coomes, Caroline Owens, Taylor Provax, Lisa Wendt, Karly Raber, Jordan Micus, Emmy Velasco, Lucy Schaefer, Kristin Wojcik, and Clare Scheib-Feeley received their IHSA State Qualifier Medals at the Northside Cross Country Banquet.

 After each athlete was called up to the podium to receive their awards, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon  announced the Team Captains for 2012. The 2012 Team Captains are Simon Kafka, Malcolm Grba, Cesar Rufino, Alex Gordon, Patrick Brennan, Taylor Provax, Mary Coomes, and Clare Scheib-Feeley.

 The 2012 Northside Team Captains were then called up to the podium for the commencement of the 2011 Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony. 

 In 1903, University of Chicago Track Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, among other things, invented numbers on uniforms, and the Varsity letter, and the first Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony took place at the International House in Chicago. For over a 100 years, the traditions from the first Varsity letter ceremony have been followed. In 2004, Jon Gordon came from the University of Chicago Track & Field program to take over the Northside Cross Country program, and brought with him the traditions of Amos Alonzo Stagg and the Varsity letter blanket ceremony to Northside College Prep.

 The 2012 Team Captains displayed the blanket of each Senior athlete who earned a Varsity letter during their high school Cross Country career, and then placed it on each athlete as they were called to the podium. The Varsity blankets are custom made, and each one has the athlete's name, Cross Country, and Northside College Prep, embrodied on it, along with a Varsity letter "N", and a Silver Star for each year the athlete earned a Varsity letter in Cross Country, and a Gold Star for each year the athlete was a Team Captain for the Northside Cross Country Team.

 The Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony is one of the highlights of the Northside Cross Country banquet. It is the highest honor a Senior athlete on the Cross Country Team can be given at the Banquet. The Northside Cross Country Team is currently the only sport at Northside College Prep that awards Varsity letter blankets. To earn a Varsity letter in Cross Country, a Northside athlete must finish among the Top 7 athletes on the Team in a Varsity Race (in Wisconsin Top 8), or run a minimum of 500 Miles in the summer for an automatic Varsity letter, or be a Senior Captain for an automatic Varsity letter.

VARSITY SENIOR BLANKET
Senior Athletes who have earned 1 or more Varsity letters

The blankets are embroidered with each Athlete’s Name, Northside College Prep Cross Country, a Varsity letter “N”, along with a Silver Star for each Varsity letter earned in Cross Country during their Athletic Career, and a Gold Star for each year as Team Captain

MEN       
(1) Pat Duffy  3 Silver, 1 Gold (2) Mac Melto 2 Silver, 1 Gold (3) Ezra Edgerton 2 Silver, 1 Gold (4) Josh Willaims 2 Silver (5) Dan Graham 1 Silver.

WOMEN
(1) Karly Raber 4 Silver, 1 Gold (2) Lisa Wendt 1 Silver.

 FRESHMAN NUMERALS (The following freshman athletes earned a letter award, and received Numerals in their graduation year (2015) at the banquet. (V) = Earned a Varsity letter as a Freshman) 

Boys                                                                Girls                                       

1. Joseph Dschida                   Freshman         1. Jennifer Cortez         Freshman 

2. Connor Fulton                     Freshman         2. Hillary Israil              Freshman

3. Emilio Garcia                       Freshman         3. Carol Lin                 Freshman

4. Malcolm Grba                     Freshman (V)   4. Francesca Lipinski   Freshman

5. Elijah Hernandez                 Freshman          5. Jessye McVane       Freshman

6. Calvin Kuhnen                    Freshman          6. Ivory Nguyen           Freshman

7. Max McCoy                      Freshman           7. Elizabeth O'Conor   Freshman (V)

8. Evan O'Donnell                   Freshman          8. Caroline Owens       Freshman (V)

9. Jack O'Donnell                   Freshman          9. Miriam Pierce           Freshman 

10. Matt Osborne                   Freshman         10. Lucy Schafer           Freshman

11. Adam Oufkir                    Freshman          11. Lily Sperry              Freshman (V)

12. Billy Valadez                    Freshman          12. Madison Weatherly Freshman (V) 

13. Harry Winters                  Freshman

 The following Sophomore Awards were announced at the banquet:

  On Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at the Northside Cross Country banquet, 2012 Northside Cross Country Captains Simon Kafka, Malcolm Grba, Cesar Rufino, Alex Gordon, Patrick Brennan, Taylor Provax, Mary Coomes, and Claire Scheib-Feeley honored the Seniors with an amazing Senior Varsity letter blanket ceremony.

 At the conlusion of the ceremony, Northside Seniors Pat Duffy and Karly Raber came to the front of the banquet room to address 240 athletes, parents, and guests. 

 Pat Duffy gave an amazing speech about his four years at Northside. Duffy told several funny stories about more Seniors talking to him during his Junior year, after their friends from previous years graduated. Pat Duffy also talked about being at the banquet a year ago, and with the graduation of All Time greats Wesley Laytham and Charlie Mesimore, wondering who would be "that guy" for the Northside Cross Country Team in 2011. 

 Pat Duffy talked about how he evolved as a leader, person, and athlete during his Senior year, with several more funny stories. Duffy told the crowd that he didn't have any younger sibblings growing up, and treasured his experience as a Team Captain.

 In one year, Pat Duffy went from being the Mustangs fifth runner to their number one runner on the way to the State Championships!! Duffy was also one of the greatest Team Captains in Northside history. Pat Duffy was an outstanding role model for his teammates, along with Senior Captains Mac Melto and Ezra Edgerton. Pat Duffy also led Team core training sessions every Friday. Every member of the Team could count on him everyday. 

 Pat Duffy came to the realization that now he is "that guy" that everyone was talking about a year ago. Duffy shared his wisdom with the future Northside Cross Country Team, and stressed that the new Team Captains will be "that guy" in 2012!

  Northside Captain Karly Raber followed Duffy's incredible speech, with an amazing speech of her own that had the entire audience with tears in their eyes. Senior Karly Raber talked about the great experience she had of being on the Northside Cross Country Team for four years, and how she will always treasure it. Senior Karly Raber then talked about the first day of practice. After a Team warm-up, Northside Head Coach Jon Gordon told everyone to get a wooden stick and then return back to Legion Park with a stick for each member of the Team. The Team collected 98 sticks. The Team then tied 97 sticks together, and left one stick by itself. Coach Gordon asked for someone to break the stick by itself, and then break all 97 sticks that were tied together. The stick by itself was easily broken. However, nobody on the Team could break the 97 sticks that were tied together. Raber then burst into tears, and told the 240 athletes, parents, and guests, that "together" as one, the Northside Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams were able to qualify for State!, and that "together" they could achieve anything!!   

 The speeches were both incredible, and ones that the Northside coaching staff will never forget.

 The Northside Coaching Staff has received cards, letters, and emails from Northside parents and athletes praising the Northside Cross Country program during the season, at the banquet, and everyday since the banquet for all different reasons. The Northside Cross Country Staff wants to thank everyone again for their wonderful cards, letters, and emails.

  The Northside Coaching staff would also like to thank the Team again for their amazing gifts, including State Meet T-shirts, and a very generous stack of Lettuce Entertain You gift certificates. The coaching staff used several of their gift certificates this week, and has had incredible meals every night of the week. 

 Most importantly, the Northside Coaching Staff would like to thank the TEAM for their hard work this season. It was one of the best banquets that we have ever been a part of in our entire coaching careers. The family-type atmosphere of the Northside Cross Country Team is second to none. The Team has enriched us immeasurably and we hope that the athletes take as much away from the season as you have given us.

 Northside athletes are the greatest individuals, on and off the field, that we have ever known in our entire coaching careers. Thank you again for your incredible work ethic, and dedication to the TEAM. It was a very special experience for the Northside coaching staff.

 The highlight of the Northside College Prep Trophy case is the posters and individual state plaques of all the IHSA State Cross Country and Track qualifiers, and autographed shoes of several Northside All-Time Greats.

 In January 2012, two posters featuring the Northside Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams racing in the IHSA State Championships will be placed in the Northside College Prep Trophy Case!

 The Northside Top 12 Men and Top 12 Women will also be honored on the GYM floor at a Pep Assembly scheduled for Friday, January 13, 2012. At the assembly, the athletes will receive their IHSA State qualifying patches, and a banner will also be placed on the GYM wall to honor the 2011 Girls IHSA Regional Champions!

The Northside College Prep Cross Country Website has been named a "Spotlight" site by its host company eteamz.com. It has been rated as one of the top sites out of over 725,000 sites.

Congratulations to Northside College Prep for earning America's Best High Schools top ranked honor, 1st in the state of Illinois!