The Arrow: Winter 2024

VOLUME 6 // ISSUE 2 // WINTER 2024

THE TOM TOM 2023-2024 EXECUTIVE TEAM

Hannah E. Barczak Klaudia J. Dorado Cole L. Loiacano Josie M. Quirke James D. Sheehan Sofia A. Tinker Carter J. Webb

EDITORIAL BOARD

Jasmine M. Fisher Vera M. Fogel Faith K. Francke Addison L. Lane Jacob M. Pankau Katherine E. Smith

STAFF

James J. Adams Kaitlin E. Baylen Matthew R. Behrens Juliana G. Bordonaro Dean R. Brewer Mason A. Bussone Nora M. Cecchi Kylie E. Christenson Taylor L. Clark Ali G. Davis Nicholas D. Day Madison J. Eul Elanor M. Geer Brynn E. Glauser Scarlett T. Goodluck Grace S. Green Kirsten M. Hammond Samuel C. Hanes Jackson R. Honaker Clayton W. Horton Reese M. Igou Elise A. Justus Layla G. Kane Alexandra J. Lehn Vivian M. Lorch Nora M. Lubkeman Annie Maciejewski Olivya M. Martin Lydia G. McWilliams Tyler J. Miller Jadelyn M. Nguyen Mara P. Padek Roderick A. Rathmann Casey J. Rietschel Constantine G. Sakas Laila D. Salata Madisen J. Schine Jacey A. Schuler Makenna G. Sekany Kate C. Sheehan Cameron C. Speich Mycah J. Thompson Lily A. Tinker Ryan C. Tolbert Aubrey L .Ultsch Aiden L. Van Alstine Sydney E. Vega Scarlett R. Victor Sydney E. Walker Emma R. Wagner Tyler C. Wolfe Spencer M. Wood Aydin K. Zakroczymski

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Claire M. Policht

ADVISER

Madelynn J. Soberano

MISSION STATEMENT

The Tom Tom is a student-produced magazine that is distributed to students, faculty and staff of Antioch Community High School, as well as the members of the Antioch Community. Members of the Tom Tom staff contribute to sequoitmedia.com, the Sequoit Media website, on a regular basis. The student magazine serves as a public forum and is supported by New Voices legislation in Illinois and policies of Community High School District 117. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of ACHS or D117, nor Antioch Community High School’s faculty, staff or administration.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT CHAIR Nicole Hebson

ACHS ADMINISTRATION

Michael Berrie, Principal Jaclyn Orlov, Assistant Principal Scott Leverentz, Assistant Principal Mike Maloney, Athletic Director Teri Klobnak, Activities Director Gregory Bays, Dean Kurt Sooley, Dean

TECH SPECIALISTS Kyle Bush Ryan Miles Ben Tompkins

MEMBERSHIP

The Tom Tom belongs to the Kettle Moraine Press Association, Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Quill & Scroll International Journalism Honor Society.

CONNECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

The Tom Tom is committed to seeking the truth, minimizing harm and presenting the most accurate reporting as possible. If you notice any inaccuracies in this or previous issues, please contact the adviser at madelynn.soberano@ chsd117.org.

SPONSORSHIPS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Businesses and community members may sponsor the Tom Tom if their sponsorships adhere to guidelines.

Madelynn Soberano (madelynn.soberano@chsd117.org) will handle all sponsorship requests.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mailing Address: 1133 Main St., Antioch, Ill. 60002 // Phone: 847-395-9433 Website: sequoitmedia.com Email: Staff members may be contacted by using their first

name(dot)last name(at)chsd117.org

IN THIS ISSUE THE ARROW VOLUME 6 // ISSUE 2 // WINTER 2024

PROFILES

3

05 SPONSORS & COACHES 07 SENIORS & ADMIN

09 SEQUOIT SNAPSHOT 11 BOYS BASKETBALL

31 | JOEL BULKA 13 GIRLS BASKETBALL 33 | HAILEY CAYA 15 GIRLS BOWLING 35 | UGNE ALEKSAITE 17 BOYS BOWLING 37 | MATT KOTLOSKI 19 CHEERLEADING 39 | JENNIFER SERIFOV 21 DANCE 41 | KENNEDIE TAN 23 GYMNASTICS 43 | ELLIE NAMPEL 25 WRESTLING 45 | EDGAR ALBINO HOCKEY 27 47 | AYDIN ZAKROCZYMSKI

COACHING STAFF BOYS BASKETBALL

5

CONNOR

PAVELL

JAYSON DORSEY CALHOUN Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

HOWARD

GARIGUS

D’ANDREA

JOHNSON

KAISER

HERRMANN

JOHNSON

LEWIS

WALSH

MAGNUSON

BABIN

BABIN

GRENKE

O’GRADY

REYES

NOBLING

BORRERO

ALBINO

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

GYMNASTICS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

BAKER

Head Coach

LAWSON

OWEN

Assistant Coach

Head Coach

Head Coach

QUIRKE

Assistant Coach

HOCKEY

CHEERLEADING

Head Coach

PATTON

Assistant Coach

DANCE

BOYS BOWLING

GIRLS BOWLING

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

AFFINATI Head Coach

WRESTLING

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

Assistant Coach

Head Coach

Assistant Coach

VOLKMAR

Assistant Coach

LEITZA

Assistant Coach

VANDER PLOEG Assistant Coach

SENIOR ATHLETES BREWER

BULKA

PRILLER

THOMSON

WEBB

CAYA

KANE

KUTCHER

MURPHY

SCHAUFELE

VOLKMAR

ALEKSAITE

DUTSCHER

LUBKEMAN

MARTIN

GUY

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

Basketball

Bowling

Basketball

Bowling

Basketball

Bowling

Basketball

Bowling

Basketball

Bowling

HANNA

PANKAU

TOLBERT

BARCZAK

CHRISTENSON

DECREMER

FRANCKE

GOMEZ

JUSTUS

LEHN

PYBURN

RODRIGUEZ

SALATA

DEVIENCE

TAN

MINTON

ALBINO

BENTLEY

FILIPECK

JURINEK

KASPRZAK

LEVY

RODRIGUEZ

WILLIAMS

Bowling

Cheerleading

Wrestling

Bowling

Cheerleading

Wrestling

Bowling

Cheerleading

Wrestling

Cheerleading

Cheerleading

Wrestling

Cheerleading

Cheerleading

Wrestling

Cheerleading

Dance

Wrestling

Cheerleading

Dance

Wrestling

Cheerleading

Gymnastics

Wrestling

7

DAVIDSON Hockey

DEUTSCHMANN Hockey

FRANK Hockey

HANES

ZAKROCZYMSKI

Hockey

Hockey

ATHLETICS

ATHLETICS AND ADMIN MALONEY

KLOBNAK

Activities Director

ADMIN

Athletic Director

BERRIE Principal

FEUCHT

Superindent

SOTO

Admin Asst.

HUMANN Admin Asst.

NAES

Athletic Trainer

NOTTOLI

Athletic Trainer

SEQUOIT SNAPSHOT JUNIOR MARSHALL GEHRKE

9

www.sequoitmedia.com

@achstomtom

@sequoitmedia @SequoitSports Sequoit Media Sequoit Sports @sequoitmedia @sequoitsports DEAN BREWER | designer Tom Tom Staff

TRANSITION FROM THE FIELD TO THE COURT

Insight as to how Sequoit football players who are also playing basketball transition from Friday night lights to the winter basketball season, as well as how they may benefit from playing both.

T

he Antioch Community High School football team’s season tragically came to an end against Carmel Catholic High School. The very next Monday, with no time to prepare, senior Carter Webb and junior Teddi Wetu made the immediate shift over to basketball season. With only one day separating the two sports, Webb and Wetu had to be quick to shake off the dust before they had to play in front of the school against other teams. However, as these two have been multi-sport athletes for years, they had no problems with this transition.

“The transition from football to basketball was fairly easy,” Webb said. “I play multiple sports year round so I am used to jumping from one to another. This transition was no different for me. Football ended on Saturday and I was in the gym getting shots up on Sunday.”

Team sports require each player to understand their specific roles and be able to use each other’s abilities to their advantage.

In other words, teams need to build chemistry with one another to maximize their efficiency. As football and basketball are both team sports, it is safe to say football helps Webb and Wetu to strengthen their ability as teammates.

“I think football and basketball are really different sports.” Wetu said. “I think they carry some similarities though, like communication, talking and being a good teammate.”

Wetu played wide receiver for the Sequoits football team this season. Although football and basketball are not the same sport in any sense, the skills required to play wide receiver are similar to the skill set needed for a quick guard like Wetu on the court. In other words, although he was not necessarily practicing basketball, he was still working on some of his basketball skills, such as footwork, hand-

eye coordination and the ability to jump and CARTER WEBB grab the ball out of the air. class of ‘24 Another similarity between the two sports that applies to both Webb and Wetu is the ability to make key plays with the pressure of many fans watching. For Webb, kicking extra points and field goals in a high-pressure situation translates to hitting a shot in a similar high-pressure situation. For Wetu, the ability to make blocks and catches in high-pressure situations translates to playing defense in key moments.

“I just believe that winning becomes contagious,” basketball head coach Sean Connor said. “Competitors and winners JOEL BULKA like competing no matter what sport it is, class of ‘24 and even though everything doesn’t directly translate those attributes do.”

These two athletes have adapted just fine to the sudden switch in sports, and benefit in some ways from the similar aspects shared by the two sports, although they are completely different.

JAKE PANKAU | writer Copy Chief

JAMES ADAMS | designer Tom Tom Staff

CARTER WEBB class of ‘24

11

you can’t miss this

SENIOR NIGHT february 13, antioch, ill.

Following @SequoitSports on Twitter and Instagram won’t be enough. Come see the team or stream it live to show support for our Sequoit athletes.

MARSHALL GEHRKE class of ‘25

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Connor Devine

Junior Connor Devine faces his first year as a varsity athlete and is already changing the game. Although this is Devine’s first year on varsity, he has been playing for the Sequoits since his freshman year.

As a sophomore, Devine was a starter on JV and was pulled up at the end of the season to help out varsity due to his ability to defend and shoot. Not only is handling the ball a key part of the game, but making plays without the ball is a crucial and efficient skill. Head coach Sean Conner believes that Devine does an incredible job impacting his team when he is off the ball.

“When he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, he does a great job moving to give us good spacing and then give himself opportunities to score,” Connor said.

“He is not a kid that needs to be around the ball to make an impact on the game.”

Being only a Junior, Devine still has one full varsity season left, so keep an eye out as he continues his impact on the game.

LILY TINKER | writer Tom Tom Staff

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Addison Webb Sophomore Addison Webb takes on her first year as a full-time varsity athlete for girls basketball although she played a few games for varsity as a JV player in the past. Head Coach Jamie D’Andre describes Webb as an excellent athlete, she is seen always to be working hard and hustling at practice daily.

“Addie is very athletic, she makes good decisions on the basketball court so she is able to rebound, she is able to dribble, she can shoot and she can box out. She does a little bit of everything because she has the ability to do so,” D’Andrea said.

As a sophomore, Webb’s skills are already impressive and she is only going to get better each year. She is going to be a continuous star on the court and will be a player to keep an eye out for in the next few seasons.

SCARLETT VICTOR | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH SCHAUFELE class of ‘24

HAILEY CAYA class of ‘24

TOP SCORERS

A SHIFT IN COACHING

Former assistant coach Jamie D’Andrea has made her transition to head coach of the girl’s varsity basketball team this season.

T

aking over the head coach position has always been Jamie D’Andrea’s dream. Spending 16 years as varsity assistant coach for girls basketball at Antioch Community High School, D’Andrea’s dreams are becoming reality. She hopes to impact the program as much as she possibly can during her reign of head coaching.

During high school, D’Andrea was a three sport varsity athlete: participating in tennis, basketball and softball. As a woman coaching a female sport and previous athlete herself, she understands the importance of strong qualities such as being positive, open–minded and demonstrating good communication skills.

“She gives us the opportunity to grow on our own, and gives us the ideas and tools we need to grow,” senior Hannah Schaufele, being one of the captains this year, said.

“Making sure we are able to do what we need to do successfully without just always yelling at us.”

D’Andrea recognizes the girl’s drive to win, as she experiences the same passion for basketball.

“Basketball is my favorite sport, it’s the one I’ve played the longest, and the one I identify with” D’Andrea said.

Sharing the same enthusiasm to succeed, the girls are working towards having their best season yet. Senior Macie Volkmar believes they will be very successful this season due to their strong goals they have set for themselves. Executing personal goals such as defensive skills, like boxing out and rebounding, achieving team goals such as communication and maintaining strong team bonds.

ENZA NAWROCKI class of ‘25

“We’re a speed team, and [D’Andrea] wants us to be known for our high athletics and speed, because ultimately thats what wins us games.” Volkmar said.

As it is Schaufele and Volkmar’s final season, they want to have as much fun as possible.

Having a coach that allows them to have fun, allows them to have an enjoyable final year in the Antioch girls basketball program.

“We strive to win, but also making sure it is a fun atmosphere is also important.”

Schaufele said.

Many athletes have had a coach that is extremely strict, not allowing time for enjoyment. This can lead to athlete burnout and dreading the sport that they once loved.

The girls appreciate that D’Andrea focuses on the mentality of the athletes, rather than only their performance.

“When I change the starting lineup, I need to have a conversation with that girl so she understands why I’m doing it,” D’Andrea said. “If I don’t, then they are going to be self doubting and questioning to the point where they may not be ready to produce once they go in.”

Having healthy communication with parents and players is very important to D’Andrea, even if they are difficult conversations to make. With communication, open-mindedness and positive attitude, D’Andrea will make a huge impact on the team’s progression.

The girls have started the season strong with a 4-1 conference record so far. D’Andrea has high expectations for the girl’s basketball teams success and is hopeful to make long-lasting impacts on the future of the basketball program.

ALI DAVIS | writer Tom Tom Staff

MATT BEHRENS | designer Tom Tom Staff

13

SEQUOIT TO WATCH: Lucy Eifert

Freshman Lucy Eifert began bowling when she was ten years old through a youth league at Antioch Lanes. She currently bowls for a scholarship league outside of school called Raymond’s Bowl on Thursdays. Bowling through a league helps Eifert prepare for the high school season and helps her improve her skills.

With Eifert being one of the youngest on the team; she has not received much attention but Coach Walsh is sure she will gain popularity within her seasons.

“She is someand wants to is someone who’s instruction and ing that she’s

one that the team sees do the same,” Walsh really thinking

Since Eifert is only she still has plenty of work on her game and continue to lead the team to victory within her next four seasons.

improving said. “She through the the coachbeen given.” a freshman, time to

JAZZY FISHER | writer Social Media Coordinator

NORA LUBKEMAN class of ‘24

THE TEACHER BOWL

15

The teacher bowl is a fun event for the bowling team and as well as the teachers invited to conpete against their peers and coworkers.

T

he Teacher Bowl has been going on for a couple years now at Antioch Community High School. This thrilling event is held at Antioch Lanes on route 173 in Antioch Ill. The Teacher Bowl event is exactly what it sounds like; the student invites their choice of teacher and they bowl as a pair. They bowl two games, combine their score, and compare them against the other pairs of teachers and students. The bowlers are told to invite a different teacher every year.

The winning duo gets not only bragging rights for the rest of the year, but a medal declaring their victory as well.

Art teacher Stefan Pfautz talks about how much fun the event is, as well as how bad some of the teachers are.

“Bowling is always fun even when almost all of the teachers are really bad,” Pfautz said.

LIV MARTIN class of ‘24

KENNA SEKANY class of ‘26

Just like players, some teachers are better than others when it comes to bowling. Band teacher Johny Untch has been described as the best bowler.

Chior teacher Trey Hickey has been told to be the most competitive in the event, now on the flip side Ugne Aleksaite has been a consistent 250 plus point bowler in The Teacher Bowl. In a game Ugne and Mr. Pfautz last year in a game combined for 410 points.

“Last year I bowled my best ever single game with a 160,” Pfautz said “My partner Ugne was in the 250’s.”

Even though the majority of teachers are not on the same level as the varsity bowlers, the teachers still enjoy the bowl as they are able to continue to build their relationship with athletes around the school and have a great time with their co-workers as well.

The Teacher Bowl is great practice for

BO DUTSCHER class of ‘24

the varsity bowlers too. They get to go against each other and other teachers.

Even though The bowl is for fun the better bowlers/teacher duo usually win because they are just better than the rest of teachers and their teammates.

“The top varsity bowlers usually win, because they are so good,” Pfautz said.

The Teacher Bowl continues to be held once every year in the winter as one of the most fun events not only for the b owlers but the teachers as well. The different teachers being invited is what keeps it fun and entertaining for everyone involved.

CLAY HORTON | designer Tom Tom Staff

CASEY RIETSCHEL | designer Tom Tom Staff

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Joseph Mitchell

With the new creation of the District 117 boys bowling team, there are a lot of new faces making names for themselves. One boy standing out in particular is freshman Joseph Mitchell. Mitchell works very hard to push himself to improve every practice.

Being so young, Mitchell has tons of time to improve and grow as a bowler and as a leader. Over the next four years he is bound to expand his talents and become one of the top bowlers on the team.

Boys bowling coach Kyle Baker is very proud of Mitchell’s work ethic and is impressed with his desire to get better every day.

“Joseph almost always asks to keep practicing after we end our practice,” Baker said. “His work ethic will allow him to do great things.”

Coach Baker has a lot of confidence that Mitchell can make it to state if he keeps up the hard work. Make sure to keep tabs on Mitchell as he hopes to bowl his way to a successful freshman season.

CARTER WEBB | writer Sports Online Director

D117 BOYS BOWLING FIRST YEAR ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

17

D177 boys bowling first match and season.

B

owling is a hobby for everyone, but a competitive sport for many. With such a simple objective of getting down as many pins as possible, this sport has many emotions and challenges for all competitors participating in the sport.

School district 117 has been trying to create a boys bowling program for many years. Finally at the start of the 2023 school year, the district got the news that they qualified to create a boys team.

After tryouts, players were selected to participate in the home match against the Grayslake North Knights.

D117’s bowling team continues to improve week to week, continuing to win tough matches. Being a first year program, D117 is guaranteed to see more success in the near future.

The match started, everyone was knocking down pins, but Junior Brayden Thornton was consistently striking out; it was like art, the perfect ball spins every time. As the match went on, the pressure started to build. The Knights were catching up; strikes were turning to spares, then to open frames. It came down to the wire, but the D117 boys kept on their game.

Even though no D117 bowlers qualified for state, they are committed to having a state run next year.

The cheers of the crowd filled the Antioch Bowling Alley as the match was ending frame by frame; junior Matt Kotlowski described it as an “intense experience”.

Both teams gave it their all, and the score was neck and neck for most of the match.

Undoubtedly, District 117 came out on top.

The first team victory was a historic occasion for the bowling alley. There was a sense of pride and joy in the air as the team celebrated their win.

“It was a night that the team will never forget,” head coach Kyle Baker said. “We hope for many more,” said Coach Hannah Lawson.

This was the first D117 boys bowling win in history.

RYAN TOLBERT

“ We are hoping to make a state run next class of ‘24 year,” said Coach Hannah Lawson.

In addition to the season coming to an end. Antioch headed up to regionals, in hopes to keep the season alive.

It was either win or go home. “We have to take it one step at a time,” said Head Coach Kyle Baker.

“ I hope to be a state placer,” said Thornton.

One thing the D117 bowling team does not lack is team morale.

“I love how close the team is, it makes every day of bowling enjoyable,” said Kotlowski.

MATT KOTLOSKI class of ‘25

With this team’s talent, hard work, and LOGAN KRUSELY team bonding. The D117 boys should not class of ‘25 have any issues achieving that state goal in years to come.

RYAN TOBLERT | writer Tom Tom Staff

NICK DAY | designer Tom Tom Staff

SEASON RECORD

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Adriana Thorton A d r i a n a Thorton is the one of three freshmen on the, Antioch varsity cheer competition team. Along with being a side base and front spot on the team, Thorton is also a great tumbler. Being in the new environment of high school cheer, Thorton has felt very welcomed and has bonded with her teammates. Freshman and teammate Zoe Babin can see the work Thorton puts into at practice.

“She is a great teammate, and always comes to practice ready to work and is always trying to get more reps in,” Babin said.

Thorton was on the varsity sideline cheer team this fall. While cheering from the sideline, she was able to make friendships within the team prior to the competition season. Thorton has already shown a promising future and is ready to continue for all four years at Antioch Community High School.

KIRSTEN HAMMOND | writer Tom Tom Staff

A UNIQUE ROAD TO NORMAL

Behind the scenes of what makes the Antioch cheer team a fixture at state.

A

s the new year rolls in, the Antioch Community High School cheerleading team has their sights set on a familiar but unknown scene. The Sequoit Cheerleading program has been a dominant team, qualifying for state 17 times in program history. This has resulted in a state championship in 2020 and numerous podium placements. As people look in from the outside, they see the medals and trophies but do not necessarily recognize what the athletes go through to make all of that happen.

Team connection is one of the toughest hardships any sports team can accomplish.

This is especially true in cheerleading, as team chemistry may be the most important part of creating success. Due to many moving parts and high-difficulty skills, it requires the girls to be connected and trust one another. Senior Zamora Rodriguez has cheered at Antioch for three years and is back this season after taking off last competition season, to cheer for an all-star team. She believes that to create success, the team must all be on the same page and know what is going on around them at all times.

“One of the most important things is chemistry because we are all on the floor doing different things,” Rodriguez said.

“But we are all doing different things to make a whole.

Cheering at a high level takes a toll on your body physically, although, for some, it has a larger mental impact. When performing skills with a high degree of difficulty, it takes a considerable amount of focus, but perhaps the hardest part is overcoming the mental block that may come with learning a new skill. Persistence and practice are key to overcoming mental blocks, while support from teammates and coaches can give athletes the confidence they need to get through a challenge.

Junior Maddy Clancy has cheered at Antioch for two years and believes that positive support is one of the best things you can provide as a teammate.

“We have to have a good mindset because it can help others get better,” Clancy said.

“If everyone is doing good the team will perform well as a result.”

A large part of the Sequoits’ repeatedly performing highly is the stability and continuity that their coaches provide.

Knowing how to utilize athletes to the fullest is a tall task for a coach, especially if it brings unfamiliarity. Something as small as a slight stumble could be the difference between first or off the podium completely. High levels of confidence and handling pressure are two of the best traits a cheerleader can have. Luckily the Sequoits have head coach Amber Babin, who has been in the spotlight before and knows how to get her athletes compete to their fullest extent on the biggest stage.

“It’s important to learn different techniques to help athletes feel strong and get them to persevere because our sport is not easy,” Babin said.

As the season moves along, there are sure to be setbacks and bad days but this team is filled with confidence and perseverance.

The Sequoits are once again a force to be reckoned with and have high hopes of reaching the state podium once again.

TYLER WOLFE | writer Tom Tom Staff

KATE SHEEHAN | designer Tom Tom Staff

19

TIS THE SEASON

It’s that time of year, the Antioch dance team gets new costumes!

I

PIC

n the enchanting world of dance, where every movement tells a story, the costumes worn by performers are more than just fabric.

design process of these costumes. In order to be able to execute a good routine the dancers need to feel confident and comfortable in what they are wearing.

Each stitch and shimmer contributes to the narrative of the dance itself. Beyond the glitz and glamor, dance costumes often carry profound forms of symbolism. Each color represents emotions, while every sequin, bead, or feather is strategically placed to mock the theme of the dance.

“Sparkles get really Itchy, they’re so pretty but so itchy, especially if they’re on your chest because then they scratch your armpits,” Quirke said.

“When selecting costumes, we really focus on the song. This year‘s song, November rain by Guns N’ Roses, has an edgy rock vibe and we really wanted to show that in our costume,” Head coach Sarah Owen said.

“In years past, we have had softer songs and have chosen costumes with skirts to show more grace and movement, and we knew that wasn’t going to fit the vibe this year.”

Costumes play a significant role in bringing the dance to life, to help capture and tell the story behind each performance.

“When you’re dancing you don’t get to use your words, you just have your face, the music, and then you get a costume,” junior Josie Quirke said.

Storytelling plays a vital role in the dance world. When selecting these costumes, it is important to find ones that help tell the story. This can be one of the most important aspects of a routine. A dance could be executed seamlessly but if there is no connection between the meaning of the dance and the audience it won’t place well among other performances.

DELANEY EMERING class of ‘26

“I personally see costumes as a way to get into character for the performance. If I don’t think the costume matches the story being portrayed well, I find it a lot harder to tell the story and connect with the audience,” Junior Delaney Emering said. “Since, for me, dance is all about storytelling, making sure I have a corresponding costume that I feel confident in is very important to me.

Comfort is also an important aspect in the

The ability to be comfortable is important for athletes because when they are trying to put on their performance they do not want to have to worry about their costume because that may potentially take away from their execution. For many dancers comfort leads to confidence in their movements.

“I feel much more comfortable in baggy pants or shorts than I do tight pants and leotards. I believe baggy pants or shorts fit my personal style better, making me feel more comfortable performing in them,” Emering said. “When it comes to dresses and skirts it really depends on the song and the story I’m telling. One of my biggest pet peeves with dance costumes is thin fabric, I prefer thick stretchy fabric. When it comes to color, I definitely feel best in cool tones such as blue and green.”

This year the Antioch Community High Sschool dance team is ready to break out the new costumes and tell their story.

FAITH FRANCKE | writer Morale Coordinator

JADE NGUYEN | designer Tom Tom Staff

Sophomore Maya Ryan has a blatant eagerness to better herself. She never fails to seek out new methods to improve her skills. Working outside of her comfort zone has led to incredible accomplishments, such as being featured in the dance and having a permanent spot on the floor as compared to her alternate spot at the beginning of last year.

“Maya is a great team player and performer,” head dance team coach Sarah Owen said. “She really puts her heart and emotion into her movements and it inspires other teammates to do the same. I think Maya is just tapping into her potential and it’s really exciting!”

Ryan is continually pushing herself and she is undoubtedly one of the strongest performers on the team. Her movements emote greatly to the audiences watching her. With Ryan’s emotive talents, her continuously improving technique and determination, she will continue to be an asset to the team’s success.

JOSIE QUIRKE | writer Lifestyles Online Director

21

SEASON RECORD

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Maya Ryan

ATHLETE TO WATCH : Isabella Aya

­ ­

NORA CECCHI | writer

Tom Tom Staff

SHIANNE MINTON class of ‘24

23

BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR GIRLS GYMNASTICS

Head Coach Christopher Patton talks about the Girls Gymnastics program and making another state run.

T

he District 117 girls gymnastics team is coached by Christopher Patton, a Lakes Community High School Spanish teacher. Head Coach Patton loves having athletes from both Antioch Community High School and Lakes Community High School.

He makes it clear that they do not only represent themselves, or their school, but they represent the entire district. He likes the idea that ACHS and LCHS may be rivals but in gymnastics they are one family. Although the gymnasts might be cheering on different schools in other sports, they continue to cheer on each other.

“I love that our girls don’t just represent a team or their high school, but the whole district.” Patton said. “During football season we can be rivals, but during gymnastics season we are family.”

Gymnastics is not only an individual sport but is a team sport as well. There are four different routines one can do to improve an overall team score. With an impressive 2022 season, Patton is looking forward to making it farther on the road to a state title in the 2023 season. Patton points out the program loses 2 powerful gymnasts, JJ Crum and Emily Kaluzinski;

they look to lean on upperclassmen, Julia Blasinski and Josie Gates.

“With the loss of some powerful gymnasts like JJ Crum and the almost flawless bar set of Emily Kaluzinski, there are some gaps on the Varsity roster that we need to fill,” Patton said. “The strength of this program definitely lies in the leadership of our upperclassmen. Julia Blasinski and Josie Gates are phenomenal gymnasts and amazing people that can be relied on.”

seeing all the potential in the newcomers from both Anitoch and Lakes. He looks to build another off of a 2022 productive season and make another run at the state title in 2023.

CLAY HORTON | writer Tom Tom Staff

JACEY SCHULER | designer Tom Tom Staff

Patton has big expectations after the performance of the 2022 season. however He is more than confident with the routines they have been working on as well as cleaning up the basics. Patton is planning on having the cleanest routines which will make it difficult on the judges to deduct points in competitions.

“We plan on starting from the ground up in order to fill in those gaps. Starting with clean basics, working our way up towards harder skills down the line,” Patton said.

“My goal is that they are the cleanest and offer no room for the judges to deduct points.”

Overall, Patton is excited for the upcoming season and looks to do great things with the returning gymnasts and

ELLIE NAMPLE class of ‘25

THE BIGGER PICTURE Every wrestler has a job no matter if they have a match or not, their priority is being a good teammate.

T

o most people wrestling is seen as an individual sport. In some capacity it is, but each wrestler is part of a bigger picture: a family.

EDGAR ALBINO class of ‘24

The Sequoit wrestling program had five state qualifiers last year, all of which placed eighth or higher. This year’s roster adds four freshmen and will continue to be lead by three of the five state qualifiers.

Since the team is split between under and upperclassmen, it is up to the upperclassmen to instill the team’s norms. In a dual meet, it is not just about one individual’s performance but the whole team overall.

“Even if you don’t win a match, you can try to prevent the opponent from gaining more team points by defending the way you lose,” senior Tanner Jurinek said. “After your match, the other way to help is to be vocal and cheer and be positive to your teammates while they wrestle and give them good callouts on what to do.”

HAYDREN GOMEZ class of ‘26

Even though a wrestler goes out on the mat alone, they have multiple teammates and people helping and cheering them to victory. Especially in a sport where the wrestler constantly has to adjust to their opponent, enthusiasm from teammates can tremendously affect the outcome of the match. Some wrestlers like freshman Jacob Smith, do not always have a match due to the lack of wrestlers in their weight class in the conference.

“When I don’t have a match my job changes,” Smith said. “I then have to support my teammates and cheer them on.”

BEN VAZQUEZ class of ‘25

With every match being important, each wrestler must be on top of their game with the right mental approach. Thirdyear varsity wrestler and junior Ben Vazquez takes his mental approach to a different level.

“I want to go out there and hurt my guy,” Vazquez said. “Not actually hurt him but I want to win.”

The extreme mindset of winning Vazquez displays helps to motivate the other wrestlers. Not only is he a good teammate by gaining team points but he wants to see others around him succeed.

He believes that winning a match helps their next teammate go into their match with an extra boost of confidence and determination.

Freshmen that come onto the team are eager, they want to win and succeed.

They learn from not only their mistakes but the teammates around them. They are taught to help their teammates in any circumstance good or bad. If they lose, they go back to practice with a new goal and strategy for their next match and work hard to achieve it.

“Teaching the freshmen to be part of the team is keeping them in check and making sure they focus and work hard,” Jurinek said. “But also making sure they are included and can have fun and enjoy what they are learning and doing.”

The Sequoit wrestling team is heading towards the end of their season proving to be accomplished.

KATIE SMITH | designer & writer Sports Editor

25

you can’t miss this

IHSA SECTIONALS Feb. 9-10, grayslake central

Following @SequoitSports on Twitter and Instagram won’t be enough. Come see the team or stream it live to show support for our Sequoit athletes.

SEQUOIT TO WATCH: Jacob Smith

Freshman Jacob Smith is a monster on the mat, he acquired the nickname “Slim Shady” early in the year due to his bleached buzz. For the last ten years, Smith has been a competitive wrestler, allowing him to grow and expand his views on wrestling has pushed him to his limits.

“Wrestling is super fun to win, but with it being a single person sport if you lose it is on you,” Smith said.

His dad has inspired him to persevere through wrestling since age four, over the years, he has gained an understanding of the mental game of what wrestling entails. Everyone he competes against is always a challenge for him, meaning he always has to go into the match with the mindset of pushing himself to get a win.

KAITLIN BAYLEN | writer Tom Tom Staff

QUINTON COHEN class of ‘27

ON THIN-ICE

KEITH WATKINS class of ‘25

Having the proper equipment is a crucial aspect of a hockey player’s career as ice hockey is known to be one of the most dangerous sports.

W

hen watching a hockey game, adrenaline spikes to an all-time high when two opposing players drop their gloves to the ice or when a player is hit into the boards and left shaken up. The aggression of hockey leaves fans excited and eager to watch every second of the game. Although hockey is expensive, having the correct gear is essential in the protection against extreme injuries.

The game of hockey progressively becomes more challenging and violent as the athletes get older. Checking becomes more prevalent and injuries are more likely to happen. Senior Alex Frank and sophomore Cooper Buckingham both currently play for the Lakers Hockey team. Despite growing up with different hockey experiences, both agree that the game has become significantly more intense over the years.

“The aggression in hockey as I’ve gotten older has been drastic,” Cooper said. “There is a lot of anger on the ice and that can be scary when it takes over.”

On Oct. 28, former National Hockey League player, Adam Johnson, endured a fatal injury, sending shockwaves of fear throughout the entire hockey community. While playing in Europe, the skate of an opposing player sliced Johnson’s neck. Not long after, Johnson would be pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

for one reason or another. Skate blades are sharp as knives and one small move the wrong way could end someone’s life.”

There is no denying that some injuries are inevitable, but knowing and understanding the pace of the game helps players avoid potential injury.

Learning the basics of hockey accurately from a young age creates a slightly safer environment for each player. Without the basic skills, injury is more likely to occur and simple mistakes can take serious turns.

“We trust in the ability of our kids to play ‘smart’ hockey, keep their heads up and be aware of what is happening around them,” Cathy said.

The risks of injury are apparent in every sport, especially as the pace increases and gameplay becomes more serious. However, proper equipment and the ability to analyze the game of hockey will ensure that players remain as safe as possible.

LAILA SALATA | writer Tom Tom Staff

SPENCER WOOD | designer Tom Tom Staff

This recent incident has flipped a switch in the minds of many hockey players. Although neck guards are not required, multiple players on the Lakers have since started wearing them.

Not only do athletes grow up with the aggression of the game, but parents do as well. Being prepared for any injury that may occur is crucial when watching a game. Cathy Buckingham has been involved with hockey since her sons began playing 11 years ago. Following Johnson’s injury, Cathy believes that neck guards should be a required piece of equipment for all levels of hockey.

“I was shocked to see that USA Hockey no longer requires this life-saving piece of equipment,” Cathy said. “Every parent holds their breath when their child is knocked on the ice

JOEY DEUTSCHMANN class of ‘24

PLAYER TO WATCH : Cooper Buckingham

27

Lakes Community High School sophomore and defenseman Cooper Buckingham continuously shows his skills for the Lakers. While Buckingham was on JV his first year, his talent made him a stand out. Defenseman Keith Watkins speaks very highly of Buckingham’s abilities on the ice.

“He looks for better passes and always has great timing,” Watkins said. “He gets hard, low shots on net for the forwards to get in and crash the net.”

So far Buckingham has scored once this season. Buckingham wears number 11 and is often on the starting line, his talent and dedication has been able to keep the team going. With many of his now teammates seeing him as an unofficial captain of the team, Buckingham’s skills and dedication continue to shine.

SAM HANES | writer Tom Tom Staff

JOEY RIVAS class of ‘24

SEQUOIT TO WATCH : Will Karasek Antioch Community High School junior Will Karasek has been rapidly improving on the Lakers varsity hockey team. Karasek utilizes his speed and strength to blow past defenders as well as gaining a strong position in front of the net. Defenseman Keith Watkins speaks very highly of Karasek’s character

“He’s always positive, uplifting, and is always ready to play hard,” Watkins said. “He shows a lot of dedication to the team.”

Karasek has four points this season, three of which came from one game against Leyden.

His speed has made him a struggle to keep up with, and his attitude of never giving up makes him a well-rounded player. Karasek strives to become a better player every time he hits the ice and continues to impress the people around him.

AYDIN ZACKROCZYMSKI | writer Tom Tom Staff

SEQUOIT SNAPSHOT VARISTY CHEERLEADING TEAM AT MEDIA DAY

29

TYLER MILLER | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

COUNTING DOWN TIME, WHILE COUNTING UP THE SCORE Senior Joel Bulka enters his final season of basketball determined to make the community proud.

T

he 1995-96 Chicago Bulls are widely regarded as the best NBA team in the league’s history, with 72 wins during the regular season and the best offensive and defensive rating. No team could take down the starting lineup consisting of iconic basketball legends such as: Micheal Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley and Ron Harper. The Chicago Bulls at their peak were seen as the best Illinois professional sports team. However, another sports team in Illinois considered themselves “Legends”.

The Legends basketball team was part of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The team played during the basketball off-season and in multiple local tournaments. Although the team was far from 1995-96 Chicago Bull status, in 2019, the boys won a local tournament and qualified for the One Day Nationals. With confidence at an all-time high, the group of seventh-grade boys played the best of the best AAU teams in the area at Nationals. Against all odds, the Legends were able to place second out of 20 teams at the AAU National Tournament. After being introduced to the harsh competition, now senior Joel Bulka, can step up and lead the Antioch Community High School Sequoits to success.

Bulka has been playing basketball since fourth grade, he has now been selected as one of the varsity team captains alongside senior Carter Webb. Both captains were selected by head coach Sean Connor, along with full support from the rest of the program.

“Joel knows the game and we want to see him share that with his teammates,” Connor said.

“One of his goals is continuing to grow and to be a vocal leader because he is going to be integrated into the offense naturally.”

Bulka has not only expanded his leadership skills this season but has also shifted focus to the point guard position. This new position allows Bulka to apply his decision-making

skills on the court. In previous seasons, Bulka was more of a post player who shot from the outside on occasion, but this year he has honed his dribbling skills and the basketball team is now leaning on him to play point guard.

“Being a decision-maker, he has one of the highest IQs on the team,” Connor said. “He has studied and learned the game.”

Alongside offense, Bulka has also taken pride in his defensive skills. During his junior year he rarely was a starter for the varsity team, so every minute Bulka got, he played his hardest. Bulka was a skilled shooter last year, however he rarely took shots and often passed the ball to his fellow teammates. Due to this Bulka shifted focus to defense and was seen as one of the most skilled defenders on the team.

“Joel really picked up at the top of our defense when we go a 1-3-1 zone, and he has figured out that position well causing a lot of havoc for the other teams,” Connor said. “He just keeps getting better every year, which is cool to watch.”

The Sequoit basketball program is focused on the core theme of family. Every group from the freshmen team to the varsity team is all part of the same Sequoit family. Bulka not only looks for friends and family in the stands but also looks towards his team for support.

“I look for my teammates, typically teammates that are also seniors because I have been playing with them since I was little,” Bulka said.

Bulka started playing basketball at an early age to try something new and he came back every year afterwards as he made many friends and found success. Most of the friends he made continued to play with him through Antioch Upper Grade School, Legends AAU and the ACHS Basketball team.

Unfortunately, only two members from the Legends team are currently playing on the ACHS Basketball team, after most of the players entered high school, the Legends AAU basketball team disbanded.

Most of the players from Antioch’s sophomore team during the 2021-22 season also did not make a return the following year. Some of the original friends that Bulka had made when starting basketball have since quit leaving Bulka and a few others to take charge to make up for the loss of the team during their junior and senior seasons.

One former teammate, Justin Crow, lost his passion for the sport sophomore year, which led to his decision to quit the program. Like Crow, many players quit due to the physical and mental toll the long season had on them.

Some weeks the team had to practice seven days straight which placed a huge physical strain on the body.

Crow participated on the sophomore and varsity team during his final season. Crow also played many years alongside Bulka and speaks very highly of the impact he left on him and the team every game. Crow believed that Bulka was mentally tough and was able to find more success with his strong mindset.

“He still finds a lot of success in the game,” Crow said. “He is a great player, he has a great attitude towards the things he does and he was a great teammate. Even though I am not on the basketball team, we still like to go the park and just play pickup games with friends.”

Bulka is ready for his best season yet, with huge goals ahead of him and the rest of the team such as winning conference and winning more games than last year. Although Bulka is not planning on playing basketball in college, expect an amazing final season.

Bulka is now playing for the Sequoits, but he will always remember the Legends and the friends made along the way.

31

THE RISING STAR

33

Glimpse into the life of Hailey Caya.

I

n the competitive world of high school basketball, only a few individuals stand out to the crowd; those who have dedication, commitment and a remarkable internal drive. One of the star players on the Antioch Community High School’s girls varsity basketball team, senior Hailey Caya, is a remarkable athlete. From her many achievements, such as becoming captain of the basketball and tennis team, to receiving all academic awards, as well as the coaches award, she is the face of sequoit basketball. Caya has proven multiple times that she is a force to be reckoned with.

Caya spent the majority of her younger years with her older brother, who showed her the ropes to the basketball world.

Since fifth grade Caya has been at the courts practicing everything basketball.

Coming from a very small elementary and middle school, it was very easy for her to try every sport she wanted. Caya competed in a multitude of sports for her middle school, while also playing yearround travel softball, and seasonal club basketball. Throughout her high school years, she has stuck with her three main sports: tennis, basketball and softball.

Caya has found a safe and comfortable environment that her sports provide, making it an easy decision to continue playing. In fifth grade, Caya joined the Antioch feeder basketball program, and through that she created friendships that are still strong today.

Caya’s athletic mindset differs from others because her team’s interest is her biggest concern. She is not a selfish player and always does what she thinks is best for the team as a whole. Being captain, Caya has the ability to take control of her team and help them in any way needed. While she is a team player, Caya knows when it is time to step up into her leadership role and take action. She has an astounding internal drive to win, not only for her, but for her team.

“[My biggest motivators are] my coaches and my teammates, I just want to be good for them,” Caya said. “I want to do my best and try my hardest to not disappoint them. I want to always be on their good side and impress them.”

One of the things that stands out most about Caya is her athletic determination and leadership skills. She not only leads with her words, but by example through her actions as well. She does not ask people to do things she wouldn’t do herself. If she wants her team to start playing stronger defense, she will be the first one down the court to stop a drive. Caya received the nickname ‘unicorn’ because of all the occasions when she would sink a miracle three pointer shot when needed.

Caya received a captain role this year, along with seniors Hannah Schaufele and Nicole Kutcher. The team votes on who they think should be captain, and with the opinion of the girls, the coaches make the final say. People recognize that these players are natural born leaders who have a drive that is unteachable.

Being a captain is a huge accomplishment that no one should take for granted.

When the circumstances of a practice or game get tough, teammates will look to these leaders to guide them through difficult times. While these ladies take charge on the court, winning is not the only thing on their mind. While being a three sport athlete, Caya has big dreams for her future as well, as she is aspiring to be an environmental engineer. While balancing several AP and honors classes and multiple sports, Caya found a good rhythm.

“I have the greatest respect for [Hailey’s] dedication to all of her commitments,” Kutcher said. “She truly is a well-rounded athlete, as well as a dedicated student, and her ability to balance her priorities is something that not many people are capable of.”

Another different aspect Caya holds is her strong relationship with the head basketball coach, Jamie D’Andrea.

D’Andrea has known Caya for her whole high school career, coaching her in basketball as well as tennis. If anyone knows about Caya as an athlete, it’s her. Coaching Caya in two sports has allowed for D’Andrea to get to know her as an athlete as well as a person. With this being said, D’Andrea has been coaching the basketball team for 23 years, and has seen many athletes walk on and off the court; she knows what it takes to be a captain and acknowledges that Caya has it. She agrees that Caya is a very impactful player, and always does what is required of her, no matter what sport. “[Caya’s] competitive nature doesn’t change from sport to sport, and her desire to be the best she can be doesn’t change either, I think she’s confident and successful at both,” D’Andrea said.

For Caya, basketball is not just about winning. It is about the amazing community she is surrounded by after school, providing an escape from her homework and life. Caya is very thankful for all the amazing memories basketball has given her, and would not trade them for anything. Though Caya is not certain what the future holds yet, she is taking advantage of every opportunity life offers her. She knows she does not want to be recruited for basketball, however she plans to join a basketball club at the university she ends up attending. Caya is a very passionate and committed person, so no matter what she decides to pursue, it is certain that she will succeed.

VERA FOGEL | writer Sports Editor

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

KYLIE CHRISTENSON | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

ADAPTING AND ACHIEVING Senior Ugne Aleksaite overcomes adversity and sets herself up for a future in bowling.

S

ome athletes allow adversity to get in the

Aleksaite understands the hardwork and the

“A lot of work piles up,” Aleksaite said. “And

way of their goals and stop them from

commitment it takes to develop and grow new

then I have to try my best to catch up.”

doing something that they love. Ugne

skills in her sport. Contrary to most beliefs

Aleksaite, a senior at Antioch Community High

about bowling, it is very different from playing

School, shows a different level of determination

a leisurely game.

and dedication on the playing field.

This can be especially overwhelming when athletes have to leave early during the school day for matches or tournaments. Student-

“The house balls that you throw when you go

athletes, such as Aleksaite, must take additional

Growing up, Aleksaite was involved in multiple

bowling with your friends are very different

time over a busy weekend in order to maintain

sports. She loved to play volleyball and soccer.

from the equipment that competitive bowlers

their grades and stay caught up on work.

However, in seventh grade, her athletic career

are throwing,” Walsh said.

However, Aleksaite puts her best effort into

ended with an unfortunate ankle injury. Due to her injury, the momentum from running often causes her pain. The impact and the pressure that it puts on her ankle has caused her to be unable to walk for one to two weeks at a time.

This makes most sports very challenging to participate in. Since this causes her pain, Aleksaite has stopped playing these sports and found other ways to fill that void.

Aleksaite did not let this challenge stop her from finding something that she was passionate about. Since she is not able to participate in cardio driven activities, she took it upon herself to find other activities that were more suitable for her. She was open to trying new things and pushing herself to thrive in new ways.

When Aleksaite first moved to Antioch, she was not participating in any activities and did not have any strong connections to make her feel at home. However, eventually she was ready to try something new. Her drive and willingness

The technical side of bowling competitively is often not understood. From the way that the

done so that she is able to play in every match.

balls are made to glide, to the oil that is placed

“If you really love your sport you’re gonna try

on the lanes, there are substantial differences

your best to actually be eligible,” Aleksaite said.

between the sport and the leisurely game.

However, Aleksaite is willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to understand the game and how to make changes based on the conditions of the lanes and based on how the match is going.

“She’s really honed in [the] skills to understand how the ball is going to move in different conditions,” Walsh said. “[She knows when]

Due to the effort that Aleksaite puts into her athletic career, as well as her academic career, she has shown extreme growth in her skills.

Remaining eligible allows her to continue working towards new goals in the game.

“Last year [she] bowled some of the highest games ever and almost bowled a perfect game,” Pfautz said. “And it was pretty awesome”.

she needs to change what she has to do to make

Aleksaite hopes to move forward in her athletic

those shots.”

career and play at the college level.

One thing that really makes Aleksaite stand out

Friends, family and fans are excited about the

is her personality. She is constantly encouraging

progress that Aleksaite has shown and can not

others and tries to keep a positive outlook in

wait to see how far her skills will take her.

every situation. Aleksaite shows great character and people enjoy being around her.

“She has all of the tools that she needs, if that’s something that she wants to pursue,” Walsh

to try new things allowed her to find herself a

“[She is] a kind, fun person who is pretty

great fit. Ugne is now an active team member

easygoing and funny,” art teacher Stephan

in Antioch Community High School’s golf and

Pfautz said. “And it’s fun to be around.”

bowling teams.

making sure that she can get all of her work

said.

Her mother is her number one supporter and attends every match possible. Regardless of

Outside of bowling, Aleksaite spends time with

the situation, her mother always tries to make

“I wanted to try something new since I couldn’t

her friends and family. However, most of her

sure that she can make the time to be there for

really do any running sports,” senior Ugne

time is dedicated to forwarding her athletic

her daughter. This support drives Aleksaite to

Aleksaite said. “So I decided to try out for the

and academic career. She is committed to

push herself beyond her limits and reach her

bowling team just for fun.”

maintaining her grades while pushing herself

full potential.

Aleksaites’ decision to take on a new challenge gave her an amazing new opportunity. She does not let the fear of failure stand in her way and stop her from accomplishing great things.

with learning new skills. While she remains positive, balancing being a student and an athlete can often become a little challenging at times. Being a student-athlete is a great and

honorable

accomplishment,

however

“Ugne is always willing to try whatever random

it does mean having a very busy schedule.

thing that I’m asking her to do,” head coach

When athletes must head straight to practices

Whitney Walsh said. “And is willing to try it

immediately after school, that leaves little time

more than once.”

for homework when they get home.

Aleksaite has a strong support system standing behind her. While fans may expect bowling to be a quiet sport, it is quite the opposite. The entire team supports each other in incredible and unexpected ways by cheering each other on getting loud for their teammates.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Aleksaite this season and follow along to see where the future will lead her.

35

KINGPIN

37

Junior bowler Matt Kotloski looks to create a strong bowling culture and leave his mark as District 117 begins their first bowling season.

J

unior Matt Kotloski has always had a love for bowling. Last winter, he was able to participate in the men’s bowling regional without Antioch Community High School having a team associated with the high school. Kotloski took the initiative and got the necessary paperwork filled out to be able to participate in the regional. After the regional, Kotloski was the first ever male bowler to represent ACHS an IHSA competition. Not only was he the first male Sequoit to represent ACHS in a bowling match, Kotloski was able to finish in the middle of the pack and did not carry a spare ball with him.

Due to the fact that ACHS did not offer a bowling team, Kotloski took it upon himself to establish the first ever bowling team. With help from his mother Courtney Kotloski, he was able to reach out to the athletic director at Antioch, Mike Maloney, and pitch to the district what the next winter sport addition should be.

“When Mike Maloney became athletic director he reached out to him via email to let him know the progress he had made getting a team together,” Courtney said.

“From there we put together a survey of interest and more than 50 kids were interested.”

With an email blast sent out to students at both Antioch and Lakes Community High School, it was safe to say that there was plenty of interest for District 117 to field a team.

The D117 bowling team had found success in their early matches. The program was able to get its first team win against Grayslake North High School with varsity winning by over 100 points and the JV team winning by two points.

Kotloski has been a crucial part to the team’s success so far this season. Kotloski takes it upon himself to educate himself about the sport of bowling as well.

“It’s been fun to watch him, and learn more about the sport: oil patterns, ball quality, lane adjustments, form, speed and consistency,” Courtney said. “The deeper he has dug the more he has learned. After practice, he practices. He worked with a bowling coach for the first time this year and improved his speed.”

One thing that separates Kotloski from many other high school athletes is he is not afraid to try things. Kotloksi prides himself in not being one dimensional, he has a wide range of skills and hobbies.

When Kotloski is not bowling or playing baseball he steps away from the athletic scene. Kotloki loves to fish, ski, and can play five different instruments. Being able to set aside time to still enjoy the hobbies that he has always loved helps to keep his mind clear while he is on the lanes.

With this winter being the first year of high school bowling in the district, there have been many new learning experiences for the team and for Kotloski. Things like knowing simple etiquette while other teams are bowling and while teammates are bowling. These are growing pains that a first year team will inevitably have to go through.

“One thing that surprised me is how competitive it is,” Matt said. “There are so many different cheers and chants that the teams do and at tournaments, it gets really loud because there are usually over 30 teams there.”

There are many things that Kotloski does at practice to improve his game. Kotloski just recently adjusted his form to be able to hook the ball more which allows him to hit the pocket better. Kotloski also had bowling balls adjusted to his hand so that the balls would feel comfortable when bowling, and by doing this he has been able to better his scores tremendously.

“In practice, I make sure my form is consistent by performing different drills,”

Matt said. “We also work on 7-pin and 10-pin spares frequently because they are the hardest spares in the game. I am also working on my velocity to be able to hit the pins more effectively.”

With the team playing in their first few bowling matches, Kotloski was very intrigued with how the matches worked.

When the buses arrive at the bowling alley teams are assigned lanes. Varsity and JV split up and there are three bowlers per school assigned to each lane.

“We bowl three games and some teams count total pins and others count games won,”junior Matt Kotloski said. “Some of the rules are that you can’t switch your form mid-game, your parents can’t coach you, and the basic one: bowler’s etiquettethis means whoever is ready first and is on a lane next to you, you have to let them go first, other than that, it’s just bowling so we have a lot of fun.”

Teammates like senior Ryan Tolbert feel that Kotloski brings an infectious positive energy to the practices and matches.

This energy drives the team to put in full effort, whether teammates are tired from a long day of school or are worried about upcoming assignments, they know that Kotloski will bring the best out of them.

“Matt is a very social person,” Tolbert said. “While many other people get quite and focus to prepare. Matt stays in good spirits and keeps a high head going into matches.”

The bowling team looks to keep improving as a program and make a playoff run. Watch out for Kotloski as he keeps striving for greatness within the sport and all of his other endeavors.

The future is bright for the District 117 bowling team.

JAMES SHEEHAN | writer Sports Online Director

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

REESE IGOU | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT BASE

Some high school athletes find purpose in their sport through social connections, but for junior Jennifer Serifov, her passion for cheerleading provides a deeper understanding of her personal identity.

H

igh school varsity sports often come with intense levels of anxiety, but for junior Jennifer Serifov, the passion she

also made an everlasting influence on Fiona.

“Jennifer makes an impact on my life every day,”

matter what I’m going through because if I was able to manage it during cheer, I could do it now.”

Fiona said. “Her presence makes me feel safe like

She also believes leadership is one of the most

I have a support system with someone who truly

important aspects of one’s life. She continuously

Serifov has been cheering for over 10 years,

understands me. She makes me a better person

strives to make an impact on her community and

starting in the Antioch Vikings program when

and her sunshine energy radiates every time she

has an innate sense of leadership in everything

she was just six years old. Now, she is a prominent

smiles. She makes me proud every day, whether it

she does.

leader on the varsity cheer team at Antioch

is her passion and determination for the sport or

Community High School and has been an

how she carries herself in everyday life.”

has for cheerleading is worth the stress.

essential part of their success throughout her high school career. Although she began her freshmen year on JV, she overcame the difficulties holding her back and she worked her way up to be one of

“Being a leader is not only being able to step up and assist others but also helping them recognize

Smart, driven and widely intelligent are all words

what amazing capabilities they have, along with

used to describe Jennifer Serifov in just about

the potential they possess to contribute to your

everything she does.

team,” Jennifer said. “Then helping and leading them to find that strength within themselves to

the most important asssests on the varsity team.

“She has grown into a strong leader for her peers

Serifov is one of the main bases for the ACHS

and student-athletes in Antioch and is easily seen

cheerleading team, contributing to their great

as she exemplifies that in cheerleading,” Fiona

The immense impact her leadership has made

success in recent years. This year, with the help

said.

within the ACHS cheerleading program has

of Serifov, they are looking to win state. The girls have been putting in tremendous efforts to fight their way to first place, and Serifov’s leadership has been an incredible help.

Jennifer’s improvement in her cheerleading abilities is prominent to everyone who watches her, especially her tumbling coach, Debbie Bessette. Jennifer and Bessette have been working

Even though she has been cheering for over half

together to expand her tumbling abilities since

of her life, she still is as enthusiastic as ever,

she was in third grade.

showing up to every practice ready to push herself to her best abilities.

“The improvements in her tumbling skills over the past few years are remarkable,” Bessette said.

“Having the motivation to get better every year

“It is a true joy watching her work to better her

and wanting to do better than the year before

skills. She is the most dedicated person I know,

keeps my passion alive,” Serifov said. “If I

often coming in by herself to perfect a skill she

struggled with something a lot the previous year,

knows she can achieve. She is a fighter who is not

going into the next year I focus on that one skill

afraid to put in the hard work.”

and try to figure out what was causing me to struggle, helping me grow as an athlete.”

For most high schoolers, getting involved is extremely important, and Jennifer is no exception.

help them achieve those goals.”

greatly changed their team dynamic all together.

She is always brightening the mood and finding something to positively look back on. Jennifer knows how to find the good in every day, while also anchoring the team to focus on their improvements.

Her teammate, senior Alex Lehn, could not imagine the cheer squad without her. The two have cheered together at ACHS for two years, but their bond started when they were both in the Vikings program. Ever since they met, they have continued to support each other as they grew up and evolved into the leaders they are today.

“I couldn’t imagine not having Jennifer in my life,” Lehn said. “She challenges our team to be better and do our best even when we are at our

Although finding her purpose in this sport has

Even though cheerleading is a large part of her

been easy, sometimes Serifov needs to lean on

high school identity, it is just a small portion of

someone for support; her older sister Fiona

who she truly is. Student council executive board

Serifov is who she looks to for encouragement.

member, National Honors Society member,

Jennifer describes Fiona as an inspiration in all

violinist and former Junior Miss Antioch are all

aspects of her life: cheerleading, school and her

titles she holds while only being a junior in high

As Jennifer nears the end of her junior year, the

regular day-to-day. She also says that her sister is

school. Finding and maintaining a balance is

thought of college is close to her mind. She has

always there to give her strength no matter the

extremely hard, but she has learned how to fight

decided not to continue her cheerleading career

circumstances.

through adversity from her experiences in cheer.

in college, as she wants to focus on her education.

The sisters cheered together in the 2022-2023

“I feel like I’ve learned how to change my mindset

season and loved every second, not taking a

and to not focus so much about what could go

moment for granted. Jennifer’s admiration for

wrong, but more so what could go well,” Jennifer

her sister has pushed her to be a better athlete and

said. “Whenever I’m put into a difficult situation

leader for her team in the years to come. While

I always think, ‘What would I do if this was

Jennifer leans on her sister for support, she has

cheerleading?’ This helps me manage anxiety no

lowest. She always gives us positive feedback and encouragement. Jennifer is always there for everyone when they need her and always makes them feel comfortable enough to share anything.”

However, she is going to put forth her knowledge of leadership and perseverance that she has accumulated throughout her years on ACHS varsity cheer to achieve her goals and positively impact those around her.

39

THE CAP-TANS FINAL SEASON Senior Kennedie Tan pursued an unexpected dancing career and she has no regrets.

C

ountless hours in the studio: jump, turn, plié, step, chassé. A typical dancer spends days in the studio perfecting technique, emotion and character.

Dancing is unlike other sports; dancers rerun the same routine hundreds of times to eliminate any possible mistake. Two minutes and 30 seconds on stage will make or break a dancer’s outcome.

Antioch Community High School senior, Kennedie Tan, has been an integral part of the dance team since her sophomore year.

After deciding to quit the swim team in seventh grade, her friends thought it would be a great idea for her to begin dancing. Tan danced for a competitive team; lucky for her, she was a natural.

Dance coach and ACHS alumna, Maggie Quirke, has seen tremendous improvement and growth in Tan’s dancing. She describes Tan as bubbly, kind and a fabulous teammate. Despite Tan’s skill, her character is what propels her to be the dancer she is.

Tan focuses on improving her own skills, all while providing constructive criticism to her teammates. Learning to better herself and the people around her has helped Tan take huge strides in her performance level.

“On the floor, Kennedie stands out because of her beautiful jumps and leaps. She is so incredibly talented and you can see that in the height and technique that her jumps display,” Quirke said. “In practice, Kennedie stands out because of her grit. She is willing to try anything and will not stop until she has mastered that skill.”

Throughout her dancing career, Tan has built some of her strongest relationships. When beginning a sport at an older age, it can be hard to pick up as quickly as the people around you or even make new friends. Tan has always felt the constant support from her parents throughout her entire dancing career thus far. Despite this, Tan has made some of her lifetime friends from this sport.

“The second I began dancing, I met my best friend Brooke,” Tan said. “We became super

close because we were always together. We went to school together, went to dance team practice and then we went straight to the studio until late at night.”

Throughout high school, English teacher and previous ACHS varsity dance coach, Kelly Taylor has continuously watched Tan grow.

Both in the classroom and on the dance floor, Taylor has admired Tan and supported her along the way. Their relationship has played a large role in Tan’s life and resulted in Tan naming Taylor as her biggest role model.

“I have known Kennedie since her freshman year, which was the COVID-19 year.

Kennedie was always one of the ones that I could count on to respond and participate even behind the screen,” Taylor said. “I remember talking with her about her dance background because I had known she was a dancer, and I pushed her to try out for the dance team the following year. Once she tried out, she immediately made the environment better. She helps bring people together. She is a leader by example first and by word second.”

Tan has created solid relationships with many people around her; this has led her to become a prime role model for all of the teams she has been a part of. Tan has built strong relationships with her coaches and teammates, which led her to her position as team captain of the ACHS varsity dance team.

“Kennedie never fails to bring the energy up in the dance room. Her positive nature is so welcoming and never fails to make others smile,” Quirke said. “Kennedie is definitely a leader on the team and is a great role model for the younger girls on the team, hence her captain title.”

It is no lie that the sport of dancing is strenuous and exhausting. Continuous reruns of the same routine over and over become tedious; sometimes everyone has the urge to simply give up. Tan feels that energy is one of the most important traits a team can carry through the ups and downs of being a

dancer.

“I am definitely there for emotional support.

Some days can be long and grueling and I love to be there to lift up the energy,” Tan said. “Sometimes it can get negative when everyone is giving up and tired, but I try and be there for my teammates if they ever need anything.”

Tan is a teammate that others strive to emulate. Not only is she confident in herself, but she is confident while pushing people around her to achieve their fullest potential.

Tan continuously wants both herself and her teammtes to pursue greatness; greatness is what all dancers strive to achieve, the goal is to be on top.

“Kennedie is a really great leader because she is not afraid to tell anyone what she thinks.

She is very good at giving constructive criticism,” Taylor said. “She is not someone that will belittle or talk down to her teammates. Rather, she asks questions then gives very kind and specific feedback. Her words truly have the best intentions.”

Despite the teammate and dancer Tan is, her passion for dancing trumphs all. Tans passion has led her to future aspirations that she had never dreamed of. She hopes to entail a future full of striving for her goals.

“I definitely want to dance in college. I have been going to recruitment camps since the beginning of my junior year,” Tan said. “I have already sent skill videos to the schools that I am interested in.”

Although Tan plans on continuing to dance in her future, she has goals for the finale of her senior season. She hopes to make it to day two of state, which she has yet to achieve since being a part of the ACHS dance team.

The goal of every sport is to win or come out on top. Tan has had an incredible ride thus far and has yet to see what the future holds.

All she knows is that at the end of this final season, she wants to be a champion.

AUBREY ULTSCH | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

41

NAMPEL’S GOT GRACE

43

Junior gymnast, Ellie Nampel, has been competing in competitive gymnastics all of her life, her skills show the talent she has accumulated throughout her years of hard work.

T

he sport of gymnastics tests an athlete’s strength, grace and body control, which is a task most are not able to perform. Junior Ellie Nampel, on the other hand, is praised for her talent in these three fields. Throughout Nampel’s career she has been congratulated for her beautiful form. From when she first started gymnastics to now, each coach has commented on how straight her legs are and how well she points her toes, as well as her ability to overcome challenges.

For many gymnasts, form is a major setback. Athletes tend to have bigger issues with the minor details in their sport. In gymnastics this could be shown through not pointing your toes, having a weak stance, not standing up straight, lacking tumbling skills and other tricks and dismounts which require precision.

Coaching gymnastics for 40 years, Debbie Bessette, who competed for the Dutch National Team and won two world championships; Fort Worth, Texas and Moscow, Russia, is Nample’s original gymnastics coach who has been coaching her from the very beginning and followed her all the way through.

“Ellie was three years old when I started coaching her,” Bessette said. “I still coach her at my gym when she is not doing high school gymnastics or track.”

From sticking with Nampel over time, Bessette has seen her change throughout the years and continues to help her perfect her technique and become a stronger gymnast.

“I struggled a lot [with mental blocks] when I was younger,” Nampel said. “I would just get in my head and then I couldn’t do certain tasks.”

Nampel stated that it was her first coach, Bessette, who really helped her to overcome her issues and allowed her to become more comfortable in her abilities

and desire to attempt new tricks. With the initial mental block healed, it was time for Nampel to begin her high school career.

District 117’s gymnastics coach, D1 University of Illinois gymnastics alumni Chris Patton has gathered a talented group of girls to coach. This is only Nampel’s second year on the gymnastics team for the high school, but in her short time she has helped the team tremendously.

“Her lines and form are just so beautiful,” Patton said. “From the get-go I noticed her foundation is strong and her basics are flawless. It is extremely difficult for judges to deduct points from her.”

Nampel is an extremely reliable gymnast and has stepped up to the occasion many times. With help from Nampel’s foundation of coaching, she has become easily coachable and makes her skills look effortless.

“Ellie is a seriously brave individual,” Patton said. “I have had to rely on Ellie so often during last season; due to teammates’ injuries or other things, I have had to ask Ellie to compete on a moment’s notice on events that she wasn’t planning on competing that day. And not only does she perform well in these cases, but she knocks it out of the park! Some of the best routines I have seen from her are from when she has had no time to warm up the routine or prepare, but she comes in and competes her heart out. That comes from dedication to practice, love for her teammates, and courage in the face of adversity.”

With being a young athlete and new to the high school team, Nampel made a name for herself and since then has been continuing to excel in her athletic endeavors. Throughout her time on the team Nampel has continued to become more comfortable and accepted into the team.

“I’m just trying to do my best and also just have a fun time like with my teammates [while competing and practicing],” Nampel said.

In addition to Nampel acknowledging her connection to her teammates, her coach has also recognized this comfortability she has gained with the others around her.

“Over the course of these first few weeks I have seen Ellie start to grow more comfortable with the team and with others,” Patton said. “I can see her growing into a leadership role over this year and next year.”

Practices for the team are consistent and time consuming. Not only is this a factor but the team also practices in Round Lake which can be a longer drive for some.

“Sometimes it can be challenging because we do practice kind of far away,” Nampel said. “So driving back and forth can take up a lot of time.”

Although with all Nampel has to do for gymnastics, she manages her academics better than most given her situation. It is easy for athletes to focus on their sport and unknowingly fall behind in schoolwork, but this is not the case for Nampel.

“I have never heard one bad thing about Ellie from her teachers and her grades are always super strong,” Patton said. “I honestly have no idea how she and the rest of her teammates do it.”

With the pattern Nampel is following she has a strong future ahead of her. Her hard working ethic and desire to reach her potential in all aspects of her life.

Nampel’s gymnastics career has a strong future and many of her peers believe in her success for whatever comes ahead of her.

GRACE GREEN | writer Tom Tom Staff

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

ALBINOS LAST DANCE

45

Senior Edgar Albino takes on his last high school wrestling season with one goal in mind, to win state.

W

restling, one of the most mentally and physically anguishing sports, is not just a hobby. It is not a popular sport you see on television–as there is no national audience for the “wrestling SuperBowl” or the “wrestling World Series.” It is not common for kids to grow up following their favorite city’s team of wrestlers.

However, maybe it should be. For those who participate, wrestling is a culture; and on top of that, a way of life. Senior Edgar Albino is a strong depiction of what a determined and strong wrestler should look like.

immense amount of trust in him to be a leader and to help guide his teammates as well.

Though Albino is starting his final high school season and is focused on his individual goals, this

“I put a lot of responsibility on him as far as leadership and making sure things are done appropriately,” Borerro said.

does not stop him from thinking about the bigger picture. Albino always thinks of the team first and he wants to lead his team to state this year.

For Albino, wrestling is a sport and a lifestyle. Whether it is long practices, off-season training or strict diets to gain weight, Albino is 100% focused. For his entire high school career, Albino has shown drive and success that many never accomplish. Each year of high school, Albino has competed his way to the IHSA state tournament. Over the past three years, he has achieved what most never will–but he is not done yet and has an even bigger goal in mind. This year Albino’s goal is to win first place at the IHSA state tournament and to be reigned champion.

Albino is the team captain of the wrestling program. He has always led by example and has been a role model for younger wrestlers in the program. This year he has stepped up and embraced his ability to lead with his voice in addition to his actions. He wants to inspire others just as some previous captains have done for him.

“Winning state would be such a big deal for me because it’s been a goal since I was nine years old,” Albino said. “I’ve lost in the semifinals every year since I was a freshman.”

Head coach of the Antioch Community High School wrestling team, Willbur Borerro, believes that Albino is a very strong athlete who holds many aspects that most do not. Such as his ability to be easy to coach and his willingness to work hard. Borerro agrees that any coach would be lucky to have Albino as an athlete since he never gives up and keeps his grades high, which is important in any sport and to any coach. Albino’s strong sportsmanship does not go unnoticed by his peers and coaches; Borerro puts an

A large hardship to overcome in any sport, not just wrestling, is mental blocks. Only certain athletes have the perseverance and ability to face fears and break the barriers of mental blocks.

“He has difficulty making himself believe that he is that good,” Borerro said. “He questions himself a lot.”

Teammate of Albino, Alex Bustamante, acknowledges the mental effort he puts in.

“He’s a lot more focused, I would say the amount of work he has been putting in, in wrestling season and outside of school has been tremendous,” Bustamante said.

“With multiple workouts in a day, he is probably one of the most hardworking people in the entire wrestling program.”

A massive part of wrestling is that people do not often think about the work that athletes have to put in outside of practice.

Wrestlers constantly have to follow a specific diet to ensure their caloric intake helps them be as strong as possible and the best athlete they can be while staying under a certain weight.

“It sucks. You got to watch other people eat at lunch. You got to lower your portions and always be eating clean like lots of vegetables and filling foods,” Albino said.

To become the wrestler that Albino is, a lot of skill is required. No person just gets that lucky; it takes an athlete’s whole life to be constantly dedicated to achieve their goals. Albino’s dad was a wrestler when he was younger and got him wrestling as soon as he could. Albino also says that his dad has been his role model his whole life, he looks up to him and wants to get to his level someday.

“My dad was a two-time placer in high school and was coached by my current coach, Coach Borerro,” Albino said. “My dad, he brought me down to the mats and started wrestling with me when I was like three, four years old.”

As Albino finishes his last high school season, thoughts of the future come to mind. Albino said he would like to go to college for wrestling, preferably staying close to home. He says his first choice would be Wabash College in Indiana. Stay updated on Albino’s season by attending the team’s matches as they continue to compete their way toward the IHSA state competition in February.

RODDIE RATHMANN | writer Tom Tom Staff

CLAIRE POLITCH | writer Editor in Chief

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

COLE LOIACANO | writer Sports Print Director

HANNAH BARCZAK | designer Visual Director

HOCKEY HERO WITH HIGH HOPES

47

Aydin Zakroczymski takes on his final hockey season with the added pressure of being a captain and a student-athlete.

H

ockey, a sport of technical prowess,

As this can generate a feeling that the coaches kid

dedication and violence. The sport

is getting special privileges or favoritism over

has millions of fans from around the

the other players. Apart from the drama this

world. First appearing in the Olympics in 1920,

can cause, Aydin Zakroczymski has faced other

hockey generates billions of dollars in the U.S.

challenges on the ice with his dad mentioning a

alone and is only growing in popularity. The best

few that are still struggles today and some that

in the sport start young and build their skills

were overcome.

through their early life with hopes of becoming a competitor, Senior Aydin Zakroczymski is no different.

“His biggest struggles I think are skating form, like his form sometimes early on was kind of funny to watch and he hasn’t always been the

program with new kinds of interactions.

“Before I joined Lakers, I was playing club hockey for the Kenosha Komets. I played there for probably seven years,” Aydin Zakroczymski.

“It wasn’t really the same as high school hockey because of the fan interaction. I like the supporters from the school.”

Although

Aydin

Zakroczymski

devotes

an

enormous amount of time to hockey; he has other passions such as working, lifting and playing

Starting at the age of six; Zakroczymski has been

biggest kid,” Adam Zakroczymski said. “I think

developing his skills and honing his technique.

it wasn’t until the last couple years he struggled

He is an assistant captain for the Lakers hockey

a little bit to have that confidence that he’s better

“I’d say my other passions are weightlifting,

team which ties into the Northern Lake County

than he thinks he is.”

spending time with the people I love most like

Conference. He also helped the Kenosha Komets greatly when he was still a part of the organization.

“My

greatest

accomplishment

in

hockey

was probably winning the Wisconsin State Championship in 2018, I scored the game winning goal,” Aydin Zakroczymski said.

To gain confidence on the ice and build his skills Aydin Zakroczymski spends an immense amount of time practicing for the Lakers and most of these practices are late at night.

“Most of our practices don’t start till 9:30 p.m. and practice ends at 10:15 p.m. the latest nights

video games.

friends, family, my girlfriend, and also working,” Aydin Zakroczymski said. “It’s a good feeling getting that bag, also playing Fortnite, It is just the time of my life with my buddies.”

As Aydin Zakroczymski winds down his senior year, he is staying focused on his schoolwork and of course hockey. He plans to play hockey after

These accomplishments solidify him as a

but I’ll stay out there an extra 10-20 minutes just

dominant athlete on the ice as he demonstrates

putting up extra shots and putting that work in,”

impressive athletic skills and leadership qualities.

Aydin Zakroczymski said. “Then I’ll get off the ice

“After my senior year, I still want to continue to

Aydin Zakroczymski did not achieve this through

around 11:10 [p.m.] and be home at 11:45 [p.m.]

play hockey, whether it’s club hockey or not,”

sheer luck; he works hard and attributes this to

then I still have to shower, eat something and

Aydin Zakroczymski said. “I’m thinking about

his dad and the Chicago Blackhawks.

make sure I’m ready to go for school tomorrow

playing on Illinois State University’s club hockey

and do the same exact thing the next day.”

team, I am going out to a prospects camp and

“What got me into hockey was my dad and

high school in some manner.

seeing if I would be able to play for that team.”

growing up watching the Blackhawks play. I just

This is an extremely challenging schedule for

found love for the game,” Aydin Zakroczymski

Aydin Zakroczymski as a student athlete, son

Aydin Zakroczymski is an athlete, scholar and

said. “I was really inspired to play like the guys

and brother. There are many other demands in

leader. These are roles that he takes in great stride

on TV.”

life besides hockey that need to be met and Aydin

both on and off the ice and he does this with the

Zakroczymski always meets them. He maintains

support of his coaches, friends and family. He is

both good grades and strong bonds with the

excited to continue to push himself further and

people around him.

become a successful athlete, these are hopes his

Adam Zakroczymski is Aydin’s father, ex-coach and greatest supporter. These are three massively important roles throughout Aydin Zakroczymski’s life and a complex role for his dad to fill is that of

Aydin Zakroczymski stays dedicated through his

both father and coach.

influences in and out of the sport citing Connor

“It is a sticky situation as a dad and a coach when it comes to other players and other parents,” Adam Zakroczymski said. “You have to kind

Bedard, Marion Rose and CJ Stroud as some of

father also holds for him. Adam Zakroczymski wanted to leave some advice for his son and other athletes he wished he would have taken.

his biggest influences for continuing to work hard

“Don’t let outside influences wear you down

and be a good person.

because you played the game you are playing for a reason, and remember the reason you’re

of figure out a way to divorce that father-son

“CJ Stroud is not connected to hockey but he

relationship and find a way to be able to push

is connected to football, I agree with his beliefs

him to a level where he respects you, that can be

100% and I just think he’s really awesome,” Aydin

You can see Aydin Zakroczymski on the ice at any

very challenging for a father-son, coach-player

Zakroczymski said.

of the Lakers games this winter season; you can

relationship.”

One of the most dramatic changes in Aydin

A large part of the issue that arises from a father/

Zakroczymskis’s hockey career was the shift

coach relationship is resentment from teammates.

from the Komets to the Lakers, an entirely new

playing,” Adam Zakroczymski said.

also see his dad at any of those games cheering his son on.