This past winter, the Oak Lawn Community High School sports teams dominated like no other year in recent memory. It wasn’t just team success, but it was team success, individual success, coaching successes, coaching milestones, and one all-around unforgettable season.
Boys Bowling may top the list as the Spartans won the South Suburban Conference Red Championship, the Illinois High School Association Regional Championship, the sectional title, and advanced to the state finals. Head coach Kevin Walery deservingly earned the SSC Coach of Year Award as well.
Sam Bergamo was an All-Regional bowler and the team’s Most Valuable Player. Charlie Dell was conference individual champion and an all-conference bowler, while Vinny McBrien and Justin Canvin joined Dell as all-conference selections. Jacob Canvin earned the team’s Sportsmanship Award.
In Boys Basketball, both the varsity and junior varsity teams won the SSC Red Championship. For the varsity team, it was an impressive third-consecutive title. Donte Montgomery, Corey Lee, and Jack Dempsey were all named as all-conference players. Montgomery was the team’s MVP and Muhammad Abdelfattah was the Sportsmanship Award winner. Along the way in this memorable season, head coach Jason Rhodes earned his 200th career win at OLCHS.
In Girls Basketball, the Spartans won the SSC Red Championship for an incredible fourth year in a row. All-conference selections included Teagan Krzystof, Danielle Dempsey, and Maeve Hassett. Dempsey was named as the team’s MVP, and Kaitlyn Berkery and Briana Torres were the Sportsmanship Award winners.
In Boys Swimming and Diving, Cohen Laylo advanced to the IHSA State Diving meet and finished as an All-State Diver. Laylo was also an all-conference selection and the team’s MVP. Vladimir Meza was chosen as the Sportsmanship Award winner.
In Competitive Cheer, Molly Cameron earned honors as an Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization All-State member. Cameron also shared team MVP honors with Isabella Tinajero. Julia Krok and Cameron were all-conference selections. Miriam Cote was the Sportsmanship Award winner.
In Wrestling, Charvelle McLain, Ammar Elayyan, Isaac Barba, and Dan Farley all qualified for the IHSA Sectional meet. McLain and Barba shared team MVP honors, while Jaretzy Ramos and Juan Caudillo were the Sportsmanship Award winners. McLain also earned all-conference honors.
In Competitive Dance, Kylie Garcia and Alyssa Paplawskas were all-conference selections. The team’s MVP was Jazzy Thomas, and Ariana Baeza and Thomas shared the Sportsmanship Award.
In Girls Bowling, Natalie Orozco was the team’s MVP, and Lameis Sheikh won the Sportsmanship Award.