Morton HS Rugby Celebrated with Parade
Morton HS Rugby Celebrated with Parade
The Illinois state HS boys champions Morton HS were celebrated with a parade this past week.
 Jorge Vasquez gives an interview with Univision. |
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The single-school team, which is part of a public school district of less-than-wealthy students, many of whom are Hispanic, garnered huge fan interest by beating New Trier in the state final and bring a state sports championship to District 201 in the Chicago area.
"These student athletes are proof that hard work and determination do pay off,” enthused Morton School Board President Jeff Pesek. Other school officials were also part of the celebration.
"We are incredibly proud of our rugby program here at Morton,” added school Boardmember Kal Lwanga. “They have consistently placed at or near the top of the standings for almost a decade. That is a testament to the work and dedication of our great coaches."
"It is an unbelievable feeling,” added District 201 Superintendent Dr. Michael Kuzniewski. “It is not every day that you get to celebrate one of your school's teams winning it all, let alone two teams doing so."
Dr. Kuzniewski was referring to the fact that the Morton JV team also won the Illinois JV championship.
"What made these wins truly special was the amount of support that our students received from the community. I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came out to the matches and parade."
The entire team was feted with the parade, and players and coaches were also interviewed by the local Spanish language news station.
“This meant the world to these kids,” said Morton Coach Adrian Gannon. “I feel it was the recognition by their community, school, and peers that brought home the effort that they had put in and that this event raised their sport to the same levels of appreciation as the other school sports. In the last 18 years I have been there we have had only one other parade, and that was to honor the state championship-winning soccer program, so this was a big deal. Not only where they filmed by Univision at the parade but the fact that they were invited to do an interview piece at the Chicago studio was also an honor.”
Morton have won the Illinois championship twice before (once in Tier I, once in Tier II) and finished second three times. That success has built up a following and a level of respect.
“We have been in the spotlight of the community on a regular basis, though somewhat on the periphery until this event,” said Gannon. “We have had a number of families who have now had several sons and cousins go through the program over the years, which has built up a knowledge base and understanding among the rest of the parents.”
The Morton team has also hosted the Canada, Wales, and Argentina teams in their training sessions before games in Chicago. To see the Spanish-speaking Argentina players interact with the Spanish-speaking Morton kids was a special day, said Gannon.
“Though for me, watching 50 Hispanic kids listening intently while the Welsh Prop Adam Jones sat in the middle of them in the bleachers explaining what was going on as Ryan McBryde ran the Welsh practice was one of the best memories I have had.”
Certainly this parade will have a special place in the memories of the players.
Here are links to two TV features on Univision Chicago:
http://chicago.univision.com/
http://chicago.univision.com/
