 | Athletic programs play an important role in the total educational experience offered at Latin. They are one more way in which Latin helps each student realize the full range of his or her talents and abilities. The school’s interscholastic athletics program strives to develop confident, enthusiastic and disciplined athletes who use their full physical potential. Latin athletes learn the value of teamwork and the importance of sportsmanship. Most of all, the program teaches students to enjoy athletics.
Latin athletes regularly compete successfully at the state, regional, sectional and conference levels. In the last decade Latin has fielded a state championship girls soccer team, won regional championships in volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis, baseball and cross country as well as numerous conference titles. Latin is a member in good standing of the Illinois High School Association and the Independent School League. The school is also an active partner in the Positive Coaching Alliance, out of Stanford University, which promotes sports as a positive, character building experience.
The Latin community includes many enthusiastic athletics fans who show wonderful school spirit. Our colors are blue and orange and our mascot is the Roman.
|
| Lower School Even Latin’s youngest students have many opportunities to participate in team sports outside of the classroom.
In addition to regular physical education classes, lower school students can participate in certain interscholastic opportunities beginning in third grade. Third through fifth graders may join the cross-country team, which practices four times a week from September through late October. Fourth and fifth graders may participate in the Superstar Sports Intramural League in basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer.
To participate in athletics, a student must submit a parental permission slip to the coach. Additionally, students who miss or sit out their regular physical education class, or who fail to attend other classes throughout the day, may not participate in athletics that day. Exceptions are at the discretion of the athletic director. Due to space constraints, it may be necessary to limit the registration numbers in the Superstar program and spectator attendance during the volleyball season. An adult must accompany all student non-participants at lower school athletic events. |
|
| Middle and Upper School Approximately 75 percent of students in the middle and upper schools play on at least one of Latin's approximately 65 athletic teams each year, and about half play on a team during any given season.
One of the best things about Latin’s athletics program is that the school makes every effort to offer a spot on a team to all interested and committed athletes.
Latin belongs to the Independent School League (ISL) with eight other members: Woodlands Academy, Northridge Preparatory, Willows Academy, Elgin Academy, Francis W. Parker School, University High School, North Shore Country Day School, and Morgan Park Academy. While the majority of our interscholastic contests are with ISL schools, most Latin teams compete with parochial and public schools as well.
|
|
| |  Thomas BowerLatin School Director of Athletics, Girls and Boys Varsity Soccer Coach Tom Bower has been part of the Latin family since 1981, heading the boys soccer program and teaching history and physical education. He has coached girls varsity soccer since 1997 and led the team to a state championship—a first for a Latin sports team—in 2006. He also has coached varsity boys tennis and middle school girls/boys basketball. Director of Athletics since 1989, Tom oversees all athletics at Latin, lower school through upper school. Tom is a graduate of Plymouth State University where he played both soccer and baseball. He is an associate workshop leader for the Positive Coaching Alliance and is vice-president of the Independent School League. He has a coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and a Wilderness First Responder certification from the National Outdoor Leadership School. He has led more than 25 outward bound-type wilderness education Project Week trips. Tom has been named Sectional Coach of the Year and Independent School League Coach of the Year six times. |
 Linda O'KeeffeAthletics Assistant Linda O’Keeffe has been involved with athletics at Latin since 1986.
She is responsible for everything from planning and booking transportation for Latin’s teams, coordinating the athletic banquets, to obtaining permits from the Chicago Park District. Linda handles all forms of communication between the parents, students, coaches, faculty, staff and athletic directors from other schools. If you have a question about anything athletics-related, Linda can either answer it for you or find someone who will.
|
 Elizabeth Tortorello-NelsonAssistant Director of Athletics, Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach Director of Latin’s boys and girls volleyball programs since 2004 and assistant to Tom Bower since 2007, Liz Tortorello-Nelson coaches varsity girls volleyball and is the administrator for the North Avenue Volleyball Club hosted by Latin. Her many duties include coordinating all special events for athletics, supervising team photos, public relations, interviewing and evaluating coaches, and scheduling contests for some of Latin 65 plus sports teams. Liz is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she captained her volleyball team to a Big Ten championship. Before coming to Latin, Liz was the volleyball coach for Loyola University Chicago for 11 years. Currently, Liz is the American Volleyball Coaches Association representative for Illinois.
|
 David VanderMeulenAssistant Director of Athletics, Middle and Upper Physical Education A 15-year veteran of Latin, Dave VanderMeulen has been the varsity boys basketball coach since 1994. Dave handles all the operations of the middle school athletics program and assists in all facets of the upper school program. Dave received his undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University and two master’s degrees at Northern Illinois University. Dave has been named All-District Coach of the Year three times and Independent School League Coach of the Year five times.
|
| |