Connor Kaniewski '17 is an associate at Wellington Management on the Private Placement team. After attending Latin School, he received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Wake Forest University. 

Thanks to the impact of teachers like Mr. McArthur, Mr. Kendrick, and Ms. Ross, Connor had a multifaceted experience at Latin that went beyond academics. He says that Latin laid the groundwork for intellectual development, social maturity, personal growth, and practical life skills. All of this was beneficial for his time at both Wake Forest University and the early stages of his professional career. 

When asked to describe Latin in three words, Connor replied, "growth, friendship, and academic challenges." His favorite memory is a tie between winning the state championship with the boys' soccer team and creating an MLB season prediction statistical model for his senior project. 

While at Latin, Connor participated in Roman-2-Roman, varsity soccer, varsity tennis, Roman Ambassadors, yearbook, VIDI, and Model UN. He also received the Kelly McKinnell Award for Excellence in Photography, an accolade presented to a graduating senior who shows a deep passion and talent for photography in honor of the late Kelly McKinnell '95.

As an alumnus, Connor remains highly engaged with the Latin community. He connected with senior alumni through personalized phone calls during the pandemic and has served as the chair of the Alumni Board Giving Committee since 2021. 

Congratulations to our student-athletes on a wonderful fall season. Romans started the school year strong and completed the season with many remarkable individual and team accomplishments that reflected their hard work and dedication. Below are some of the highlights from the season.

Boys and Girls Cross Country
Showcasing their commitment and integrity, the boys and girls cross country teams overcame obstacles early on to finish the season strong. Both teams took second at conference and regionals, and rose to the occasion at sectionals to qualify for state. At the state meets, the girls team finished 16th and the boys finished 23rd. Francesca M. placed 17th overall and earned All-State honors for a second straight year and Nico R. broke the school record for boys cross country.

Boys Golf
Boys golf had a huge year. They won the ISL title for the first time since 2022 behind a strong performance by Jack Z., who finished four strokes off the course record at Cog Hill #1. Jack, Thomas A., John R., and James G. all advanced to sectionals. Jack then advanced to state where he finished 16th and earned All-State honors. Jack was even or under par in almost every match that the team played this season. This group showed up every week, stayed consistent, and earned every part of this historic run!

Girls Golf
Girls golf wrapped up their season at IHSA sectionals with three qualifiers—Senior Caitlin C., junior Fia B., and freshman Caroline R.. The team finished the regular season 2-11 in duals and placed third at the ISL tournament. Caitlin and fellow two-time captain Gillian H. led the group all year. They will graduate this fall along with senior Ava N., each leaving an impact on the program. The girls golf team continued to build consistency and competitiveness throughout the season.

Field Hockey
Field hockey had a strong year. They finished 13-6-1, won the ISL, secured the fifth seed in the state, and stacked big conference wins along the way. Our Romans had a versatile season, taking the top-ranked field hockey team in the state into an overtime thriller, hosting a meaningful Play Without Limits memorial and charity game with Lake Forest High School, winning their Homecoming game by five goals, and even hosting out-of-state team St. Ignatius California for a match. The team scored 71 goals this season and goalie Joey F. made 106 saves.

Boys Soccer
Boys soccer finished 10-10-2 overall, hitting double digit wins again and going 4-3-1 in the ISL. They picked up exciting wins against Parker that included a 1-0 road win and a 4-1 win at home. The team also posted a winning record against 3A opponents at 2-1-1. Charlie D. led the team with 13 goals and Diego F. led the team with six assists. The group scored 44 goals and had 20 assists across 22 games. These Romans could compete with anyone and showed it across the schedule.

Girls Swimming
Girls swimming had a strong and memorable season. They finished eighth at the Shepard Invite and stacked big dual meet wins including Homecoming over Trinity, a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night win over Eisenhower, and a Senior Night win over Thornton. At the ISL championship, the team finished third and earned 15 medals. Greta T. won the ISL title in the 100 fly and finished runner up in the 200 free. The 200 free relay of Dylan K., Clare S., Channing G., and Greta T. also finished second. The girls then finished fifth at sectionals and medaled again in both the 200 free and 400 free relays. Almost every swim was a PR, which speaks to how much they improved over the course of the season.

Girls Tennis
Girls tennis had a dominant run from start to finish. The team won conference and sectionals and finished ninth at state. Nicola K. finished fourth in the state singles draw, winning multiple rounds 6-0, 6-0. Sahana A. and Mary H. also had a strong performance this season, finishing in the Top 32 of the state doubles draw. The girls played through long days, tough draws and quick turnarounds, showing true grit through it all.

Girls Volleyball
Girls volleyball finished 24-14 and picked up a long list of major wins this fall. The team won the Christian Heritage Tournament, went undefeated to win the ISL, and captured a regional championship. The ISL named senior Gisele J. Athlete of the Year and the team had four players awarded with All-Conference titles. This group competed hard every week and continued to level up their play as the season went on.

The following student-athletes earned individual accolades for their performances this season.

Independent School League Athlete of the Year Award

• Gisele J. - Volleyball
• Joey F. - Field Hockey (Goalie)
• Abby K. - Field Hockey (Defensive)
• Caroline G. - Field Hockey (Offensive)
• Francesca M. - Cross Country
• Nico R. - Cross Country
• Jack Z. - Golf

Illinois High School Association All-State Award

• Jack Z. - Golf
• Francesca M. - Cross Country
• Nicola K. - Tennis

Dr. Erin Hanlon ’95 is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Section of Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Chicago. After attending Latin School she went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

As a behavioral neuroscientist, Dr. Hanlon's primary research interests have included the detrimental effects of sleep loss and how sleep benefits health, with particular focus on the links between sleep deficiency, obesity, and diabetes. Specifically, she has focused on the effect of sleep restriction on brain reward and feeding systems, as well as peripheral metabolic systems, in both rodent and human models.

Most notably, Dr. Hanlon identified a 24-hour rhythm in circulating endocannabinoid (eCB) levels, a system that has garnered much attention in recent years for its involvement in the regulation of hedonic food intake. She has shown that this rhythm is altered by sleep loss, suggesting the involvement of the eCB system and hedonic eating in the excess food intake observed following sleep restriction. Further, she demonstrated that individuals with obesity have misaligned endocannabinoid rhythms, suggesting that circadian disruption in the eCB system may constitute a circadian-mediated mechanism contributing to the underlying pathophysiology of obesity.

Dr. Hanlon has received NIH and private funding as well as multiple awards for her research. She has presented her research findings at national and international conferences and engages with the broader scientific community and the public, making science more accessible through talks, media, or educational outreach.

Dr. Hanlon credits Latin for teaching her critical thinking, which she believes has been invaluable in shaping her successful career in research and medicine. She shares that learning was fun. Not only does she recall her friendships with peers, but also the lifelong relationships built with families and faculty members like Mrs. Peterson and Dr. Wen.

Dr. Hanlon describes Latin as being foundational, enduring, and a place for community. Some of her favorite memories are going to Saugatuck, Michigan, for volleyball preseason, the eighth-grade graduation party, and spending time in the senior lounge. She remains involved with Latin as a member of the Alumni Board.

How many years have you been playing volleyball? At Latin?
I grew up in a very big volleyball family. I played club from when I was 9 years old until my freshman year. At that point, I decided to only play at Latin so I could focus on more things. It is a really good, friendly environment.

What position(s) do you play?
I’ve played many, but as of right now and as I’ve always wanted, I play outside. It’s great because I get to swing but also play defense since outsides can play all the way around.

What do you enjoy about playing volleyball?
Passing and hitting give me two very different, positive feelings. It’s the best feeling ever when you’re approaching a hit and you’re like, “Oh, I’m about to kill this ball;” however getting a really good dig, while not flashy, is also really satisfying.

Being part of the team, in general, is the best. It's been so cool to watch our individual and collective growth each year.

Do you have any pre- or post-game rituals or routines?
NuGo bar from Potash!

Favorite warm-up song?
This is actually a very heated subject…I will say the one that we decided on for our Homecoming game walk-out and that’s always fun is “Fireball” by Pitbull.

What have you learned from your teammates & coaches over the years?
The main thing that I’ve learned is that you have to play for your teammates. It’s such a team sport - there are only six people out there. It’s not just that you need to prove to yourself that you can get that hit or make that pass, but that your teammates should be able to depend on you. Volleyball has taught me how to support the people around me.

Favorite memory from over the years?
Even though we lost, the Super Sectionals game against Timothy Christian last year was one of my favorite memories. Playing a highly competitive match against a team that finished third at state was so exciting.

What are three words your teammates would use to describe you - on or off the court
Intense, dependable, musical.

I may not be good at singing or dancing, but I can often be found doing both off the court.

Your team just had their Homecoming game last Friday. How was that experience, especially being a senior?
Homecoming games are always a very emotional thing. They are always a highlight of the season for me and a fun opportunity to show out.

What is your favorite part about being on a team at Latin?
How interconnected all the sports are. I love to see folks show up for one another at games or steal each other’s game day dress-up ideas. It really creates a shared sense of community.

Who has contributed to your volleyball journey? Who would you thank & why?
The people I want to thank the most are my parents. They’ve always shown up for me and have been my number one supporters, cheering me on at home and away games.

What are you looking forward to this year? On and off the court?
A team goal that we always have is to go to state. Even though we’re in 3A now and the competition is harder, we want it so badly and are working incredibly hard for it.

In terms of my senior year, I just want to enjoy it and support everybody. I appreciate people showing up for our games and want other teams to feel that excitement. I also think it is fun and important to support other programs like the arts.

Do you have a particular game you want to shout out for fellow Romans to come cheer on the Varsity Girls Volleyball team at?
Any home game, ever! But here is a special game to attend: Tuesday, 10/21, is our Senior Night against Woodlands. We have a team with 12 seniors - 10 players, two managers - so we would love to have people show up for our Senior Night.

What’s next after Latin?
College! This won’t be my last time playing volleyball. I’ll maybe do a club team or intramural program wherever I go, but I’m definitely staying involved with volleyball.

Coach Woodhouse, you’ve coached Gisele since her freshman year on varsity, what do you enjoy about coaching Gisele?
Gisele is “all in” every match. She has the ability to fire up the team with her intensity and powerful hitting. Other players feed off her competitive fire; like they want to win every single point.