Fremd

Current standout athletes at Fremd include (front row, from left): Lena Brottman, Allison Norenberg, Kelly Voigt, Gianna Abruzzo, Caitlin Golota, Erica Lee. Also (back row, from left): Chris Klimek, Vince Addison, Spiros Angelakos, Jayme Szafranski, Erika Lauraitis.
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)

October 27, 2009 BY BEN MEYER-ABBOTT

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TOP SPORTS MOMENTS

1. Six straight state titles

Coach Larry Petrillo guided Fremd to nine of its record 12 state championships in girls gymnastics — including six consecutive state titles from 1994 to '99. MaryAnne Kelley won three consecutive all-around state championships in ’96, ’97, ’98 on her way to a total of 10 individual state titles during the dynasty. The run ended with a second-place finish in 2000.

2. Swimming repeats feat

Brian Brinkley, Tyler Holcomb, Duke Shin and Mark Kujawski anchored the 1994 boys swimming state champions with wins in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Kujawski repeated as 400-free relay champ with Paul Desruisseaux, Jim Patla and Jay Glenn in 1995 as Fremd claimed a second straight championship for coach Paul Reeff. Glenn won three 100-backstroke state titles.

3. Lozowski buzzer-beater

Keith Lozowski’s tip-in at the buzzer gave the 1993 boys basketball squad a state-quarterfinal victory over Bradley and made sure that coach Mo Tharp would be the first coach from the Mid-Suburban League to secure a state team trophy. Matt Panzino, Mike Mangan, Dan Laya, Steve McGrath and Chris Loflin also starred for Fremd, which finished fourth.

4. Twice quarterfinalists

Coach Mike Donatucci’s 2006 and 2007 football teams each reached the Class 8A quarterfinals, posting a 21-3 record over those two seasons. Mark Tolzien, Andrew Corso, Nick Hillard, Brian Hipchin, Mike Koenoman, John LaPointe and sophomore Christian Lombard led the Vikings to an undefeated regular season and Mid-Suburban West title in 2007.

5. Spring in their step

Fremd took home four state trophies in spring 2009 — the most for a season in school history. Lena Brottman and Jenny Schneider led the softball team to third place. Erika Lauraitis and the girls water polo team finished third. Laura Mayer, Elise Kotsakis, Allison Norenberg and the girls soccer team was second. Jenna Langhorst won the state badminton singles title and the Vikings won the team title.

WHAT FREMD MEANS TO ME

By Jim Schwantz: A 1988 graduate who won the 1995 Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys, Schwantz was elected mayor of Palatine in April.

My experience at Fremd influenced nearly everything about my life. The coaches who guided me, the rigorous academic standards that challenged me, and my classmates and teammates all helped motivate me and push me to make the most of every opportunity I would get.

But I’d have to say, hands down, my best memory of high school was meeting my future wife and high school sweetheart, Brenda. She was a junior cheerleader and I was a senior and we ended up going to two proms together.

I also wouldn’t have survived that first year in college, with all the responsibilities and extra work involved with being a student-athlete, if not for the lessons I learned in high school. Fremd has a very challenging academic environment, and it taught me to budget my time.

The school made such an impression on me that when Brenda and I were deciding where we wanted to live and raise our children, we both knew we wanted to move back to Palatine so our daughter and son could attend Fremd.

The entire school community is incredibly supportive. I was lucky to have great coaches who impressed upon me that football is the ultimate team sport with so many guys depending on each other to get things to go the right way.

Of course some of my best memories of Fremd were on the football and baseball fields and the basketball court with great teammates and amazing coaches.

My senior year we hosted the first home football playoff game in school history and the stands were packed. People were standing on the track to watch the game.

It was incredible to share that with the entire Fremd community, and now that my kids will be attending the school I am so happy I can continue to be a part of it.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Claire (Goldstein) Berger: Standup comedian.

• Scott A. Bethel: Air Force brigadier general.

• Terrence Coli: Television writer, producer.

• Leslie Erganian: Artist, television correspondent.

• Chris Flemming: Hosted Biography Channel’s ‘‘Dead Famous.’’

• Kenneth J. Glueck Jr.: Major general, U.S. Africa Command Director of Operations and Logistics.

• Vicki Gunvalson: One of ‘‘The Real Housewives of Orange County.’’

• Todd Hundley: Catcher for Mets, Dodgers, Cubs.

• Dana Kozlov: CBS 2 Chicago reporter.

• Robert Lorenz: Academy Award-nominated producer, assistant director.

• Kris Myers: Drummer for band Umphrey’s McGee.