Senn Bulldogs

Senn athletes uphold a tradition of excellence on and off the field. From left: Belena Amador, Cindy Cheng, Rupali Padhiar, Filma Ogalesco, Kristina Kravchenko, Chanel Jones, Erick Jimenez, The-Minh Ly, Shayna Vialdores, Anthony Hendricks, Yusef Mohammad and Daniel Poelinitz.
(Brian Jackson/Sun-Times)

A legacy of championship teams

May 13, 2009 BY TAYLOR BELL

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TOP SPORTS MOMENTS

Chrissie’s dad

1 Jimmy Evert, father of tennis legend Chris Evert and a famed teaching professional, won the state singles title in 1940 and Senn, guided by coach Harry Leighton, went on to win state team championships in 1940, 1942 and 1943. Jimmy’s brother Jerry was third in state singles in 1942 and second in 1942 while Bob David and Bert Rance won the doubles crown in 1943.

Half-point margin

2 Coach Pat Pierce’s track and field squad won the state title in 1926 by scoring 17œ points to Public League rival Tilden's 17. Bob Rogers swept the high and low hurdles, Bill Ramsey was second in the 440, Myron Alexander was fifth in the high hurdles and the 880-yard relay team was third. Pierce’s teams had finished third in the state meet the previous two years.

State qualifier

3 Coach Neil Codell’s 1987 softball team finished 18-4, outslugged Hubbard 22-21 for the Public League title and became the first city representative to score a run in the state finals. The team leaders were SS Sharon Mann, P Sharett Pennil, 3B Kim Cole, CF Lisa Smalley and LF Shannon Hager, who made a game-saving catch with the bases loaded to win the city final.

Six-time city champs

4 Coach Pamela Bean’s boys gymnastics teams won six city titles from 1987-92. LaMar Henderson won rings, horse and high bar in 1987 and all-around in 1988. Menill Dockins was a double winner in 1987, J.W. Hughes and Son Nguyen were double winners in 1989, as was Rodrick Moore in 1990. Other standouts were Damute Head and Anthony Brown.

State runner-up

5 Roy Schmiessing and Thomas Rudd each placed in three events to lead coach A.E. Bergmann’s boys gymnastics team to second in the 1957 state meet. After finishing third in the previous two years, Senn scored 87œ points to New Trier’s 98. Schmeissing was second on horse and third on parallel bars. Rudd was second on parallel bars and third on still rings.

WHAT SENN MEANS TO ME

By Michael Bennett: The 1990 graduate won the world amateur heavyweight boxing title in 1999 and co-captained the 2000 U.S. Olympic boxing team.

I’m a Bulldog through and through. What I remember most about my time at Senn was the teachers really cared. Herman Blade, who coached me in football and wrestling, wore a lot of hats. He was my mentor.

He didn't teach me how to box but he taught me how to be a standup man.

He taught me that my character meant everything and I would be judged by my character. Don’t be cocky, he told me. He taught me that hard work would pay off.

I was a good athlete. I played halfback and linebacker on the football team and was most valuable player and athlete of the year as a senior. I was most valuable wrestler as a junior and senior. I was undefeated city champion as a senior. I also played volleyball.

All the teachers had an impact on my life — Miss Young, Miss Spankey and Miss Bean in physical education, Miss Marshall in typing and Miss Francis in math. Senn truly was a melting pot for everybody. The cool part was that we got to meet lots of people from different cultures and accepted them for what they were. We learned how to live in harmony.

I didn’t know boxing was in my future at the time. I went to North Park College and played football. I was the team’s MVP on defense.

Then I got into trouble. I was arrested for armed robbery and got locked up. It was then than picked up boxing to take up my physical time. Then I met coach George Hernandez at Garfield Park on the West Side. I learned to box and felt I was good enough to make the Olympic team.

Boxing turned my life around. Now I have a wife (Robin), son (Michael) and daughter (Troijet), who is a freshman at Senn. I'm working and life is good. The Bible tells you that it is better to make mistakes as a youth. As a man, you learn from your mistakes and move on. I have moved on.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

• Cliff Aberson: Former Packers, Cubs player

• Arthur Berman: Former State Senator

• Joseph Epstein: Author

• Jimmy Evert: Founder, Evert Tennis Academy

• Helen Filkey: once held 10 national track records

• Howard Fink: Judge, Cook County Circuit Court

• William Friedkin: director, producer, screen writer

• Bill Gay: ex-NFL player

• Al Hargesheimer: Former major league player

• Barbara Harris: Actress

• Gene Honda: WTTW voice