'88 boys hoops fell just short of glory

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:16AM

WHAT ST. FRANCIS DE SALES MEANS TO ME

By Eugene Lenti, who coached at De Sales and went on to become an award-winning softball coach for nationally-ranked DePaul University.

As I look back, I realize that St. Francis de Sales in 1975 was progressively ahead of the times. We were co-ed when it was the exception, not the rule, and the student population was as diverse as any in the city or state. The school drew students from a diverse group of neighborhoods such as South Shore, South Chicago, Beverly, Burnside, Hegewisch, the East Side, the south suburbs and nearby Indiana.

The diversity in the student population was something that was accepted as the status quo and was found in all aspects of high school life. In everything from our athletics teams to the homecoming court, from student government to theater and choir, you would easily find inclusion from every group. That diversity taught you to not only respect those who were different from you, but also encouraged you to get involved. Just about every class, club, team or organization had a diversity that was rare in the mid-1970s.

That diversity also extended to our faculty, where there was a great mix of male and female teachers as well as a mix of lay and religious instructors. Those who had the greatest influence on me were three of my football coaches - John Cappello, Al Lodl and Lloyd Foster - as well as Don Saternus, my AP English teacher, and Joe Nelson, who was our moderator for the student council, yearbook and school paper. My football coaches instilled the need to be disciplined and responsible. They instilled a strong work ethic. We learned that to deserve victory, we needed to work hard and out-tough our opponents. Those lessons led us to an East Suburban Catholic championship and a 10-7 upset victory over No. 1 state-ranked St. Viator.

TOP MOMENTS

1 Second in the state

Probably the most famous team in St. Francis de Sales' long history was the 1988 boys basketball squad that finished second in the Class AA state tournament.

Led by 1988 Sun-Times Player of the Year Eric Anderson, the Pioneers finished second to East St. Louis Lincoln and LaPhonso Ellis. Another key contributor was point guard Donald Akins.

2 Softball has a great '88

The Pioneers finished third in the 1988 softball tournament, beating New Trier 4-3 in a nine-inning quarterfinal on a two-out triple by Rita Small. De Sales (33-5) defeated Joliet St. Francis 6-2 in the third-place game. Catcher Kelly Kavanaugh hit her tournament-record third triple and Jennifer Nardi had a two-run triple in support of winning pitcher Kim Kosinski.

3 Downstate again

The boys basketball team - led by the defense of Sean Lampley and Jerell Parker, who drew the assignment of guarding Williamsville's Travis Lewis (32.7-point average) - came back from a nine-point deficit in a 65-53 quarterfinal victory in 1997 at the Peoria Civic Center. De Sales overcame Lampley's flu and Jimmy Mack's sprained ankle.

4 Downstate times two

The girls softball team returned to the state finals in 2004 and 2005. In a 2-0 Class A supersectional win over Newark in 2004, Sara Kalemba pitched a no-hitter, preserved by a defensive gem from Sheri Ranos. With Kalemba and eight seniors back in 2005, the Pioneers knocked off Wheaton St. Francis 2-0 and earned another trip to the Class A state finals.

5 Finally football

The Pioneers waited more than 30 years, but in 2006 qualified for the state football playoffs led by Tracy Wilson. The Pioneers lost to Chicago Christian in their opener but then won seven of eight, beating rivals Washington, Milledgeville and CICS Longwood before losing to Burlington Central in the state playoffs.

NOTABLE ALUMNI

Eric Anderson: 1988 Mr. Illinois Basketball, NBA player

Malik Dixon: Professional basketball player

Sean Lampley: Professional basketball player

Eugene Lenti: DePaul women's softball coach

Dr. Francis Lichon: Rheumatologist

Christine Long: TV reporter, WTVG Toledo

Pascal Marco: Novelist

David Medina: Former Michelle Obama staffer

Mike Melendrez: Founder and owner, Red Circle Inc.

Jerell Parker: Former Loyola University basketball player, sales executive for CBS

Sandra Ramos: Cook County Circuit Judge

Denise Staniec: Judge

Mike Sullivan: NFL player, asst. coach for San Diego Chargers

Tracy Wilson: NIU football player

DE SALES BY THE NUMBERS

Location: 10155 S. Ewing Ave.

Conference: Chicago Catholic (boys); GCAC (girls)

Colors: Blue and gold

Nickname: Pioneers

Enrollment: 284

Titles: None

Behind the name: Patron saint St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church

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