THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2006
'Fantastic Finish'
Varsity, JV Spikers Claim Championships
By ANDREA ZELINSKI
Journal Reporter
The gymnasium at Union Ridge School in Harwood Heights roared last week as the girls from Rosemont Elementary School proved they were champions.
Both the varsity and junior varsity teams finished out their volleyball seasons in first place, setting a new standard at the small Rosemont Elementary School.
"It's just fantastic," said Varsity Coach Jim Scholl searching for words. "It's a new plateau for the school to have both the varsity and JV in the championship."
The varsity girls finished their season in a tight match up with Giles School from Norridge on Friday, Nov. 17. Rosemont won by nine points in the second match.
JV girls had a tougher time, wining by the skin of their teeth against Hester Junior High in Franklin Park that same night. They played to the third and final round and ensured their victory by only 2 points.
"The fans were crazy," said Scholl. "It was a nice turn out. There were a lot of Rosemont citizens and they were just very supportive... It was an animal house."
Immediately after the games, volleyball parents treated the girls to pizza at Barnaby's restaurant on Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines.
But Scholl said the win sets a strong standard for the volleyball program's future given its current coaching success. Scholl said he and JV Coach Gary Higham treated both teams the same by practicing together.
"We don't draw a distinction between the fifth graders and the eighth graders on the team," said Scholl. "We've been doing that for a couple years actually and it's starting to boad well."
Before the girls drove off for what would be their victory Friday afternoon, the school gave the teams a pep rally.
Both the JV and varsity headed into the playoffs at the top of their game with only four losses in 20 games.
This season mirrored last year's success when JV team, now mostly on varsity, placed first. Last year's varsity girls placed fourth and Scholl said he thinks he and Higham have worked out a system that seems to be paying off.
"They all worked hard," said Scholl. "They played together and they were very coachable."
To celebrate, the school will frame each girl's uniform and hand it to them as a keepsake. Scholl and Superintendent Kevin Anderson said they didn't know if they'd get that done before the school lets out for winter break.
The teams play in the Leyden-Norwood Athletic Conference.