Maine South: A past stocked with surprises
Maine South is the Sun-Times School of the Week. The Hawks have won five state titles, including two in football. Famous alumni include Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), a 2008 presidential candidate.
WHAT MAINE SOUTH MEANS TO ME
(Richard A. Chapman/Sun-Times; Courtesy; AP)
Location: 1111 S. Dee, Park Ridge
Conference: Cent. Suburban South Colors: Red, white, black
Enrollment: 2,628
Colors: Red, white, black
Nickname: Hawks
State titles: Five; two in football, boys basketball
Behind the name: The third high school opened in Maine Township
By Hillary Rodham Clinton: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), a 2008 presidential candidate, was a member of the first graduating class at Maine South in 1965.
High school was an eye-opening time for me. This was the late '60s, and the country was changing. I was hungry to learn more about the world and to figure out my place in it. And in high school, that's not easy for any teenager: trying to discover who you are while struggling to fit in at the same time. I was always taught to resist peer pressure, but occasionally I refused to wear the thick glasses I'd been prescribed to correct my terrible eyesight, years before I'd discover contact lenses. My friend Betsy had to lead me around town like a seeing-eye dog.
One particular experience as a senior at Maine Township High School South stands out. As the first graduating class, we started our high school traditions from scratch: homecoming parades, pep rallies, student council elections. We even staged a mock presidential debate for the 1964 election.
At the time, believe it or not, I was a Republican, like my father. My ninth-grade history teacher, Paul Carlson, had encouraged me to read Sen. Barry Goldwater's book, The Conscience of a Conservative. I even wrote a term paper about it.
I was a Goldwater girl through and through. That's why I protested when a young government teacher, Jerry Baker, assigned me to play President Johnson in the debate. Mr. Baker said he wanted us to explore another perspective. He wouldn't back down.
So I immersed myself in President Johnson's Democratic positions on civil rights, health care, poverty and foreign policy. And then something unexpected happened. I found myself advocating for President Johnson with more than just dramatic fervor. My days as a Republican were numbered!
Years later, when I worked to improve Arkansas' public schools, I realized how fortunate I had been to attend fully equipped schools with highly trained teachers and a full range of academic and extracurricular activities. I had wonderful friends, wonderful mentors and wonderful experiences.
If you want to know what Maine South means to me, that's it: Every single child deserves the chance to achieve his or her potential. Providing our children with a great education is a big part of meeting that challenge.
1 Given almost no chance, coach Quitman Sullins' 1979 boys basketball team edged New Trier West 65-64 in a supersectional, then shocked De La Salle 37-27 in a quarterfinal and East Moline 77-76 in overtime in a semifinal. In what was then the mother of all upsets, Jeff Baker, point guard Jay Huyler & Co. took apart top-rated Quincy and its vaunted press 83-67 in the championship game.
2 Brian Schmitz wasn't confident -- he was positive. Maine South's All-State kicker booted a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds to play to lift the Hawks to a 31-28 victory over Mount Carmel in the 1995 Class 5A championship game. With 31 seconds to play, Schmitz attempted a 58-yard field goal. It was wide right; however, a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Hawks another chance.
3 In coach Phil Hopkins' last game, his team won the 2000 6A football state title, beating Glenbard North 27-8. ''One of my heroes has always been Ted Williams,'' Hopkins said. ''And you know what he did in his last at-bat? He hit a home run.'' The key to the running game was Sun-Times All-State guard Jim Magiera, who helped fullback Kevin Sherlock gain 181 yards on 27 carries.
4 Coach Dawn Butler's girls won the first state swimming title in 1975, edging Wheaton North 109-107. It was the closest meet until Naperville Central's one-point win over Neuqua Valley in 2005. Only tennis and track had girls state meets before that fall, when volleyball also started. Kim Lindstrom was a double winner for the Hawks, sweeping the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley.
5 A weekend with prom and graduation for its seniors saw Maine South (34-8) complete its improbable run to the 2005 boys volleyball state title, stunning favored Naperville North 25-21, 25-19. ''This has been the best weekend of my life,'' said Matt Kelly, who contributed six kills. ''Prom, winning state, graduating. It's an unbelievable feeling." Teddy Adamczyk finished with 10 kills.
* Dave Bergman: Baseball; played 17 years in majors.
* Liz Bondi: NCAA Division III athlete of the year, 2007.
* Dave Butz: Lineman for Cardinals and Redskins.
* Hillary Rodham Clinton: U.S. senator, New York.
* Danny Corkill: Child actor.
* Mark Filip: Federal judge.
* Greg Glienna: Director, actor, screenwriter.
* Mark Greenwald: Olympic speedskater in 1988.
* Rick Hader, a k a Myron Noodleman: ''Clown Prince of Baseball.''
* Tom Hoff: Olympic volleyball player in 2000, 2004.
* Gary T. Johnson: President, Chicago History Museum.
* Dag Juhlin: Musician.
* Steve Kashul: TV sports announcer.
* Ray Ozzie: Computer software specialist.
* John Pankow: Actor.
* Jim Rushford: OF, Brewers.
* David Santee: Olympic figure skater in 1976, 1980.
* Janet Shamlian: NBC News.
* Nancy Swider-Peltz: Four-time Olympic speedskater.
* Jim Walewander: Infielder, Tigers, Yankees, Angels.
* Joe Zdeb: MLB Royals.