Stagg, Sandburg students honored for powerlifting

By Jeff Vorva

Stagg and Sandburg students made powerful statements at the first Consolidated High School District 230 meeting of the new school year.

Board members honored the two schools’ powerlifting teams at the Aug. 25 meeting at Stagg High School in Palos Hills.

Powerlifting is not an Illinois High School Association-sanctioned sport but the two schools compete in the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association. Sandburg won the state title for the boys and both schools had champions in boys and girls events.

Stagg Principal Eric Olsen told the board members they should attend a powerlifting meet.

“Certainly, everyone has a vision on what a powerlifter is,” Olsen said. “But I have to tell you that your vision would not exactly be correct. Go to a powerlifting event. It’s the most inspirational event you have ever seen.

“Students of every size, shape and stature can be a part of powerlifting. And everyone, no matter what school you are at, cheers you on. Ultimately, they really do believe in the individual success of everyone, and it doesn’t matter what school that you come from. It’s something I found moving.”

Sandburg Principal Derrick Smith said that powerlifters are special.

“We basically hope every day at Sandburg to learn, grow and inspire,” he said. “I can’t think of a group that embodies that more fully than our powerlifting group. They are learning about the body and sports science. They apply those things, and they apply to growth. They support each other and that applies to inspiring.”

Members of the Sandburg teams were Nathan Biskup, Ryan Johnson, Dylan Schick, Charles Haddad, Eric Mitchell, Gretchen Steenvoorden, Violet Jackson, Emma Mraz, Wesam Alzoubi, Nick Edelen, Tom Locke, Cameron Wiegel, Jalen Wright, Claire Ashum, Aspasia Drikos, Linda Guadarrama, Natalie Lagunas, Lara McCormack, Alicia Ramos, Gwenn Staudt and Nicole Tatar.

Dan Carrier and Jim Zimmer are the coaches.

Stagg’s girls team placed second and the boys team third in the state meet, which was held in late May.

Members of that team were Kylie Autullo, Gabriela Konopko, Sylvia Czyz, Karolina Granda, Samantha Doyle, Sofia Locasio, Shannon Lawler, Safiya Jabreal, Lucia Enriquez, and Hanadie Tulemat.

Danielle Doidg is the coach.

The boys team consisted of Zacharia Alyafai, Owen Earll, Richard Quiroz, Naem Samhan, Baraa Moussa, Matt Stoklosinski, Mark Jones, Justin Hernandez, Rafael Sanchez, and Carlos Macias.

Good start to the new year

Unlike 2020 and 2021, the beginning of the school year was not filled with the controversy about COVID-19 mandates, masking, remote learning and other issues.

Supt. Robert Nolting said it’s been a smooth start.

“I think I can speak for a lot of, if not all of, our staff members, administration and support staff of how we felt during the challenges we had in the last couple of years and we had a very good opening to the school year this year,” Nolting said.

“We still had somewhat of a hangover from the pandemic as it relates to transportation, and we will work through those as well. But everything else, we’ve been really happy with.”

Ready for expansion

The board approved to issue $12,125,000 working cash fund bonds for costs of classroom and other additions to Stagg.

“The classrooms and workspace in this building are much needed,” School Board President Tony Serratore said.

Members of the Stagg Powerlifting team pose with District 230 board members on Aug. 25.