Fall Sports Forecast

Despite showing promise of success, Evanston football let too many contests slip away in closing time last season. After the Kits opened the fall with a thriller 53-50 win over Indian Trail (WI), they lost their next four games, failing to put games away in the second half.  “We had four games go down to the final minutes. We were only able to win that opening night game and then we lost to t...

After a disappointing 2022 season, girls volleyball is looking to have a rebound year. The team finished last fall with a record of 10-26 (0-10 CSL), landing them last place in the conference. “Most of the struggles that we faced last season were from inconsistency. There were multiple games last season where we were up in the first set and blew the lead, just to get blown out in the second set...

Recent graduate Ryder Bellios placing 54th at State capped off one of the more successful seasons in recent history for the Evanston Boys’ golf team last year. But lost in the whirlwind of the postseason was then-freshman Kieran Low’s first-place finish at the Kits IHSA regional playoff. With Low having a year of high school golf under his belt, and with seniors David Castellini and Will Wagener re...

In 2003, Lisa Cole founded the Chicago Force, the city’s first professional women’s tackle football team. Over a decade ago, ETHS PE teacher Luella “Lue” Gesky was a defensive lineman for the Force, breaking barriers and defying stereotypes in the male-dominated sport. Last spring, Gesky was presented with a unique opportunity: to take on the role as the head coach of ETHS’ first girls flag footba...

Last season, ETHS boys soccer finished the regular season with a record of 13-6-2 (4-1 CSL) which earned them second place in the conference. Despite having high hopes in the postseason tournament, the Kits were upset by Lane Tech in the second round. This year, head coach Franz Calixte and the team are back with one common goal in mind. “I want to win a state championship. I have some unfinished...

Always an exciting presence on the sidelines of Lazier, the cheer team continues to impress as they head into the season. This fall, cheerleaders return to the football field after a summer of training and community appearances. Following the graduation of five members, the team looked at rebuilding during spring tryouts, but head coach LaShanda Banks has faith in a strong group of rising seniors to tak...

Heading into their second year at ETHS, the rowing team aims to maintain momentum as they grow outreach and establish a solid foundation of understanding among their athletes. Head coach Luciana Ruiz spearheaded the creation of the program, which was established during the 2022-2023 school year through partnerships with Northwestern and the dedication of several volunteer coaches. “Rowing is known t...

Last fall, Evanston’s top doubles team—Maddie Pollard and Linden Wadsworth—finished their season just shy of the state tournament. Although tennis is a primarily individual sport, head coach Leanne Baker highlights the importance of having a team-centered mindset. Regardless of one’s distinguished role on the team, the girls come together each season to serve as cheerleaders, motivators and...

Although the Evanston Girls’ Swimming and Diving team didn’t qualify a swimmer for state for the first time that coach Kevin Auger can recall, the former Olympian swimmer is expecting major things from his team this fall, due in part to a strong incoming senior class. “We’re really looking at our [senior] captains to take big strides this year. They’re not just leaders in terms of ‘ra...

After graduating two varsity captains and key members of the starting lineup, the field hockey program anticipates yet another period of reconstruction. “They’re big shoes to fill,” varsity head coach Annie Lesch says. However, this isn’t a new fixture. The team entered last season with only six returning varsity players and despite losing top seniors to their respective college programs...

Last season, Beth Arey stepped into her role as the new girls’ cross country varsity head coach and during her first year, Arey guided the young team far into sectionals, setting personal records across the board. With a squad dominated by underclassmen, Arey emphasizes the team’s potential going into the fall. “At the end of last season, a lot of our regular varsity runners stepped away fo...

Even after failing to qualify a runner for the IHSA State meet last season, boys cross country coach Don Michelin Jr. isn’t remotely worried about his team’s potential this season. “Last year, we were a young team. And we really just had one senior who graduated [in 2023], and we had a bunch of younger guys that ran really well over the regular season,” says Michelin. “Our top guys now were...