South Cook News

Last week the City Council of Chicago recognized the Simeon and Mount Carmel Catholic football teams for winning their respective state titles this past fall.

Simeon High School won the 2022 Chicago Public League football championship and Mount Carmel won the IHSA 7A Illinois state football championship. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this is “something both schools should be enormously proud about.”

“Chicago, of course, is a sports city, and these teams really stand out in the history of sports teams and high school teams in particular,” Lightfoot at the Jan. 17 meeting. “It says a lot about, I think, not only the coaching and the commitment, but also about the quality of the young men that are populating both of these teams. At the high school level we know there has to be incredible perseverance, determination and talent leading these players to success. Not only did each team win their respective championship, but they were the winning team throughout their season.”

Present at the meeting from Simeon High School were players Malik Elzy and Kendall Moore, Coach Dante Culbreth and the school’s president, Trista Harper. For Mount Carmel, Principal Scott Tabernacki and Coach Mark Antonietti represented the team along with student athletes Blainey Dowling, Asher Tomaszewski, Damarion Arrington, Owen Shickel and Eddie Fleck.

Mount Carmel was undefeated last season going 14-0, and both Lightfoot and Alderman David Moore said that is was an incredible accomplishment across all the “incredible competition” that they faced.

“Kudos to you, gentlemen,” Lightfoot said. “Quite an accomplishment.”

Simeon finished its season 12-1 which Lightfoot said was also an incredible accomplishment. 

“The greatness of these players, their coaches and the school communities rallying behind them is clear,” Lightfoot said.

Comments from the aldermen at the meeting included praise for their athletic programs, and also the academic programs and how they mentor young students. Many alderman voiced their pleasure to recognize the city’s young residents, and were happy to recognize one of their schools outside the public school system, as well. Some of the 50 aldermen were graduates of one of the schools, and recalled competing against their teams when they were in school.