As they begin the new school year, John Stelzer, Oak Park and River Forest High School’s athletic director, and Scott Thies, his Fenwick High School counterpart, are as enthusiastic as they have ever been.
“I think the start of a new school year and a new sports season is always exciting,” Stelzer said. “[That has been] especially [so] the last five years that we’ve had Friday night football.”
Fenwick is also eager to build off last year’s incredible run of athletic success.
“We are very excited about the new school year,” Thies said. “It presents new opportunities for our kids to take on leadership roles, build relationships, and work towards individual and team goals.”
The installation of lights at the OPRF football stadium in 2009 has heightened interest in the OPRF football program, which is undergoing a resurgence under head coach John Hoerster. Attendance has skyrocketed, as has school pride, and the Huskies have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
Stelzer could not be happier about that.
“The attendance numbers have increased every year,” Stelzer said. “We’re drawing an average of 4,000 fans per game, sometimes more depending on the opponent. We have 1,000 to 1,500 students at every game.”
OPRF was one of the last major high schools in the suburbs to install lights. Glenbard West, currently the Huskies’ biggest rival in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, is now the only WSC school without lights.
The switch from Saturday afternoon games to Friday night contests has been a boon for OPRF as the night games have proven to be a social event as they are at other schools.
“The Friday night games have become an event for the community,” Stelzer said. “It’s a great way for our students to show their school spirit.”
The school had wanted to install lights for many years but the effort had been derailed by vocal opposition from neighbors, who had concerns that noise, parking, misbehavior and other issues would negatively affect the quiet residential community that surrounds the school.
But the village finally passed an ordinance allowing the lights and Stelzer acknowledged that while some neighbors might not be happy with it, things have worked out.
“We as a school have gone above and beyond in our effort to abide by the ordinance,” Stelzer said. “We’ve been good neighbors in regards to the night games. There have been no incidents at our night games. That’s the proof. It’s just been very positive.”
The rise of OPRF’s football program has been mirrored at Fenwick, which has won conference championships in each of the past two seasons under head coach Gene Nudo, giving the village two quality teams to root for.
The crosstown rivals are different sizes and play in different conferences, but local fans would love to see the schools play each other on the gridiron as they do in many other sports.
Stelzer is not opposed to the Huskies and Friars squaring off but said it won’t be happening soon.
“The topic always comes up but it has not come up in a meaningful discussion,” Stelzer said. “Part of the reason is our schedules. We only have one non-conference game on the schedule.
“No one is opposed to playing Fenwick but the timing has to be right for both schools.”
That time is not now. The Huskies are locked into six games against WSC Silver opponents as well as two crossover games each year against WSC Gold foes.
Fenwick, meanwhile, is competing in the Chicago Catholic League Green Division for the first time, part of a realignment brought on by the CCL’s expansion. The Friars have four division games, plus three crossovers.
“We haven’t talked a lot about Fenwick/OPRF in terms of football,” Thies said. “We are focused on our present challenges, but we are always evaluating our programs and schedules.
“It’s funny because our families from Hinsdale would love to see us play Hinsdale Central or those from LaGrange want LT. We have a lot of respect for OPRF and Coach Hoerster and the success of both football programs has been great for the community.”
OPRF’s only non-conference game is the season opener Aug. 29 at Lincoln-Way East, which has never missed the playoffs in its 13-year history. Fenwick, which is roughly half the size of OPRF, opens at Carmel and hosts Bishop Lynch of Dallas in its non-league games.
Despite its relatively small size, Fenwick plays in Class 7A and faces 8A powerhouse Loyola this season, so a game against 8A OPRF wouldn’t faze the Friars.
“We play Lincoln-Way East this year, so we’re not afraid to play anybody,” Stelzer said. “[Fenwick] has a strong schedule, too.”
A matchup between the Huskies and Friars would prove to be a huge draw. Fenwick, which will play its home games at Morton West and Concordia University this fall, used to play many of its home games at the OPRF stadium, so it would be a virtual home game for both squads and a much-hyped event.
“It would be an extremely large crowd,” Stelzer said. “We don’t have a large enough visitors’ bleachers and that is one thing we’re looking at [expanding].
“Both sides are having a resurgence in their football programs. Maybe it will happen but it won’t be in the near future because we’re locked into our non-conference schedules for the next four or five years.”
Until then, there should be plenty of excitement on both sides of the Green Line. The Huskies have made the second round of the playoffs the past two seasons, the first time they’ve accomplished that since 1985-86, while the Friars are shooting for their third straight playoff berth after going 10-3 last fall.
But that excitement isn’t limited to the gridiron.
“Our boys soccer team should be very competitive again and we expect our girls volleyball team to have just as good a season as last season,” Stelzer said. “Our field hockey team is always good and the girls cross-country team had a great freshman class last year and they’re all back.”
OPRF hosts five football games this fall, including a stretch of three straight against Proviso West on Sept. 12, Downers Grove North on Sept. 19 and York for Homecoming on Sept. 26.
Homecoming weekend will also include field hockey games in the stadium on Saturday as well as the annual OPRF cross-country invitational that morning. The field hockey team also hosts its Huskie Invitational on Sept. 19-20, which will include 16 teams from around the country.
Fenwick is poised for another standout year in sports as well. The Friars won a state title in girls water polo, took second in the state in boys water polo, and the girls swim team notched third in the state last season. Those standout programs, along with girls track, (10th in state last season), boys soccer (conference champs), boys basketball (regional champs), baseball (best finish in school history), softball (regional champs), rugby jv (state champs) and girls tennis (18th in state), among others, are all expected to perform very well this school year.
“I have been at Fenwick for 11 years now, this will be my fourth as the athletic director,” Thies said. “I have no idea where the last 11 years have gone but I have enjoyed every minute of it. Fenwick has a culture and mission that I truly believe in. I’m grateful every day that I can be a part of an institution that is student-centered.”
