Notebook: Lake Park
50th-anniversary celebration
By Bobby Narang
ROSELLE -- Late Saturday morning, Norm Hillner turned his body to position himself to get a better view of the soccer field.
On a steamy and cloudless day, the longtime Lake Park coach talked with pride on the role he played to help build the Lancers’ program into one of the oldest in the state.
Hillner and current Lake Park coach Sean Crosby, a 2004 alum, helped organize a 50th-anniversary celebration Saturday before the start of the Lancers’ game against York in the 30th-annual Norm Hillner Classic.
Eleven former players were among the attendees at the tournament. Before Saturday’s game, each player was introduced to the crowd, then walked 50 yards to shake hands with each player on the current Lancers’ team. Last Saturday, Crosby said 50 former players attended a golf outing to celebrate the 50th year of the program. Each former player Saturday received a t-shirt with the words “Lake Park, one of the oldest boys soccer programs in the state of Illinois.”
After Kevin Evans started the program in 1972, Hillner took over the head coaching duties in 1980. He coached the program for 16 years before stepping down following the 1994-95 season In 1999, Hillner returned to lead the program for a 14-year successful run before retiring in 2011-12.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years for Lake Park soccer,” Hillner said. “I started coaching here in 1980, when I was 23 years old. Sean played for me, and a few of his assistants, like Chris Jahns, did as well. It’s terrific. We had some great success, but like all programs, some tough losses. We lost a lot of games on PKs, in sectionals and supersectionals and even conference tournament games. But we had some great wins. It’s about the kids. I’m just glad to be a part of helping mold them into young men. We even had four girls play soccer. I’ve seen guys from all classes, even the first few ones, be supportive. We had 18 sets of brothers play during my time period as a coach."
In 28 years, Hillner recorded a record of 369-211-73 at Lake Park. Overall, after a 5-0 loss to York on Saturday, the Lancers have a program record of 574-383-124. Six coaches — Hillner, Crosby, Evans, Jeff Adkins, Tom Castronova and Anthony Passi — contributed to the record.
Hillner laughed when recalling playing a big part in handing one of those losses to Lake Park, when he was a senior at Maine West in 1974. Hillner said he scored two goals in the win.
Hillner said he’s proud of all the accomplishments on the field, but his real joy comes from his relationships with his former players.
“To be in touch with kids from still from the Class of 1981 to my last year in 2011 and seeing guys from all the classes today and last weekend is just terrific,” he said. “We had terrific support. We have a soccer-specific stadium, with three fields. A lot of people don’t have that. The memories are incredible. I had so many great assistants, like almost 50 guys in my tenure who helped develop the players and a philosophy of pride, tradition and sportsmanship. I was here 28 years. High school sports is really, really special, just so many special kids.”
The Lancers, under Hillner, certainly had many special kids, including Crosby, Nick Mariani, Michael Richardson, Chris Gawel, Joe Cormany, Steve Shawke, Jason Seger, Brian Lehky, Ryan Bowman, Vince Revak, Joey DeFrancesco and Mike Keane.
“My last game here was here on Senior Day in 2011, and we scored in the last 30 seconds to beat Barrington,” Hillner said. “It was my 200th career win at Krupke Field, just on this field where we play our home games. This is a special place to me.”
Former player Brian Fischer is still a part of the school
The 2012 Lake Park grad was among the attendees for Saturday’s pre-game ceremony. Fischer, the current boys and girls varsity volleyball coach at Lake Park, earned the Upstate Eight Sportsmanship Award in 2011 on Hillner’s last team that finished 17-7-2 and won a Class 3A regional title. Hillner won 11 regional championships and two sectional titles.
“We had a great group of guys that graduated with me, and we took it to heart that it was coach Hillner’s last team, and we took to heart the that a legend was retiring and going out the same year we were,” Fischer said. “I think we had more enthusiasm and drive to make sure we were playing our best each and every game for him. Some of my best friends still to this date are some of the guys from those soccer teams.
“Being one of the older soccer programs in the state you can see the tradition. This shows the tradition and love for the program, just to give back and continue the tradition and legacies.”
Jesus Juarez, a 2019 graduate, played three years on the varsity, including on the Class 3A fourth place team in 2018 coached by Crosby that finished 21-5-3. Juarez said he cherished his soccer experience at Lake Park and now enjoys watching his younger brother, Anthony, play for the Lancers.
“It brings a lot of memories coming back, especially seeing my brother play out there right now,” Juarez said. “I hope he leaves a better legacy than me. I have a lot of faith in this team. I have some great memories, mainly that year we went to state. That was a great year. We built so many bonds and memories with the coaches and players.
“We all started building toward that senior year, and we had that great undefeated run at the start of the year. We were like family. I miss it. I wish I could come back and still play. Hopefully, Lake Park can build on its great tradition over the years.”
Crosby is putting his own touch on the program that he played for in high school. He was a captain on the 2004 team and earned honorable mention honors in the Upstate Eight Conference. In his first five years, Crosby has a 53-42-17 record at Lake Park. He credited Hillner for helping him become a coach.
“We have a lot of history with boys soccer at Lake Park,” Crosby said. “We’ve only had six coaches in 50 years. I feel tremendous honor to be a part of it as a coach. A lot of it was putting the tradition through Norm Hillner. He has done so much for soccer, not just at Lake Park but in the state of Illinois. He’s a huge advocate for the game and moved the game forward, especially at the high school level. I take a lot of pride in being the coach.
“We’ve had special back-to-back weekends, especially with the golf outing. It’s a special honor that coach Hillner came to the game, and we got to celebrate it. It was a great way to get recognized. We have a lot of tradition and history and it’s special to be a part of it.”
50th-anniversary celebration
By Bobby Narang
ROSELLE -- Late Saturday morning, Norm Hillner turned his body to position himself to get a better view of the soccer field.
On a steamy and cloudless day, the longtime Lake Park coach talked with pride on the role he played to help build the Lancers’ program into one of the oldest in the state.
Hillner and current Lake Park coach Sean Crosby, a 2004 alum, helped organize a 50th-anniversary celebration Saturday before the start of the Lancers’ game against York in the 30th-annual Norm Hillner Classic.
Eleven former players were among the attendees at the tournament. Before Saturday’s game, each player was introduced to the crowd, then walked 50 yards to shake hands with each player on the current Lancers’ team. Last Saturday, Crosby said 50 former players attended a golf outing to celebrate the 50th year of the program. Each former player Saturday received a t-shirt with the words “Lake Park, one of the oldest boys soccer programs in the state of Illinois.”
After Kevin Evans started the program in 1972, Hillner took over the head coaching duties in 1980. He coached the program for 16 years before stepping down following the 1994-95 season In 1999, Hillner returned to lead the program for a 14-year successful run before retiring in 2011-12.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 50 years for Lake Park soccer,” Hillner said. “I started coaching here in 1980, when I was 23 years old. Sean played for me, and a few of his assistants, like Chris Jahns, did as well. It’s terrific. We had some great success, but like all programs, some tough losses. We lost a lot of games on PKs, in sectionals and supersectionals and even conference tournament games. But we had some great wins. It’s about the kids. I’m just glad to be a part of helping mold them into young men. We even had four girls play soccer. I’ve seen guys from all classes, even the first few ones, be supportive. We had 18 sets of brothers play during my time period as a coach."
In 28 years, Hillner recorded a record of 369-211-73 at Lake Park. Overall, after a 5-0 loss to York on Saturday, the Lancers have a program record of 574-383-124. Six coaches — Hillner, Crosby, Evans, Jeff Adkins, Tom Castronova and Anthony Passi — contributed to the record.
Hillner laughed when recalling playing a big part in handing one of those losses to Lake Park, when he was a senior at Maine West in 1974. Hillner said he scored two goals in the win.
Hillner said he’s proud of all the accomplishments on the field, but his real joy comes from his relationships with his former players.
“To be in touch with kids from still from the Class of 1981 to my last year in 2011 and seeing guys from all the classes today and last weekend is just terrific,” he said. “We had terrific support. We have a soccer-specific stadium, with three fields. A lot of people don’t have that. The memories are incredible. I had so many great assistants, like almost 50 guys in my tenure who helped develop the players and a philosophy of pride, tradition and sportsmanship. I was here 28 years. High school sports is really, really special, just so many special kids.”
The Lancers, under Hillner, certainly had many special kids, including Crosby, Nick Mariani, Michael Richardson, Chris Gawel, Joe Cormany, Steve Shawke, Jason Seger, Brian Lehky, Ryan Bowman, Vince Revak, Joey DeFrancesco and Mike Keane.
“My last game here was here on Senior Day in 2011, and we scored in the last 30 seconds to beat Barrington,” Hillner said. “It was my 200th career win at Krupke Field, just on this field where we play our home games. This is a special place to me.”
Former player Brian Fischer is still a part of the school
The 2012 Lake Park grad was among the attendees for Saturday’s pre-game ceremony. Fischer, the current boys and girls varsity volleyball coach at Lake Park, earned the Upstate Eight Sportsmanship Award in 2011 on Hillner’s last team that finished 17-7-2 and won a Class 3A regional title. Hillner won 11 regional championships and two sectional titles.
“We had a great group of guys that graduated with me, and we took it to heart that it was coach Hillner’s last team, and we took to heart the that a legend was retiring and going out the same year we were,” Fischer said. “I think we had more enthusiasm and drive to make sure we were playing our best each and every game for him. Some of my best friends still to this date are some of the guys from those soccer teams.
“Being one of the older soccer programs in the state you can see the tradition. This shows the tradition and love for the program, just to give back and continue the tradition and legacies.”
Jesus Juarez, a 2019 graduate, played three years on the varsity, including on the Class 3A fourth place team in 2018 coached by Crosby that finished 21-5-3. Juarez said he cherished his soccer experience at Lake Park and now enjoys watching his younger brother, Anthony, play for the Lancers.
“It brings a lot of memories coming back, especially seeing my brother play out there right now,” Juarez said. “I hope he leaves a better legacy than me. I have a lot of faith in this team. I have some great memories, mainly that year we went to state. That was a great year. We built so many bonds and memories with the coaches and players.
“We all started building toward that senior year, and we had that great undefeated run at the start of the year. We were like family. I miss it. I wish I could come back and still play. Hopefully, Lake Park can build on its great tradition over the years.”
Crosby is putting his own touch on the program that he played for in high school. He was a captain on the 2004 team and earned honorable mention honors in the Upstate Eight Conference. In his first five years, Crosby has a 53-42-17 record at Lake Park. He credited Hillner for helping him become a coach.
“We have a lot of history with boys soccer at Lake Park,” Crosby said. “We’ve only had six coaches in 50 years. I feel tremendous honor to be a part of it as a coach. A lot of it was putting the tradition through Norm Hillner. He has done so much for soccer, not just at Lake Park but in the state of Illinois. He’s a huge advocate for the game and moved the game forward, especially at the high school level. I take a lot of pride in being the coach.
“We’ve had special back-to-back weekends, especially with the golf outing. It’s a special honor that coach Hillner came to the game, and we got to celebrate it. It was a great way to get recognized. We have a lot of tradition and history and it’s special to be a part of it.”