Mount Carmel Celebrates 11th State Football Championship, Mayor Emanuel Congratulates Caravan

Written by: THE CARAVAN staff

Honoring Mount Carmel by his presence at the championship pep rally, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel congratulated the Caravan on becoming the first team from a private school in the state of Illinois to win the IHSA Class 8A football championship.

The pep rally began with Principal John Stimler praising the student body for its strong support of the team throughout the playoffs, and singling out those students on the charter bus which broke down on the return trip from Champaign, delaying their arrival until 2:30 AM. Stimler also challenged the student body to “take its lead” from the achievement of its football team, and to strive for excellence in every aspect of Mount Carmel’s academic and extracurricular programs.

Then, with the public address system blaring “We are the Champions,” the team entered the gym accompanied by the mayor, MC President Fr. Tony Mazurkiewicz, Head Coach Frank Lenti, and Athletic Director Dan Lacount. Senior wide receiver Jason Gasser had the honor of carrying the 8A trophy.

Fr. Tony introduced the various dignitaries, who included two Chicago alderman with ties to Mount Carmel: 10th Ward Alderman John Pope, a 1986 graduate, and 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea, from the Class of 1987. Then, Fr. Tony – who experienced two football state championships himself (1990 & 1991) as a Mount Carmel student, fired up the team and crowd with his “ready to go!” chant.

Lacount put the accomplishment of this year’s team into historical perspective, noting that this eleventh football championship is consistent with the school’s 113 year history of meeting every challenge it has faced as an institution. He then introduced Coach Frank Lenti, observing that the long-time coach has been at the Caravan’s helm for almost one-third of the football program’s 90 year history.

Finally, senior Don Butkus, the Caravan quarterback and one of four team captains, thanked the crowd for its season-long support and introduced Mayor Emmanuel, who spoke of the Caravan’s accomplishment as yet another indication of the talent and commitment of the young people in the Chicago area. ”One thing I know for sure,” stated Emmanuel, ” is that you never bet against kids from the city of Chicago.”