By Dave Surico
Northside Prep's cross country awards banquet had more hardware than a Home Depot.
That's what happens with success. The Mustangs hit a zenith in the school's 11-year history this season. The many achievements weren't merely because of athletic talent.
"The team's real close; they all push each other," said coach Jon Gordon. "The neat thing about it is they're all great friends. I think that's why they work so hard for each other."
That togetherness made an impression, actually a deep indentation, in the school record book.
The biggest achievement of the season was the school's first city championship, achieved by the boys' line. The program also demolished its old record for wins in a season by 45 tallies. The new mark stands at an impressive 190 victories.
The highest praise of the evening went to the varsity boys city championship squad of Cuitlahuac Pineda Youniss, Cooper Eben, Wesley Laytham, Charlie Mesimore, Erik Zuehlke, Jiasong Yang and Fahad Sarvari. The entire team shared the Mustang Award given annually to the team leader in work ethic and mental toughness.
Pineda Youniss was recognized for an excellent season which included becoming the third Northside runner to run at the state meet. He finished in 58th place with a time of 15:23, three seconds off the school record. The senior was selected as a member of the team that represents Illinois at the Mid-East Cross Country Championships November 21 in Kettering, Ohio.
Not bad for a kid that Gordon, while locked out of his car, discovered skateboarding in the Northside parking lot.
"I used to not be able to run a block," said Pineda Youniss, who ran the first two weeks of his high school career in skateboarding shoes. "I remember the first two weeks of practice. At the end of the day my body would be completely sore, beyond any pain I'd ever felt.
"But after that, I think after the third race, I made the varsity. Cross country is so rewarding for me and mentally pushes me so much. It's a really wonderful thing.
"I'll come back during college and run with the guys. It's become a major part of my life. If I go one day without running I feel like my day isn't complete. It's that important to me."
Pineda Youniss won the Rebel Invitational in Wisconsin, and finished in the top six in seven of nine meets this season. He was the top Mustang runner in every meet. Teammate Eban was the team's second finisher in all but the season-opening meet.
"The thing that's most amazing is that we went so far and have so many great memories and great times," said Eban, who won the team's Academic Achievement Award and was named a co-winner of the Cal Ripken Jr. and Senior Leadership awards.
"I'm really proud to have this be my last season. It's nothing short of a family. Coming to practice every day we've always got smiling faces waiting for us, people pushing us. I don't think any of us could imagine where we'd be without it.
"And I'm really looking forward to see how the team is going to do (next season). I know they're going to be amazing and I'm going to keep track of them."
The 2009 boys varsity finished the season with an undefeated mark against the Public League.
The girls' team qualified for sectionals for the fourth year in a row, to keep a one-year advantage over the boys' team in that category. They're hungry to keep up that streak and more.
The squad shared a strong bond that carried it to numerous top five finishes, including a second-place trophy at the St. Patrick Invitational.
"This is one of the most amazing seasons I've ever had in cross country," said junior Karlyn Gehring. "The coaches were very supportive. We do a lot as a team.
"The thing I liked the most about this season was that all the girls ran together during the meets. This season our times were a lot closer together. We were able to push each other. It wasn't like there was one star person who brought us all along. Everybody really pushed each other and worked together."
Freshman Taylor Provax came into the program with a bang, a win in the pre-season time trial. She competed at the varsity level all season and was named a 2010 captain for her achievements and leadership. She already has big plans for next year.
"Over the summer I definitely want to get everybody out at 6:30 in the morning, get 500 miles in, and definitely have a city championship behind us for next season," Provax said. "That would be really awesome. I'm definitely looking forward to next season."
Volunteer coach Jose Nebrida was feted at the event for four years of service to the program. He leaves the team to care for his wife, who is recovering from breast cancer surgery. As a gift Nebrida received a signed photo poster of the team wearing pink gloves at a meet in support of his wife.