Hey, Tigers! It’s Sarah and Martyna once again, reporting from room 223! As the new semester kicks off, EPHS is gearing up for an exciting lineup of sports that promise to keep students on the edge of their seats. Whether you are an athlete or simply a spectator, get ready for some thrilling events and be prepared to cheer on your EPHS Tigers. As you may know, EPHS offers a variety of spring sports: Boys/Girls Track and Field, Girls Soccer, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, and Boys Baseball. As Sharpay Evans once said, “It’s out with the old and in with the new!” Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming sports season at EPHS!
Starting with Varsity Boys/Girls Track and Field, we interviewed the girls head coach, Kendal Ahlmann, and the boys head coach, Terrance Terry. Track and Field was one of the first sports introduced at EPHS. It has been around for 71 years! Coach Ahlmann has been training Track and Field athletes at EPHS for 10 years and has been the varsity head coach for 7 years. Not only does she coach track and field, she is the head coach of girls cross country. Wow, she must really love running! Let’s see their interesting take on Track and Field, beginning with Ms. Ahlmann:
Goal for this year/hoping for
“My goal for the girls track & field program is to stand as a competitive opponent in our new conference. This is an effect of my overall goal, which is to build confident young women who understand and commit to a process — if they show up mentally and physically prepared, success comes as a result.”
How do you ensure that players maintain a good balance between sports and academics?
“The girls will receive a full practice and competition calendar on the first day. Any proactively communicated conflicts are excused, this includes the foresight for days like ACT and AP testing. Outside of that, practices never exceed two hours. I respect and highly advocate for personal time; this comes with the expectation that practice time is equally respected and attended.”
Coach Terry started working at EPHS only last year, and he’s already the head coach for the boys Track and Field team. Clearly his coaching tactics are working, as he was able to take Jordan Boatman to the IHSA State Meet, taking 32/33 for the 400m and 22/31 for the long jump!
Goal for this year/hoping for
“The goal in the Boys’ Track and Field Program is always consistent improvement. In track we call them personal records or PRs. We will measure and track our performances throughout the season with the expectation that our athletes will get better each time they touch the track. Second, our goal is to have as many athletes as possible extend their season with an opportunity to qualify for the state meet. Third, it is our hope to accomplish team goals related to Conference and Sectional championships. With the experience of this group, we truly feel that each of these goals is truly attainable.”
What is the biggest challenge you anticipate this season?
“The greatest challenge in any track season is time. Meaning, it is a pretty long season, especially in comparison to other sports/activities, so it becomes incredibly important to not only manage and navigate the “how” but also the “when.” We want our athletes hitting their peak and performing their best at the right point in the season to truly have a chance to be successful. With the duration of the season, it becomes important to keep athletes “fresh” for the biggest moments of the season.”
In addition, boys Track and Field has been training indoors since January 21st and the girls Track and Field team since January 28th. The first meet for Boys Varsity is February 15th at 10:00 a.m. at Willowbrook High School. The first meet for the Girls Varsity is February 27th at 4:30 at Glenbard East High School. Make sure to come support your EPHS Tigers as they run their first meet this spring season! Feel free to email Coach Ahlmann or Coach Terry with further questions about this season!
Next in line is EPHS’ award-winning Girls Soccer Team. The Girls Soccer Team is divided into three teams: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman/Sophomores (aka Frosh). Last year’s season record for the Girls Varsity team was 11 wins, 3 loses, and 1 tie. Coach Blake has been head coach not only for boys but also girls for 25 years at EPHS. His coaching hasn’t let EPHS down yet, winning multiple titles and have amazing records for both teams. One of his well known sayings is “SOCCER IS FUN!” We interviewed head coach Martin Blake who led our Lady Tigers to Regionals. Check out his answers:
Looking back on past seasons, what could be improved?
“There are many things the team needs to improve on from last year. There are few opportunities to score in soccer, so we need to take advantage of those opportunities and score more goals. Another area the team needs to improve is ball control and time of possession.”
Are there any key rivalries you are particularly focused on this season?
“Ridgewood is EPHS’s main rivalry, but the only rivalry is against the team across the field from us in any match.”
What are the biggest challenges you anticipate this season?
“The biggest challenge will be keeping our edge and not losing focus. Staying engaged, motivated, and driven to improve is not an easy task to do for a full season. Teams that are both physically and mentally tough usually perform the best.“
Coach Blake has been hosting indoor open gyms since January 21st. Open gym is available for girls only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 a.m. in the main gym. The first Varsity Girls Soccer game is March 18th at 4:30 at the EPHS stadium against Hinsdale South High School. Be sure to show up and cheer for your Lady Tigers as they bring home the first win of their season!
Next up, we interviewed head coach Brittany Stanton about her Varsity Boys Volleyball Team. Although the 23-24 season was not the greatest for the boys, we are sure that the EPHS Boys Volleyball Team will have a promising season this year with many accomplishments to come.
This year will mark Coach Stanton’s fourth year in the program; she has been a JV coach for two years, and the head varsity coach for two years.
How do you plan to develop team chemistry?
“I am quite lucky that a good chunk of the boys’ team has been on the same team as one another already or are friends outside of volleyball. Most of them already have quite a strong bond with each other and know what my goals and expectations for our team are – work hard, give 100% during every practice and game, and never stop trying to be better than you were the previous day. My returning athletes also know what I expect from my players both on and off the court and can guide newer Varsity players into matching that positive, productive energy I expect from my team.”
How do you motivate players?
“There are a few different ways to motivate players, and I truly believe the type of motivation needed depends on the athlete. Some athletes look for motivation from their fellow athletes, some look for motivation from their coaches, and others find motivation within themselves. I believe that getting to know your players and understanding what kind of motivation they require is the first step, and then finding ways to cultivate motivation from every angle comes next. Our captains create inspirational speeches that they give before every game, I hold a debriefing after each game so the athletes can hear the positives and negatives from myself and their teammates, and athletes are constantly in communication with each other during practices and matches to give advice, formulate plans, make decisions, and propel each other forward. All of these strategies tend to help our players find motivation within each other, themselves, and their coaches.”
How do you ensure that players maintain a good balance between sports and academics?
“All of my volleyball players are held to strict academic expectations because they are students first and athletes second. My athletes know if they cannot keep up with their academics, their playing time will be severely impacted. In the past, Mrs. Merkouris and I have held “trade-offs” on the way to our away games, where athletes “trade” or turn in homework for snacks on the bus. We also allow and encourage our players to complete homework before their home and away matches to try and help alleviate the burden of doing all of their homework later after their games.”
Preseason training has already begun. Coach Stanton is holding open gyms on Saturdays from 9-11 AM in the East Gym – students can enter through Door 14. Their first game is April 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at Walter Christian High School. If you are able to, go support your Tigers to ensure they take down the Broncos. However, if you are unable to attend, make sure to wish them luck!
Second to last in the EPHS spring sports lineup is Girls Softball.
Coach T has been coaching the girls softball team for 25 years! One thing he would like everyone to know is that “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.” Coach Cleys has been coaching at EPHS for 4 years! She is very excited for this season and ready to have some fun!
We interviewed head coach, Angelo Tsagalis, as well as assistant coach Vanessa Cleys. Check out their sweet and simple, yet informative answers!
What is the goal for your athletes this year?
“Our goal for the softball program this year is twofold. 1. Create a team that is happy, healthy, and loves the sport. 2. We want to win! :)”
Looking back on past seasons, what can be improved?
“I think we can always improve on fundamentals and our willingness to learn. We have so many amazing girls and I love to see everyone support one another. It’s awesome when the girls can listen and improve because of their teammates.”
Are there any key rivalries you are particularly focused on this season?
“I am hopeful that we can beat EVERYONE!”
The girls open gyms have already been going on for quite some time, as they started December 2024 every Tuesday and Thursday morning! Make sure to show up for these open gyms as they are a vital part to a great season, and Coach T is taking notice of those in attendance! Be sure to cheer on your Lady Tigers as they play their first game of the season at Niles West High School at 4:30 p.m. on March 13th!
Finishing the spring lineup is boys baseball, and just like many other sports, it is also divided into three teams: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh/Soph.
Coach DiGrino has been head coach for 16 years at EPHS! Coach DiGrino is sure to lead the EPHS Boys Baseball team to success this spring season with his lifetime experiences with baseball! We interviewed head coach Alexander DiGrino; here are his thoughts on this upcoming baseball season:
How do you plan to develop team chemistry?
“To foster strong team chemistry, I plan to implement off-season weight lifting sessions and open gym practices. When student-athletes train together and face challenges as a cohesive unit, they naturally grow closer and build trust in one another.”
What are the key factors for a successful season?
“While success can be defined in various ways, I believe the cornerstone of a successful season lies in student-athlete leadership. It’s crucial that the athletes hold each other accountable; when they do this effectively, success is sure to follow.’
What are the key lessons you’ve learned from past seasons?
“One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the necessity of adapting my coaching styles, techniques, and motivational strategies to suit the diverse needs of our student-athletes. Ultimately, my goal is for every athlete to leave the program with a lifelong passion for baseball.’’
Baseball training has already started! The Boys Baseball Team will spend two months in the weight room and following that in cages for a month until the end of March. Their first game will be held at Westminster Christian at 4:30 p.m. on March 17th. Be sure to show up for the Tigers as they take on their first game of the season!
Additional Information
We hope you found our article interesting and enjoyed reading the thoughts that the EPHS Spring Sports Head Coaches have about their teams! Below you will find some additional information that is necessary in order to participate in spring sports.
- In order to participate in this year’s spring season sports, you need a physical on file, as well as a Gold Card. See Ms. Rubino to ensure you get a Gold Card and have a physical on file!
- Each sport has different dates for their tryouts. Here are the following dates:
Girls Soccer: March 3rd, 2025
Girls Softball: March 1st, 2025
Boys Volleyball: March 10, 11, and 12 at 3PM
Boys Baseball: TBD
Remember to be sure to cheer on your EPHS Tigers this spring season! Good luck to all the teams on their journey through the season. GO TIGERS!
References
- A. DiGrino, personal interview, 1/24/25
- A. Tsagalis, personal interview, 1/27/25
- B. Staton, personal interview, 1/23/25
- K. Ahlmann, personal interview, 1/27/25
- M. Blake, personal interview, 1/23/25
- T. Terry, personal interview, 1/24/25
- V. Cleys, personal interview, 1/28/25
