1st in: Rolling Meadows Invitational, Ridgewood Invitational, Indian Invitiational, Glenbrook South Invitational, Niles Invitational

1st in Conference

1st in Districts

3rd in State

Induction Year: 2017

First Row (L to R): Eileen Coursey (manager), Cindy Bychowski, Hyo Sil Park, Lisa Reiff, Lori Dethloff (manager)

Second Row (L to R): Coach Judi Sloan, Peggy Pearson, Kris Mittl, Connie Anderson, Rose Miklaj, Asst Coach John Armour

Third Row (L to R): Top Seven Runners - Laura Friedlander, Sue Rosenblum, Julie Cristante, Jenny Weiss, Patty Doles, Jennie Campbell, Robin Telengater

It took 3 years of dedication and goal setting, before the 1981 cross-country team became the most decorated at Niles West, which still stands 36 years later.

1979: The team did not qualify for state in 1979, but the girls went to Peoria to cheer and support the only individual qualifier, Laura Friedlander. Watching hundreds of runners at Detweiller Park, seeing the thousands of spectators, and attending the awards ceremony afterwards was such a thrill for everyone. On the way home, the girls made it a goal to qualify as a team the following year.

1980: With the addition of freshman Jennie Campbell, and the girls’ commitment to work very hard, the team did qualify in 1980 and placed a very respectable 13th.

Laura also improved her 75th place finish from the year before to 60th place. The night after the awards ceremony, the team went back to the Detweiller Park, formed a circle in the middle of the field and made a pack to be back in 1981 and bring home a trophy.

1981: The team worked harder then ever. The girls met daily throughout the summer, running the bike trails, climbing Mount Trashmore, and doing many repetitions on the track. In addition, they attended Camp Sweat in Bloomington Indiana, and committed to running many 10K road races and a few half marathons as a group. Because of their dedication, their wonderful friendship, and their ability to make something as mundane as running so much fun, 1981 turned into year to remember. The fact that they trained so hard together, allowed them to push so much harder for each other. They could now race in that must have “pack”, that all good cross-country teams strive for. They were also admired by the student body and were given an all school assembly before the state meet. This helped promote both the cross-country and track programs at Niles West. In addition, after all the publicity in the papers, many more junior high and elementary school students began to consider running in high school.

The 1981 teams’ major accomplishments during that historic season include:
Undefeated in Dual Meets, Rolling Meadows Invitational Champions,
Ridgewood Invitational Champions, Indian Invitational Champions,
Glenbrook South Invitation Champions, Niles Invitational Champions
1st in Conference, 1st in District, 3rd in State.
Laura Friedlander - All State 10th place