Lake Park High School

News of the year

– Lake Park High School District 108 completed the first phase of its three-year, $62 million construction and renovation project at the beginning of the school year. Improvements included a new main entrance, student cafeteria and two-story wing with 20 additional classrooms at both East and West campuses.

– Lake Park High School’s marching band placed 14th in the overall category during the Bands of America grand national competition in November. The band scored two points higher than last year in the semifinals but did not make it to finals. Also in the semifinals, the band placed 12th in the general effect music category, eighth in visual general effect and 10th in individual music performance. The marching band won Class 6A competition and placed second overall at the 39th State of Illinois Invitational Marching Band Competition.

– Lake Park hired Lynne Panega as assistant superintendent of curriculum and Peter Schauer as athletics director.

– Seventeen students from Germany visited Lake Park High School in the fall. They stayed with host families for three weeks as part of the German Exchange Program.

Athletic achievements

Team

– The girls cross-country team placed second in the Upstate Eight Conference with a 12-1 record.

– The girls tennis team placed second at Conference and was a four-time state qualifier.

– The girls volleyball team advanced to regionals.

– Wrestling, boys soccer and boys basketball teams each received the title of regional champs.

– Both the girls and boys bowling teams were sectional champs. The girls later placed 11th in the state. The boys placed 13th in the state.

– The boys swimming team placed fourth at the IHSA sectionals.

– The girls gymnastics team placed third at regionals and became a sectional qualifier.

Individual

– Maddie Sims became the school’s first four-time sectional qualifier in girls golf.

– Alison Tornatore, sophomore Katie Friedlund and juniors Katherine Pospisil and Michelle Daciolas qualified for state in tennis.

– Danielle Herrmann placed third in the state in the 100-yard breast stroke in swimming.

– Ashley Casper and Sarah Reynertson qualified for state in swimming.

– Steve Bach was named all-conference in cross country.

– Stephanie Blagich, the school’s softball pitcher, received a full scholarship to DePaul University.

– Bowler Jon Marut was named all-state and placed third in the state tournament.

– Kara Niehus was part of a five-member team of culinary students from the Technology Center of DuPage to earn second place at the fourth annual ProStart Invitational.

– Stephan Gray, Eddie Kryger, Eric Mora, Keith Page and Phil Zerante were named all-conference in football.

– Several boys basketball players received individual honors. Senior Dave Mikrut was named all-conference and received the Daily Herald all-area honorable mention. Senior Chad Meyer and sophomore Mike Balleto were named all-conference and received the DuPage County all-area honorable mention.

– A number of the school’s wrestling team members received individual honors. John Vitols was named Upstate Eight Champion and state qualifier. Mike Amato was named regional champion, sectional champion and state qualifier. Basar Malak was named regional champion and state qualifier.

Academic achievements

Group

– Lake Park’s theatrical production of “Hamlet II” won first place in the group interpretation competition at the IHSA sectionals and qualified for state. The production of “Miss Julie” won first place in the contest play category at sectionals and seventh place in the state.

– The school’s Mathletes won Upstate Eight and regional championships and later placed 16th in the state.

– The Lancettes made the Illinois Drill Team Association state competition for the ninth time. They won first place in the production category and second in the lyrical category.

– The chess team was the Upstate Eight conference champion for the second consecutive year. It also competed at state.

– The Lake Park Winter Guard placed seventh in the finals competition at the Winter Guard International Regional Championships.

Special events

Theater

– “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” Oct. 9

– “Arabian Nights,” Nov. 4-6

– “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Dec. 2-4

– “Into the Woods,” Jan. 20-23

– “Kiss Me Kate,” April 28-May 1

Homecoming week

– Students celebrated theme days from Oct. 4-8. Monday was Patriotic Day, Tuesday was Kooky Kollege Day, Wednesday was Class Color Day; Thursday was Tropical Day and Friday was Lancer Pride Day.

– Girls football championship game took place at West Campus Oct. 6.

– Homecoming pep rally and coronation took place Oct. 8.

Homecoming

Theme: “Lost at Sea”

Royalty: Seniors Mike Tasch and Shannon Helmig

Winter Dance

Theme: “Snowfall Ball”

Special programs

– Throughout the year, the student body raised money for a number of causes. They include: almost $2,000 for tsunami relief; $3,867 for Leukemia research in Pennies of Pasta campaign; $2,407.89 for American Heart Association in the Hoops for Heart 3 on 3 basketball tournament; $400 and dozens of boxes of clothes, personal items and entertainment collected for the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital; $2,000 for Reyes Syndrome; and $1,000 to a local family in need.

– Students Against Destructive Decisions talent show, Oct. 23

– Community Open House, Oct. 17

– Holiday Fine Arts Festival, Dec. 15-16

– Daddy and Daughter Dinner Dance, Dec. 1

– Dance Ensemble Recital, Feb. 25-26

– Distinguished Alumni Recognition program, March 10

– Mr. Lancer: Andy Tamas

– Salsa Fiesta Dance, April 15

– Battle of the Bands, April 23

– Students Against Destructive Decisions mother and son dinner dance, April 20

– 5.0 Banquet, May 16

Prom

Theme and Song: “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra

Wrapping up

Commemoration, Awards Night

Date: May 26

Speakers: Maura Tresch

Commemoration Address: Traci K. Gillig

Graduation day

Date: 5:30 p.m. June 2

Pledge to the flag: Linda Baker, student council president

Presiding for the Class of 2005: Patricia Manos

Presentation of class gifts: Patricia Manos

Senior speaker: Traci Gillig

Performers: Lake Park senior concert choir

Class song: “I Wish You Well, My Friend” by Nancy Price and Don Besig

Farewells

Retirees

– John A. Carlson, five years

– Norbert A. Quaiver, 10 years

– Richard J. Frankowitch, 11 years

– Beverly C. Panagiotaros, 11 years

– Cynthia A. Gliosci, 15 years

– Claudia A. Sloan, 15 years

– Georgann Stanger, 15 years

– Geraldine M. Frankowitch, 20 years

– Mary R. Boergerhoff, 21 years

– Elaine A. Model, 21 years

– Barbara J. Laba, 22 years

– Diane J. Hanik, 23 years

– Elizabeth Wally, 27 years

– Joseph T. Bosslet, 32 years

– James F. Rupnick, 32 years

– Kenneth C. Evans, 33 years

– Dan H. Miller, 33 years

In memoriam

– School custodian Bounta Khathakhanthaphixay