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34 | June 21, 2018 | The lake forest leader SPORTS LakeForestLeader.com Scouts pass down fruit of labor, legacy to underclassmen Michael Parsky Sports Editorial Intern High school sports is all about family bonds, a tight-knit and unwavering brotherhood that fuses players of the past and present together. It is a high school athlete’s duty to honor those that came before them and serve as an example to those of the future. Most teams celebrate the successes and accomplishments of their predecessors by displaying IHSA tournament trophies and plaques, game balls or even a special item that holds significant value. The Lake Forest High School boys track and field team took that idea and found a fun and interesting STEM CELL RECRUITMENT FOR KNEE PAIN, ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAIN COVERED BY MEDICARE & INSURANCE * (Consultation & Treatment) & ADMINISTERED BY PAIN RELIEF INSTITUTE “ *Insurance coverage varies by plan and carrier way to put a spin on it. In 2002 Ryan Weinstock, a track and field runner, participated in the annual physics class trip to Six Flags Great America theme park in Gurnee and came back with what is perhaps the team’s most profound and distinguished tradition: a giant, golden, plush, banana. That banana has been passed down from generation to generation of track and field athletes. That is right. A colossal, potassium-rich plush banana that stands taller than some of the athletes themselves with eyes, a nose and mouth stitched onto its peel. This banana has served as the pinnacle of what every LFHS track and field athlete strives to CONVENIENT, PAINLESS & FDA REGULATED INDICATIONS FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE » Knee Arthritis (Shoulder & Hip) » “Bone-on-Bone” » Joint Pain & Inflammation » Muscle Tear or Injury » Avoid Surgery and Joint Replacement » Plantar Fasciitis “ Unlocking the natural regenerative power of the human body attain for the last 16 years. While the timing of the “passing of the banana” tradition has changed throughout the years, the same meaning of receiving the banana still holds true. “It used to be an everyyear tradition, but somewhere in there it became an every-other-year type of thing,” LFHS track and field head coach John Brumund-Smith said. “The tradition is that a senior picks a sophomore who they think represents the program well and who will carry on the tradition of running hard and excelling.” This year, at the LFHS boys track and field annual end-of-the-season banquet, awards and accolades are handed out to Most Appointments Available Within 48 Hours 847.243.6978 ELMHURST - GLENVIEW - BLOOMINGDALE - VERNON HILLS - HIGHLAND PARK high-achieving athletes on the team. Scouts senior Landon Edwards, at the time the current owner of the banana, chose sophomore Lucas Redding to be the next recipient of the banana and to perpetuate the winning tradition associated with it. “Lucas has our (freshman-sophomore) record in the 4 by 400-meter relay and was the best hurdler on our team this last year,” Brumund-Smith said. “He’s just a great kid.” Redding was humbled by his nomination and appreciates the recognition bestowed upon him by his elder teammate. “It’s just a lot of respect person-wise to get it handed down to you,” Redding said. “There’s a lot more than just hard work that goes into it. You have to be there for people and help the team get better. I got close with upperclassmen like Landon (Edwards), (Liam) Pooler, and I think that really helped because more people would start to care for you and then you can start helping other guys as well.” Born into a running family, Redding was first introduced to track and field at a young age. “I grew up in Eugene, Oregon, which is where Hayward Field is, it’s one of the most renown tracks in the world,” Redding said. “Also, my dad and my mom ran track in high school.” There will be some pressure for Redding, however, as he joins an elite fraternity of LFHS track and field members. With the exception of one recipient, every single track and field star that has been handed Lake Forest alumni Brad Stambolic (left) hands down the banana to Austin McIlvaine in 2012 at the end-ofyear track and field banquet. Photo Submitted the banana has become a state qualifier. The banana first worked its magic back in 2002 with the original owner of the banana, Ryan Weinstock. “A couple weeks after he won the banana at Great America, at the sectional meet, (Weinstock) came from behind and qualified for state unexpectedly,” Brumund-Smith said. “He was the first Lake Forest High School distance runner to qualify for state in 10 years.” Since then, a legacy of state-qualifying LFHS track and field athletes has branched out, and Brumund-Smith can trace the lineage back all the way back to its source. “Weinstock in 2003 passed the banana onto freshman Timmy Lyons, who was a three-time state qualifier in the 1600 meter and still holds the school record for the 4 by 800-meter relay,” he said. “He had it from 2004-2007 and then passed it on to Mike Ellis, who was our former school record holder in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and was an all-state runner in the 300 hurdles. “Ellis held it for one year and in 2008 he handed it to sophomore Sam Howard, who held it for two years. Sam Howard was a three-time state qualifier in sprints and was all-state in the 400 meter and finished fifth in the state as a senior. “In 2009, he passed it down to Brad Stambolic, who was All-Conference in the 4 by 400-meter relay Please see BANANA, 30
LakeForestLeader.com SPORTS the lake forest leader | June 21, 2018 | 35 1st-and-3 Photo Submitted Banana Facts 1. Sleeping on the job (ABOVE) Andrew Farver (far left), Charlie Dewar (middle) and Joe Dilenschneider take a quick nap during a race day in 2009. 2. A Long List With the exception of one, every person on the boys track and field team to be handed the banana in the last 16 years has qualified for state. 3. Lucas Redding The rising junior at Lake Forest High School was handed the banana from Landon Edwards and will help lead the team next season. Going Places Gibson to join former teammate at DePauw Brittany Kapa, Sports Editor After four years with the Scouts, Ben Gibson spent his last game as a senior cheering his teammates on from the bench. That’s was not how Gibson envisioned ending his career with Lake Forest. “It was really hard not being able to play in the playoffs after having a pretty good senior year,” Gibson said. “It was just tough. I consider myself a leader on that team and it’s hard to not be on the floor for the last game.” Four games prior, Gibson had landed wrong on his leg after trying to catch a pass. That resulted in a stress fracture to his fibula. Now, having recovered, Gibson is strong, healthy and ready to attack his next adventure: college basketball. Gibson’s choices were limited after his injury, but there was one school that always showed interest. “DePauw (University) was interested from the beginning of the season and they’ve always stayed interested throughout the year,” he said. “I had some other D-III schools interested and I was also considering walking on at some D-I schools, but I thought DePauw was a great fit academically. “I have a great chance to make an impact right Listen Up “There’s a lot more than just hard work that goes into it. You have to be there for people and help the team get better.” Lucas Redding — Lake Forest rising junior, on receiving the banana away. That’s something I was really looking forward to.” Gibson will join former teammate Justin McMahon, who will be a sophomore on the roster for the 2018 season with Gibson. Gibson credited McMahon with helping him commit to the Indiana university. Bill Fenlon, the Tigers’ head coach, has been with the team for 24 years and has built a program that Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala has come to admire, Gibson said. “Our coach (LaScala) loves the culture and the program that they’ve built,” Gibson said. “Something that Coach LaScala made a big part of our team is just working hard and giving it your all everyday.” That philosophy was always a notion Gibson had no problem backing. “I think Coach Fenlon said that their team is full of gym rats, who love getting into the gym and that’s what I consider myself too,” Gibson added. Gibson is already preparing for next season, thanks to the workout plan DePauw sent over. He is also working on transitioning from a center to a guard, and knows that will require lots of hard work on his part. “Some of the things I tune in Ben Gibson, a 2018 graduate of Lake Forest High School, will play for DePauw University in Indiana in the upcoming basketball season. 22nd Century Media File Photo want to improve on are my ball handling and my shooting,” he said. “Also, my quickness and vertical because in high school I played mostly big man and that’s going to change next year. I’m going to have to handle the ball more and score from the outside a lot more because it’s going to be a lot bigger players.” In Gibson’s senior year Golf Marathon Madness Cheer on marathon golfers during this fundraising event. • Lake Bluff Golf Club, Tuesday, June 26, 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m. at Lake Forest, he averaged 16 ppg, 5.5 rebounds and shot 60 percent inside the paint and 32 percent from the outside. Gibson plans on putting in a lot of shooting work this summer in hopes of gaining that extra advantage coming into the season. Having a familiar face on the team helps too, and Index 31 - Team USA Track and Field 30 - Athlete of the Week Gibson is grateful for Mc- Mahon’s presence. It’s this brotherhood that Gibson is looking forward to the most, just like he had at Lake Forest. He’s excited to get in there are start building those key relationships. “I think building a team brotherhood will help both on and off the court with chemistry,” he said. Fastbreak is compiled by Sports Editor Brittany Kapa. Send any questions or comments to b.kapa@22ndcenturymedia.com.
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