Chicago St. Benedict High School “Bengals”

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The History of Chicago St. Benedicts High School

Chicago (population: 2.8 million) is located along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Illinois. From its early days as a Potawatomie settlement, then as the site of Fort Dearborn in 1803, which led up to the formation of the city and its incorporation in 1833 and 1837, respectively, the “City of Big Shoulders” became a major location in the US for various reasons.

Railroads and water transportation were two reasons why Chicago was one of the fastest growing cities in the country during the 19th Century. Today, numerous railroads and highways of interstate, US, state, and local designations bring people together in the city on a daily basis, as does air traffic at O’Hare and Midway Airports. Chicago is a melting pot of people from many nationalities, making it ethnically diverse, and thus is referred to as “the financial, economic, and cultural capital of the Midwest (according to Wikipedia).”

St. Benedict Catholic School, located at 3900 N. Leavitt Street, was established as a co-educational grade school for grades 1-8 in 1902. In 1950 a 4-year high school was added to the curriculum. After many years of solid enrollment and quality education St. Benedict found its high school enrollment beginning to decrease. By 2017 the high school enrollment was 102 students. With only 12 potential freshmen taking the entrance exam to attend the high school in the fall of 2018 and only 11 sophomores enrolled, it was decided to end high school curriculum at the school. St. Benedict High School came to an official end in the Spring of 2019 with the final graduating class receiving their diplomas.

NBC Chicago News Article from February 25, 2017.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/st-benedict-preparatory-chicago-closes-high-school-414786563.html

St. Benedict Grade School continues on in the same building however. The grade school serves grades PK3 – 8. The St. Benedict High School building remains in use and in great condition.

Chicago St. Benedict Catholic High School Quick Facts

Year Opened:                     1950

Year Closed:                       2019

School Bldg Use:                Continues as a grade school.

School Team Nickname:    “Bengals”

School Team Colors:          Maroon & Gold

School Fight Song:             (Needed)
ATHLETICS

    

The St. Benedict Bengals and Lady Bengals fared very well over the years in various sports offered at the school. The boys baseball team even made it to the IHSA Elite 8 round in 1987. The records of any sport found on the IHSA website (www.ihsa.org) are reprinted below. If you have any further information to add about these or any other sport at St. Ben’s please contact us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net.

    

BASEBALL

An Elite 8 and a Sweet 16 birth into the IHSA State playoffs were the highlights of the Bengal baseball program. The Elite 8 team of 1986-87 provided the deepest run for any team of any sport in St. Benedict High School history.

1986-87       24 – 6         IHSA Class ‘A’  ELITE 8                             Coach Bob Carlson

 IHSA Regional Champions

                                      IHSA Sectional Champions

                                      IHSA Elite 8 Finalists

                                      Lost to Roanoke Benson 5-4

                                      Roanoke lost in Final 4 round.

1991-92       13 – 15                                                                            Coach Dean Stavrakas

1992-93       25 – 11                                                                            Coach Dean Stavrakas

1993-94       28 – 9                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

1994-95       30 – 7                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

1995-96       15 – 16                                                                            Coach Dean Stavrakas

1996-97       23 – 8                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

1997-98       23 – 7                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

1998-99       23 – 9                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

1999-00       26 – 8                                                                              Coach Dean Stavrakas

2000-01       24 – 14                                                                            Coach Dean Stavrakas

                *Coach Stavrakas 229 – 104 in 10 years!

        

2002-03       18 – 9         IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16                            Coach Peter Krackenberger

                                      IHSA Regional Champions

                                      IHSA Sectional Champions

                                      IHSA Super-Sectional FInalists

                                      Lost to Wilmington 2-0

Wilmington won State Championship

2005-06         6 – 5 – 1                                                                        Coach Rob Potempa

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The girls basketball program was very solid over the years. The highlight was the team of 1999-00 which reached the IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 round! The program also won a total of 11 Regional titles!

1982-83                     IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

1994-95      17 – 10                                                                           Coach Valerie Enwall

1995-96      16 – 11                                                                           Coach Valerie Enwall

1996-97      21 – 8      IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions          Coach Valarie Enwall

1997-98      20 – 8                                                                             Coach Valerie Enwall

1998-99      24 – 9      IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions          Coach Valarie Enwall

                        

1999-00      21 – 13    IHSA Class ‘A’ Sweet 16 Finalists               Coach Valarie Enwall

                                  IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

                                  IHSA Class ‘A’ Sectional Champions

                                  IHSA Class ‘A’ Super-Sectional Finalists

Lost to Elmhurst Timothy Christian 58-54

Timothy Christian placed 4th in Tournament

2000-01      10 – 22    IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions        Coach Christopher Ford

2001-02      13 – 18    IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions        Coach Christopher Ford

           

2002-03      18 – 14    IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions        Coach Christopher Ford

                        

2003-04      14 – 18    IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions        Coach Christopher Ford

                         

2004-05        3 – 23                                                                         Coach Christopher Ford

2005-06        9 – 20                                                                         Coach Christopher Ford

2006-07      18 – 11                                                                         Coach Christopher Ford

                   

2009-10                      IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions

2010-11      23 – 8       IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions     Coach Christopher Ford

2012-13                      IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions

2014-15                      IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions

2015-16                                                                                           Coaches Marc Levinson

                                                                                                        & Kim Coleman

2016-17       1 – 19                                                                           Coach Amanda Genge

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The St. Benedict HS volleyball team had some great seasons. A total of 10 Regional titles were won by the lady netters.                          

1989-90                         IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

                     

1991-92                         IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

                  

1994-95       7 – 11                                                                           Coach Ron Ashlaw

1995-96     14 – 11                                                                           Coach Ron Ashlaw

1996-97     20 – 9                                                                             Coach Ron Ashlaw

                      

1997-98     23 – 11         IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions     Coach Ron Ashlaw

                     

1998-99     26 – 6 – 2                                                                        Coach Ron Ashlaw

1999-00     14 – 13 – 2                                                                      Coach Ron Ashlaw

    

2003-04     11 – 13         IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions     Coach David Funkhouser

               

2006-07     13 – 9                                                                             Coach David Funkhouser

2007-08     15 – 5 – 1      IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions   Coach David Funkhouser

2008-09     15 – 9           IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions   Coach David Funkhouser 

               

2009-10     12 – 6 – 1                                                                         Coach David Funkhouser

2010-11     19 – 6                                                                              Coach David Funkhouser

     

2012-13                         IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions

                         

2014-15                         IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Champions

                           

2015-16                         IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions    Coach Megan Hersey

2016-17     11 – 10 – 2    IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions    Coach Amanda Genge 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Three Regional titles were won by the St. Benedict boys basketball program.

     

1988-89                           IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

                  

1989-90                           IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

1991-92                           IHSA Class ‘A’ Regional Champions

                 

1998-99        18 – 9                                                                           Coach Ron Ashlaw

1999-00          9 – 19                                                                         Coach Ron Ashlaw

2000-01        12 – 17                                                                         Coach Ron Ashlaw

2001-02        14 – 16                                                                         Coach Ron Ashlaw

2002-03        21 – 9                                                                           Coach Derek Rubino

2003-04        11 – 16                                                                         Coach Derek Rubino

2004-05          8 – 18                                                                         Coach Derek Rubino

2005-06          5 – 22                                                                         Coach Derek Rubino

2006-07          7 – 19                                                                         Coach Kevin Morrow

2010-11        15 – 12                                                                         Coach Tom Horn

2013-14                                                                                            Coach John Billhorn

2014-15                                                                                            Coach John Billhorn

2015-16         14 – 16                                                                        Coach John Billhorn

2016-17           7 – 17                                                                        Coach Brian Lukens

BOYS SOCCER

The boys competed in soccer and enjoyed some very competitive seasons.

2010-11                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski

2011-12                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski

2012-13                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski

2013-14                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski

2014-15                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski

2015-16                                                                                            Coach Greg Borkowski 

2016-17          6 – 9 – 2                                                                      Coach Greg Borkowski

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The boys of St. Ben’s began a volleyball program as well. Any further information regarding this sport would be appreciated.

2015-16           6 – 11                                                                        Coach Chris Deakins

GIRLS BOWLING

                

The Lady Bengals had some success in bowling, including an IHSA District Championship in the 1976-77 school year.

1976-77                        IHSA State Finals Qualifier                      Coach Sr. Marie Terese

                                         IHSA District Champions

GIRLS SOCCER

The girls athletic program included soccer as well. If you have any further information about the Lady Bengal soccer exploits please contact us via email.

2015-16      3 – 6 – 3                                                                         Coach Greg Borkowski

We Are Still Accepting Information About St. Benedict High School

If you have any further information regarding St. Benedict Preparatory Catholic High School please contact us via email at the following address:

Email:  ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net
   
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