Titan Top Three highlights three of the most impactful and timely moments in sports. From record-breaking performances to postseason pushes, this section gives recognition to the teams and people shaping sports at South.

Girls’ Hockey

Through passion and tenacity, the Glenbrook Girls’ Hockey Team has climbed its way up to first in state, junior defense player Alexandra Ventura, said.

The team, which competes under the Glenbrook name but is not school-funded, brings together players from multiple schools including South, North, Regina Dominican High School, and John Hersey High School, Ventura said. Although the team only meets on Sunday nights for games, their consistent effort has translated into strong results, Ventura said. The team
currently has a record of 11-2-2*, and is ranked first in Illinois, Ventura said.

“We have been playing really tough teams, so it’s really just making sure that we’re playing as a team to beat those really good teams,” Ventura said.

The team competes in the Metro League’s scholastic division, the higher of the league’s two divisions, facing schools such as New Trier High School and York Community High School, Ventura said. Ventura credited preparation and adaptability on the ice for the team’s success.

“It is important to always be in the right mindset before games,” Ventura said. “Also, knowing how the other teams play within the game to adapt to the other teams is important.”

Many of the girls play on club teams while playing for Glenbrook, but the experience of playing with the Glenbrook team is worth the busy schedules, Ventura said.

“Just being together, even if it’s only once a week, is really meaningful to us,” Ventura said. “I is away that you make new friends outside of your club team, and in our circumstance, outside of our school.”
*Record as of Feb. 17

Boys’ Swim Record

In South’s Main Pool, Lucas Fernandez-Geddes, Boys’ Varsity Swimmer, reached a state of lactate; his muscles rhythmically contracted as he pushed through the burning sensation on the final lap of South’s 400-free relay against Maine South on Feb. 6. After his final stroke, Fernandez-Geddes knew he and seniors Noah Chen, Evan Cornoiu, and Jordan Ko broke the 400-free relay record.

The relay team’s time of 3:04 broke the 13-year record of 3:08 set 13 years ago in 2013.
“As the anchor, when I hit the wall I heard everyone cheering and I knew then that we broke the record,” Fernandez-Geddes said.

The meet against Maine South fell on the boys’ senior night, so breaking the 400-free relay record at their last guaranteed home meet made their victory especially sentimental, Fernandez-Geddes said. After the meet, the team went to Yard House to celebrate, Fernandez-Geddes added.

“This is the last time all of us can really be together because from here on out it goes conference, sectionals, then state, and some of us will end earlier than others,” Fernandez-Geddes said.

Fernandez-Geddes hopes he and his teammates can claim the state title. Through continued tenacity and passion for the water, Fernandez-Geddes is determined to make the 2025-2026 boys’ varsity swim team an inspiration for future South swimmers.

“I keep pushing myself every meet,” Fernandez-Geddes said. “I hope we continue to perform our best and we can all qualify for what we want at state.”

Girls’ Gymnastics

The Girls’ Gymnastics Team delivered when it mattered most, finishing fifth at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Finals with a score of 142.5750 at Palatine High School on Feb. 20 and Feb 21.

After advancing through regionals and sections as the top at-large qualifier, the Titans qualified as a full team for state, Steve Gale, Girls’ Varsity Gymnastics Head Coach, said. Junior Allie Mietus and sophomore Annika Troncoso qualified as individuals, Gale said. Mietus placed fourth in the all-around and sixth on uneven bars, and Troncoso earned fourth on balance beam.

“We don’t go into those competitions thinking we’ve got to win this thing,” Gale said. “Everyone just does their job. If they do their routines to the best of their abilities, good things tend to happen—and they did.”

Hosting regionals marked the team’s final home meet of the season. High-ranked teams tend to volunteer to host bigger meets, leading South to host regionals due to the strong program, Gale said.

“It is special for the girls when we are at home, because it is their gym,” Gale said. “It’s nice to be able to perform to a home crowd.”

Even before the postseason, the Titans showed they were capable of competing with the state’s best. The team placed second at the Hinsdale Central Invitational behind Downers Grove High School, the top-ranked team at the time, and later recorded the highest team total score in the state at a home dual meet against Evanston High School, Gale said. Once athletes begin performing that well with a specific routine, coaches tend to stick with it, Gale said.

“Whatever got you to this point in the state series was successful,” Gale said. “You don’t want to mess with it.”

In preparation for State, the coaching staff focused on refining the most difficult sections of each routine while maintaining the consistency that carried the team all season, Gale said. That trust in their preparation paid off under the pressure of the state meet.

“They have matured,” Gale said. “They believe in themselves, they believe in the process, and they’ve earned everything that they’ve got.”