Shepard, Eisenhower, Richards tennis programs at state

There's so much happening in this simple photo from the IHSA state tennis finals that it will take several paragraphs to explain.

A pair of schools from District 218 qualified players for the state finals.

Shepard High School coaches Kelly Myron and Patrick O'Boye appear with their players, Rachel Habbal and Brooke Zielke, with their friends from Eisenhower and Richards high schools.

Eisenhower coaches Cathleen Fitzgibbon and Dana Krilich traveled to the meet with their #1 Singles player Angelica Hernandez, who qualified for state after placing fourth at the IHSA sectional. Angelica also won the South Suburban Conference Red Division championship.

They all cheered for one another (no Richards player qualified for state, but coach Sue Szajek -- a Shepard mom, by the way -- still wanted to come out and support the players from Shepard and Eisenhower.)

And that's the great Dmitri Cooper crouching in the black hooded jacket. Mr. Cooper, a beloved coach and teacher from Shepard, retired last spring but still wanted to support his friends and all the players from
District 218. Many thanks to Coach Myron for the great photo.