This year, Niles West is different. While there are many changes that come with a new school year, one big change is the conference switch for all sports teams. The Central Suburban League (CSL) is an IHSA (Illinois High School Association) recognized high school extracurricular conference. In previous years, the Wolves have been competing in the South Division of the CSL against top schools like Maine South, Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North. This year, Niles West competes in the North Division with Maine East, Maine West, Vernon Hills, Highland Park and our rival Niles North.
Andrew Lim, junior, is an athlete at Niles West. He explains how the conference switch affects the baseball team.
“When I found out that we weren’t going to play any teams in the CSL conference for schools like New Trier, Maine South and those schools for baseball season, it was kind of frustrating because those are one of the better teams in the state and I want to have another chance to play them, and have a chance to beat them. This year we are just playing against teams like Niles North and Maine East so the competition is a lot lower and even though we will probably get more wins out of it, I like to challenge myself and play against better teams,” Lim said.
Niki Manojlovic, senior, is a four-year varsity tennis player who has high hopes for the team with the new conference change this year.
“The competition has definitely gotten less competitive and it gives us a greater opportunity and chance at seeding higher in [the] conference and overall just placing and doing better. Although we changed, we still do have to work as hard as we worked last year to get to where we want to be,” Manojlovic said.
Football coach Nick Torresso expresses his opinion about the way the switch will change the dynamic of the football program.
“I am kind of impartial to it. I think that it’s necessary just because of where we are in the program. Really, it’s just more for the lower levels like Varsity. I am not as concerned because after a little bit of time with the weight room and the development of the program, we can compete with anybody. But for our incoming 8th graders and freshmen that are just playing football for the first time to play the level of competition that the [CSL south] comes in with, just based on their feeder programs, is not an equitable experience for our kids and it’s kind of a safety concern as well. I feel better about the overall safety of our kids’ experience, but in terms of the Varsity [team], its neither here nor there, we can play with anybody. As a coach, it doesn’t really change much. We prepare for everybody, we focus on us and it doesn’t matter who we play so we prepare the same every week,” Torresso said.
Football player, Jayden Fowler, senior, feels that this is a good opportunity to show how hard the team can work.
“It is a lower competition, but it is still not the easiest schedule of all time as everyone says. I also think that we can win conferences as well. [With this change] it makes it a lot easier. Although we are in a lower conference now, instead of being the prey we are the predators, so no one wants to beat us,” Fowler said.
This conference change has definitely changed the momentum of games for all sports this year, but with hard work and dedication the Wolves have an advantage to succeed. Wolves are the predators now, not prey.
