Morgan Park Academy’s Class of 2023 for the Athletic Walk of Fame comprises seven alumni and three teams: Joel Tornabeni ’63, Bob Carpenter ’73, Steve Menzies ’73, Sergio Brack ’93, Patrick Fitzgerald ’03, Jerricka Boone ’13, Brianna Kramer ’13, the 1972-73 football team, the 2012-13 girls basketball team, and the 2012-13 girls volleyball team.

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Joel Tornabeni ’63
Basketball, Football, Track, Baseball
Earned nine varsity letters, including all four years in basketball, and was named best athlete as a senior … Three-time captain who used his accurate “long corner set shot” to propel the basketball team to third in the Private School League tournament while winning first-team all-conference and team MVP honors … In football, a two-time captain at end who helped the 1962-63 team (AWOF 2012) win our first league title, earning all-conference honorable mention despite missing time because of mononucleosis.

Robert Carpenter ’73
Football, Wrestling, Track, Baseball
A standout for all seasons, earning nine varsity letters across three sports … In football, twice received ISL first-team honors and Little All-State Honorable Mention … Helped power the undefeated 1971-72 football team (AWOF 2010) as a lineman on both sides of the ball, finishing as the leading tackler for a defense that allowed six points all season … Switched to fullback the following year as the Warriors repeated as conference champions, earning notice as the “Chicago Today” All-Area Prep Back of the Week after a win against Lake Forest Academy … Two-time wrestling captain and team MVP … Played baseball freshman year before earning three letters in track, earning team MVP honors as a junior … Student body leader who was president of the Lettermen’s Club, sophomore class president, and a member of Student Council.

D. Stephen Menzies ’73
Football, Baseball, Basketball
A three-sport standout who was a regular fixture among the best all-around athletes in the Independent School League, amassing five all-conference selections … An important leader for MPA football, basketball, and baseball teams that swept through the ISL his junior and senior years, winning or sharing all six conference titles in those years, including the 1971-72 football team (AWOF 2010), the 1971-72 boys basketball team (AWOF 2010), and the 1972-73 football team being inducted today … Twice named all-conference in football, also earning All-Area and Little All-State honorable mention as a senior … In baseball, a two-time all-conference pick, including first-team honors as a junior … Student body leader in the Key Club and Lettermen’s Club.

Sergio Brack ’93
Baseball, Basketball
Standout outfielder and team captain who led the baseball team to its first Independent School League championship in 1992-93 … Earned three letters in baseball and received all-conference honors as a sophomore … Varsity point guard for two seasons, captaining the team as a senior … Key role player off the bench for the 1990-91 boys basketball team (AWOF 2011) that went 18-2 to capture the program’s first ISL championship.

Patrick Fitzgerald ’03
Golf, Basketball, Baseball
Named best male athlete as a senior after making the all-conference first team, winning team MVP, and serving as team captain in three sports … Won the ISL golf championship and reached the IHSA sectional tournament … A two-time all-conference pick in basketball who averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.9 3-pointers per game as a senior … Standout infielder in baseball who hit .417 with 29 RBIs as a senior.

Jerricka Boone ’13
Tennis
The best tennis player and only state champion in Morgan Park Academy history, winning the state singles title as a freshman in 2009-10 and again as a junior in 2011-12. … Among only 12 girls in 50-plus years of IHSA girls tennis to win multiple state singles titles. … Was the sixth freshman champion in state history. … Also won two ISL and two sectional singles titles, leading the Warriors to a team sectional crown in 2011-12. … Played professionally after a four-year Big Ten career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Brianna Kramer ’13
Basketball, Tennis, Softball
Three-sport athlete who shared the best female athlete award as a senior … Shined especially brightly in basketball, helping the Warriors win three regional championships as a ball-handling guard who could shoot and played great defense … Basketball team MVP and all-conference honorable mention, playing on three Athletic Walk of Fame teams (2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13) … Contributor on strong tennis and softball teams, including softball’s 2009-10 conference champions.

1972-73 Football
A year after the 1971-72 football team (AWOF 2010) posted the best season in program history, crushing opponents by a combined 406-6 score, the Warriors repeated as conference champions, posting a 6-1 record behind Athletic Walk of Fame standouts Doug Coller ’73 (AWOF 2016), Bob Carpenter ’73 (AWOF 2023), and Steve Menzies ’73 (AWOF 2023).

First row (left to right): Jim Strenk ’75, Jim Fitch ’73, Bob Carpenter ’73, Doug Coller ’73, Tim Kliros ’73, Mike Jones ’75. Second row: John Daniels ’75, Reggie Johnson ’74, Bob Jones ’76, Eric Spinazzola ’75, James Maragos ’73, Del Odell ’76, George Maragos ’76. Third row: Coach Warren Jones, Tom Karel ’74, Tony Nakvosas ’74, Doug Montgomery ’75, Greg Wolf ’74, Bruce Barker ’73, Joe White ’74, Steve Nelson ’73, Steve Menzies ’73, assistant coach Chuck Cleary ’60.

2012-13 Girls Basketball
Our first basketball team to reach the Class 1A Sweet Sixteen did on the strength of a defense that allowed opponents a mere 26.4 points per game, throttling North Shore Country Day by a 32-6 score to earn the program’s first sectional tournament win. Part of the program’s string of six regional championships in seven seasons (2007-2014), the Warriors were led by a trio of ISL all-conference selections. Isabelle Panozzo ’15 was a second-team selection, while ISL coaches extended honorable mention to team MVP point guard Brianna Kramer ’13 and to Gabrielle Ogbevire ’16, who was just beginning to amass what would become 1,230 points and 1,122 rebounds. Panozzo and Stephanie Mullings ’15 shared the Coaches Award, while freshman guard Kennedy Chaney was recognized as Most Improved.

Team members also included: Elena Hease ’15, Brittney McKnight ’15, Claire Mordi ’15, Julie Wiegel ’14, head coach Tom Drahozal, and assistant coaches Francie Kozacik P’93 and Bart Kramer P’13.

2012-13 Girls Volleyball
Winning the eighth of the program’s nine straight regional championships (2005-2013), the 2012-13 girls volleyball team achieved the best season in program history, earning MPA’s second sectional title and only state quarterfinals (Elite Eight) appearance.

Leading the way were four ISL all-conference players: Team MVP Samantha Panozzo ’14 and Coaches Award winner Katelyn Healy ’14 on the first team, Most Improved Award winner Isabelle Panozzo ’15 on the second team, and Rachel Sorfleet ’14 receiving honorable mention.

Team members also included: Taylor Malecki ’15, Brittney McKnight ’15, Olivia Ortiz ’13, Gabriella Wassef ’13, head coach Tom Daker (AWOF 2017), and assistant coach Erin Miller.