Parents, Wrestlers Seek Answers About Coaches

School officials aren't talking. The coaches aren't talking. But parents and students were talking, voicing their support for wrestling coaches at Grayslake North and Grayslake Central High School.

The rumors circulating about what may or may not have happened after the State Wrestling Tournament have run rampant throughout the schools, and brought out several people to Thursday's school board meeting. School officials did vote on "personnel matters" but would not specify what actions were taken or for which personnel.

Wrestling coaches at both North and Central were named by parents and students during the Public Participation portion of the meeting. Parents voiced their support for coaches whom they feared had already been or were about to be fired during the meeting, but left the meeting without knowing much more than they had before they arrived.

"There is a lot of information going around and we don't know what really happened," said Dena Hein, whose son Kevin wrestled at State for Grayslake Central, lead by head coach Dan Catanzaro.

"We hope you take into consideration what Coach Cat (Catanzaro) has done for these kids," Hein told the school board. "He is a great coach. And he makes himself available for the kids outside the classroom."

Karen Scott agreed, and praised Catanzaro for his work with the wrestlers.

"The whole program has just blossomed under his guidance," Scott said. "The stories we are are all hearing should be dispelled."

Richard Downes Sr., whose son Richard Downes Jr. wrestled at State for North, spoke out. "I didn't even know about Central's issues before I got here tonight, but we are here to talk about the wrestling coaches at North," Downes said. "We are here to talk about Coach Frye and Coach Glorioso. We have heard all the rumors. But Tom Frye, as a coach, has done more the North's program than all of the coaches prior to him."

Debbie Downes, his wife, said they wanted to come out to support the coaches.

"If these coaches aren't here next year, it will be an extremely sad situation," she said.

Joel Armenta, a sophomore wrestler at North, summed it up. "All of our coaches are great guys," he said. "They still love the team and would do anything for us."

School officials would not confirm or deny anything. They did, however, approve two actions regarding personnel. The first was a unanimous 7-0 vote to accept "matters pertaining to personnel" and the second was by a 5-2 vote.

Despite pleas from parents and support of student-athletes during the meeting, District 127 Superintendent Catherine Finger said she would not quell the rumors of coaches being fired.

"I appreciate the candid remarks on behalf of the parents and kids," Finger told the audience at the meeting. "You spoke with passion and I appreciate that. Of course, we know that any number of rumors are being generated. Some of you have said that you hope to have them dispelled this evening. And I'm terribly sorry to tell you that we are not able to do that."

Finger went on to say: "We will not be dispelling rumors. We will not be addressing items in public. It is simply not what we do as a district. Our goal is always to maintain the dignity and privacy of our students and staff members."

She cited personnel confidentiality reasons for not explaining the actions taken during two board votes.

Efforts to reach the coaches at their school numbers on Friday were unsuccessful.

Some parents complained about how their sons were interviewed by school officials when questions about the behavior of the coaches at State were raised. Check for that story tomorrow.