Parents-kids combo works for CHSAS

A big part of Hicks’ life would be spent on the track.

Now a senior at CHSAS, Hicks is a key runner for the Cyclones. Coming full circle, her mom returned to the program and is now an assistant coach working with sprinters.

“I started doing track the summer after eighth grade heading into high school,” Hicks said. “Track has been in my blood before that. My mom and grandma [Jackie Carter] coached here, so every day after school, I’d run with the kids during track practice. It’s been a part of my life for a very long time.”

However, Jalyn and Joslyn aren’t the only parent-child, coach-athlete combination on the team.

Senior Israel Stapleton is a key performer in sprints and field events for the Cyclones, and his dad, Damon, is an assistant coach working with athletes in field events and on sprints.

CHSAS Coach Jeff Niemiec loves the dynamic, sports knowledge and energy that the two parents have brought to the program.

Niemiec works with the distance and middle-distance runners.

“Jalyn and Israel are such great kids. They’re so level-headed,” Niemiec said. “They’ve been great examples of the type of student-athlete you want in your program. You meet their parents, see their demeanor. They’re very cool customers under pressure. Damon and Joslyn are very level-headed instructors. They’re not yellers; they’re teachers.”

Israel Stapleton is following in his family’s footsteps. His dad, Damon Sr., was a star athlete at Harlan, including finishing seventh in the triple jump at the 1997 Class AA state meet.

His father then went on to star at Illinois State University and also tried qualifying for the Olympics. His older son, Damon Jr., ran track and field at Morgan Park High School.

“My dad tried to qualify for the Olympics. I’ve always looked up to that,” Israel said. “I really got into track fully when I was in seventh grade. Since then, it’s been sleep eat, track, sleep, eat, track and do it again. It’s a huge part of me.”

Stapleton (Clissold) competes in all three jumps, long, triple and high, and also runs sprints for the CHSAS relay teams.

Hicks competes in the long jump, sprints and relays.

After a tough junior year, she’s looking to close her high school career on a high note. CHSAS will compete at the Class 2A Hillcrest sectional on May 16.

“I’m most excited to continuing growing and see my progress, continue to PR [personal record],” Hicks said. “I had a rough year last year. I’m finally seeing progress, and it’s good to make memories with friends. That’s the best part of track, spending that time with your friends.”

Hicks said it’s all about staying in the moment down the stretch.

“It’s just my mindset. It messed with my times last year,” Hicks said. “I was too in my head about it. It caused me to hold things back.”

From the parents’ perspective, both Damon Stapleton Sr. and Carter are having a blast working with their kids and the entire team.

“It’s a great opportunity to coach Israel and the team,” Stapleton said. “His older brother ran, and he wanted to run. It’s kind of unique because you have to put different hats on being coach and dad. It’s balancing the two.”

Carter echoed that sentiment.

Beyond just passing along her track-and-field knowledge, she’s trying to build up the confidence of her sprinters.

“I’d love to see the kids get through to state,” Carter said. “More so, it’s realizing they can do it. That’s the hardest part. It’s realizing they have it in them, just seeing that they can push through.”

The CHSAS track team set a program record last season in advancing 11 competitors to the Class 2A state meet. Stapleton’s hoping for a bigger turnout this year.

“What I’m really looking forward to is that we had a good run last year, but there were a lot of tears at the sectional,” Stapleton said. “My goal is to get them past the hump and get them through to state.”

For Carter, there’s some additional fun she’s having as Hicks works to pick off some school records from athletes her mom coached years ago.

“It’s fun to see,” Carter said with a laugh. “It’s fun to beat their record and call them to say Jalyn knocked them out. They don’t like their names being pushed down, but they’ll tolerate it.”

Israel Stapleton said he’s planning on running in college. Hicks said she likely won’t run on a team in college but is hoping to run on a club team and possibly an intramural team.

For now, Stapleton’s enjoying the home stretch and working closely with his dad.

“It definitely has its ups and down. Track doesn’t stop at the end of practice,” Israel said. “But, it has its plusses. My dad can teach me, show me videos at home, what to do next and how to do well.”

As the Cyclones begin to turn their attention to the upcoming city meet and the state series, Hicks said the team knows how far the program has come.

Next up, it’s building to that higher level—not bad for a program that doesn’t have a track on campus and practices at Mt. Greenwood Park and in the CHSAS hallways.

“People hear about the Ag School, they think of the farm and the animals, not much else,” Hicks said. “ We’ve really shown and improved ourselves through our big sports and big meets. We’ve proven ourselves and what we’re capable of as a program.”