Preseason FAQ
When are tryouts?
Tuesday Jan 20 through Thursday Feb 6
Track is a no-cut sport at Marist High School. But “try outs” give you a chance to try our team out. It also gives your coaches a chance to test your commitment and interest in our team. If you can’t attend these practices, you aren’t ready to join our team! (If you are part of a winter sports team, see below.)
Every boy who wants to participate can be a member of the track and field team, and you will get a uniform and a chance to compete. Many of our meets have a limited number of entries, and we will attend some meets that allow for all our team members to compete. But you don’t get to compete and you don’t keep a place on the team if you do not attend practices regularly and meet your team obligations.
If you were part of our team in 2025, we expect you to join our team at the start of the season in January. We do allow new team members to join us as late as the end of March, but once we begin our outdoor season, the roster is closed.
If you want to try out for another spring team, but you get cut, you are welcome to join our track team.
If you are a member of a winter sport, you can join our team at the conclusion of your winter season.
Paperwork
Before students can participate in practice, they must be registered for Track in 8 to 18 and have a current sports physical on file.
1. Please visit the following site in order to register for track: https://marist.8to18.com/
2. Physicals
Sports physical exams must be signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner and are good for 395 days from the date of exam. You may visit the following link to download the form.
https://www.ihsa.org/documents/sportsMedicine/2022-23/PreParticipationPhysicalForm.pdf
Special note for Freshmen Families regarding physicals: the physical you submitted when your freshman entered Marist High School is sufficient documentation to participate in Marist Athletics (good for 365 days from date of exam); you do not need to submit an additional sports physical until prior physical expires.
Seniors, juniors, and sophomores please return the signed sports form to: Nora Doyle, Athletic Department, Marist High School, 4200 W. 115th Street Chicago, IL 60655.
Where do I go?
In the winter, until the end of March, we will gather every day after school, Monday-Friday, for a team meeting at 2:55 in room 206. Our distance runners run outdoors almost every day. In the winter, our sprinters, jumpers, and throwers will practice at the Marist SportsPlex on on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with transportation available to travel there. Practice there begins at 3:30 PM and ends at 5:00 PM. We will transport boys who need back to Marist by 5:15.
Outdoors we will practice on our track at Marist, Monday through Friday. We will meet after school at 2:55 in room 206, and then we will go outdoors to the track.
Most of our meets are on Fridays and Saturdays, but there are a few weekday meets.
How long?
Practice is 2:55 until 5:00 PM, sometimes shorter, seldom longer.
Should I go to tryouts every day?
Yes, you should attend practice every day if you want to be a member of our team, starting with the first day on Tuesday, January 20.
What if I am involved in a sport currently in session—including football off-season workouts?
You can join the track team when basketball or wrestling, in-season winter sports, are over.
Off-season football conflicts are somewhat more complicated. Think about it: you would never miss an in-season football practice for an off-season track practice. Football works in the weight room for three mornings each week; the only conflict there is that you don’t want to do football lifting on the morning of a track meet.
Multi-sport athletes are usually high-level performers in track & field. In California, Texas, and Florida most football players also do track. College football coaches love track athletes! In NCAA championship games and in NFL games, more than two-thirds of those players were part of track teams.
Talk to your football coaches about how you can fit track into your football off-season. Talk to your track coaches about how to fit off-season football into your track season.
How many make the team?
Track is a no-cut sport at Marist High School. Approximately 70 boys will join our team and meet team obligations to stay on our team.
Typical group numbers: 30 sprinters, 30 distance runners, 10 throwers.
Who will be my coach?
If you are a distance runner, you will run distance workouts with Coach Zack Maslanka and Coach Jill Schirmacher.
If you are a thrower (shot & discus), you will have sessions with Coach Ed Ernst.
If you are a sprinter, hurdler, or jumper, you will train with Coach Ernst, Coach Schirmacher, and Coach Jay Wesley.
What will practices be like?
Sprinters and Jumpers - speed work with lots of timing and assessment.
Throwers – speed-based strength training and throwing.
Distance - speed-based distance running.
Like it is for Lightning McQueen, speed is everything.
Will distance runners run outside in the cold?
Yes. Be tough and dress appropriately. Wear layers. Wear hats and gloves.
What gets you cut from a no-cut team?
Limited ability combined with poor attendance at tryouts.
After try outs, poor practice attendance combined with poor communication
Bad attitude or bad influence on others.
Track is NOT a recreational sport. Your uniform and place on the team is earned by your effort and attendance.
Can I try multiple events?
You can try everything, especially as a new member of our team. But your coaches will also guide you to a role on the team that helps the team the most and gives you the best chance at success and improvement.
How do I hear news and updates?
We have a web site where you will find announcements and team information during the season: https://www.maristredhawksxctf.com/ .
We will communicate by regular weekly emails.
We will enroll all team members and parents on Band (https://band.us/band/93641590 ) for immediate communications to the team.
How many meets will you attend?
We will only ask you to attend meets in which you are entered ahead of time, and you will get this information the week of each meet.
We will expect all members of our team to attend the ESCC conference meet at the end of the season in May.
We have a number of meets that will be designated for frosh soph and JV athletes.
We treat freshmen & sophomores as VIPs. Many freshmen and sophomores will be important members of our team and win varsity letters.
How much is the participation fee?
Marist athletics requires a one-time fee of $150 for participation in a team sport. That fee also covers a second or third sport.
The track team will have a “gear order” that will allow team members to purchase team specific outer wear–t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, ¼ zips.
Every boy will get a team uniform, and you only pay for the uniform if you lose it.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HAZING, TEAM INITIATIONS, ETC.
Is there a fundraiser?
There is no programmatic fundraising at Marist for individual sports. Support our team by supporting our school. We might make a collection to support a specific event like pasta parties or social events.
What equipment will be needed?
Running shoes and racing spikes
Black (solid black) compression shorts or solid black running shorts
Indoor athletic clothing—shorts, tees
Outdoor athletic clothing—warm up pants, warm up jacket, gloves, hats
When is the Parents Meeting?
We will schedule a parent zoom early in our season.
Uniforms & Warm-ups?
Uniforms provided.
You will likely be asked to buy team-issued warm-ups, yours to keep, in the range of $70. Warm-ups are expected to last four years
Are there workouts over spring break?
Easter break and spring vacations are scheduled differently each year. We practice and compete during these breaks, just like other spring teams do at Marist.
As a general rule, we will not practice or compete after Holy Thursday on Easter weekend.
But we will compete in meets and hold scheduled workouts beginning Monday after Easter through to the end of vacation.
What is an excused absence?
All athletes must notify Coach Ernst, and, if possible, your event coach before missing a practice.
Even if not in school, athletes should email.
Coach Ed Ernst: [email protected]
Multiple unexcused absences could result in being cut from the team.
GOOD ATHLETES DO NOT MISS PRACTICE
We are a student-friendly team, and we comply with the priorities of our school. You are students, first. Practices are specific and efficient.
But commitment to a team means you are committing to managing your school work while you meet your team obligations. You cannot miss practice because you have too much homework.
We will work with team members who must miss practice because of Marist academic activities, like ACT classes.
By joining our team, you have declared track and field as your number one priority in terms of extracurricular activities at Marist. Track athletes are often well rounded students with multiple interests. Talk to Coach Ernst about fitting in other activities, but remember: By joining our team, you have declared track and field as your number one priority in terms of extracurricular activities at Marist.
Whenever possible, doctor and dentist appointments should be scheduled so that you do not miss practice. You should schedule driver’s education classes, and other activities, so that you do not miss practices or meets.
Who are the coaches?
Head Coach Ed Ernst
25-year coaching veteran
Retired English teacher (1997-2023)
[email protected]
773-407-5220
Distance Coach Zack Maslanka
ESCC Coach of the Year 2023
Head Cross Country Coach
Social Studies teacher at Marist
[email protected]
Jumps Coach Jay Wesley
Also: Coach Jill Schirmacher
English teacher at Marist
[email protected]
Tuesday Jan 20 through Thursday Feb 6
Track is a no-cut sport at Marist High School. But “try outs” give you a chance to try our team out. It also gives your coaches a chance to test your commitment and interest in our team. If you can’t attend these practices, you aren’t ready to join our team! (If you are part of a winter sports team, see below.)
Every boy who wants to participate can be a member of the track and field team, and you will get a uniform and a chance to compete. Many of our meets have a limited number of entries, and we will attend some meets that allow for all our team members to compete. But you don’t get to compete and you don’t keep a place on the team if you do not attend practices regularly and meet your team obligations.
If you were part of our team in 2025, we expect you to join our team at the start of the season in January. We do allow new team members to join us as late as the end of March, but once we begin our outdoor season, the roster is closed.
If you want to try out for another spring team, but you get cut, you are welcome to join our track team.
If you are a member of a winter sport, you can join our team at the conclusion of your winter season.
Paperwork
Before students can participate in practice, they must be registered for Track in 8 to 18 and have a current sports physical on file.
1. Please visit the following site in order to register for track: https://marist.8to18.com/
2. Physicals
Sports physical exams must be signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner and are good for 395 days from the date of exam. You may visit the following link to download the form.
https://www.ihsa.org/documents/sportsMedicine/2022-23/PreParticipationPhysicalForm.pdf
Special note for Freshmen Families regarding physicals: the physical you submitted when your freshman entered Marist High School is sufficient documentation to participate in Marist Athletics (good for 365 days from date of exam); you do not need to submit an additional sports physical until prior physical expires.
Seniors, juniors, and sophomores please return the signed sports form to: Nora Doyle, Athletic Department, Marist High School, 4200 W. 115th Street Chicago, IL 60655.
Where do I go?
In the winter, until the end of March, we will gather every day after school, Monday-Friday, for a team meeting at 2:55 in room 206. Our distance runners run outdoors almost every day. In the winter, our sprinters, jumpers, and throwers will practice at the Marist SportsPlex on on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with transportation available to travel there. Practice there begins at 3:30 PM and ends at 5:00 PM. We will transport boys who need back to Marist by 5:15.
Outdoors we will practice on our track at Marist, Monday through Friday. We will meet after school at 2:55 in room 206, and then we will go outdoors to the track.
Most of our meets are on Fridays and Saturdays, but there are a few weekday meets.
How long?
Practice is 2:55 until 5:00 PM, sometimes shorter, seldom longer.
Should I go to tryouts every day?
Yes, you should attend practice every day if you want to be a member of our team, starting with the first day on Tuesday, January 20.
What if I am involved in a sport currently in session—including football off-season workouts?
You can join the track team when basketball or wrestling, in-season winter sports, are over.
Off-season football conflicts are somewhat more complicated. Think about it: you would never miss an in-season football practice for an off-season track practice. Football works in the weight room for three mornings each week; the only conflict there is that you don’t want to do football lifting on the morning of a track meet.
Multi-sport athletes are usually high-level performers in track & field. In California, Texas, and Florida most football players also do track. College football coaches love track athletes! In NCAA championship games and in NFL games, more than two-thirds of those players were part of track teams.
Talk to your football coaches about how you can fit track into your football off-season. Talk to your track coaches about how to fit off-season football into your track season.
How many make the team?
Track is a no-cut sport at Marist High School. Approximately 70 boys will join our team and meet team obligations to stay on our team.
Typical group numbers: 30 sprinters, 30 distance runners, 10 throwers.
Who will be my coach?
If you are a distance runner, you will run distance workouts with Coach Zack Maslanka and Coach Jill Schirmacher.
If you are a thrower (shot & discus), you will have sessions with Coach Ed Ernst.
If you are a sprinter, hurdler, or jumper, you will train with Coach Ernst, Coach Schirmacher, and Coach Jay Wesley.
What will practices be like?
Sprinters and Jumpers - speed work with lots of timing and assessment.
Throwers – speed-based strength training and throwing.
Distance - speed-based distance running.
Like it is for Lightning McQueen, speed is everything.
Will distance runners run outside in the cold?
Yes. Be tough and dress appropriately. Wear layers. Wear hats and gloves.
What gets you cut from a no-cut team?
Limited ability combined with poor attendance at tryouts.
After try outs, poor practice attendance combined with poor communication
Bad attitude or bad influence on others.
Track is NOT a recreational sport. Your uniform and place on the team is earned by your effort and attendance.
Can I try multiple events?
You can try everything, especially as a new member of our team. But your coaches will also guide you to a role on the team that helps the team the most and gives you the best chance at success and improvement.
How do I hear news and updates?
We have a web site where you will find announcements and team information during the season: https://www.maristredhawksxctf.com/ .
We will communicate by regular weekly emails.
We will enroll all team members and parents on Band (https://band.us/band/93641590 ) for immediate communications to the team.
How many meets will you attend?
We will only ask you to attend meets in which you are entered ahead of time, and you will get this information the week of each meet.
We will expect all members of our team to attend the ESCC conference meet at the end of the season in May.
We have a number of meets that will be designated for frosh soph and JV athletes.
We treat freshmen & sophomores as VIPs. Many freshmen and sophomores will be important members of our team and win varsity letters.
How much is the participation fee?
Marist athletics requires a one-time fee of $150 for participation in a team sport. That fee also covers a second or third sport.
The track team will have a “gear order” that will allow team members to purchase team specific outer wear–t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, ¼ zips.
Every boy will get a team uniform, and you only pay for the uniform if you lose it.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR HAZING, TEAM INITIATIONS, ETC.
Is there a fundraiser?
There is no programmatic fundraising at Marist for individual sports. Support our team by supporting our school. We might make a collection to support a specific event like pasta parties or social events.
What equipment will be needed?
Running shoes and racing spikes
Black (solid black) compression shorts or solid black running shorts
Indoor athletic clothing—shorts, tees
Outdoor athletic clothing—warm up pants, warm up jacket, gloves, hats
When is the Parents Meeting?
We will schedule a parent zoom early in our season.
Uniforms & Warm-ups?
Uniforms provided.
You will likely be asked to buy team-issued warm-ups, yours to keep, in the range of $70. Warm-ups are expected to last four years
Are there workouts over spring break?
Easter break and spring vacations are scheduled differently each year. We practice and compete during these breaks, just like other spring teams do at Marist.
As a general rule, we will not practice or compete after Holy Thursday on Easter weekend.
But we will compete in meets and hold scheduled workouts beginning Monday after Easter through to the end of vacation.
What is an excused absence?
All athletes must notify Coach Ernst, and, if possible, your event coach before missing a practice.
Even if not in school, athletes should email.
Coach Ed Ernst: [email protected]
Multiple unexcused absences could result in being cut from the team.
GOOD ATHLETES DO NOT MISS PRACTICE
We are a student-friendly team, and we comply with the priorities of our school. You are students, first. Practices are specific and efficient.
But commitment to a team means you are committing to managing your school work while you meet your team obligations. You cannot miss practice because you have too much homework.
We will work with team members who must miss practice because of Marist academic activities, like ACT classes.
By joining our team, you have declared track and field as your number one priority in terms of extracurricular activities at Marist. Track athletes are often well rounded students with multiple interests. Talk to Coach Ernst about fitting in other activities, but remember: By joining our team, you have declared track and field as your number one priority in terms of extracurricular activities at Marist.
Whenever possible, doctor and dentist appointments should be scheduled so that you do not miss practice. You should schedule driver’s education classes, and other activities, so that you do not miss practices or meets.
Who are the coaches?
Head Coach Ed Ernst
25-year coaching veteran
Retired English teacher (1997-2023)
[email protected]
773-407-5220
Distance Coach Zack Maslanka
ESCC Coach of the Year 2023
Head Cross Country Coach
Social Studies teacher at Marist
[email protected]
Jumps Coach Jay Wesley
Also: Coach Jill Schirmacher
English teacher at Marist
[email protected]
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