November 7, 2011

It is with great pleasure that I am able to congratulate members of the Mather High School soccer team for their remarkable achievement this weekend in winning the Illinois High School Association 2A boys soccer championship. This is the first time in 38 years that a CPS high school has won a state soccer title, and credit goes to the Mather administration, Coach Branko Cvijovic and his staff, and most of all the Mather student-athletes. I also want to applaud the support the team was given by the Mather student body and staff.

Team sports teaches many valuable life lessons such as the importance of hard work, dedication and purpose, the need to communicate, responsibility to others and teamwork. The Mather High School soccer team is a unique team in many ways. Its players come from several countries and speak different native tongues, but they understand the value of teamwork in order to succeed.

Congratulations to Mather, state 2A boys soccer champions for 2011.

About CPS

Chicago Public Schools serves 405,000 students in 675 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.