Athletics
ספורט
Academy Aces Athletics
Our student athletes compete with integrity.
Whether it is basketball or wrestling, the Ida Crown Jewish Academy Aces are known locally and nationally as formidable competitors. And at national sports tournaments, parents, teachers and students travel far distances to support our men and women athletes. In 2012, two varsity athletic teams, the wrestlers and the varsity girls’ basketball team, became Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Regional Champions in the same week. This is the first time in the school’s history that any team won the regional championship game and likely the first time that any Jewish day school took that title twice in the same season. Later in that same year, the wrestlers won the YU Henry Wittenberg Wrestling Invitational for the 8th time, scoring more points than any team had ever scored in tournament history.
We currently offer many interscholastic athletic teams, including: boys’ and girls’ cross country, girls’ soccer, boys’ baseball, wrestling, girls’ and boys’ junior varsity and varsity basketball teams, boys’ fencing. For more information contact Brittany Peters, athletic director at bpeters@hzkh.net
Athletic Department Programs
In order to participate, you will need to complete the following forms. No student/athlete may participate in an open gym, tryout, or practice in any sport until the athletic office is in receipt of the completed Permit Card, the signed IHSA sports medicine consent, the participation form and the registration form.
Athletic Manual
Please read the Athletic Manual and confirm your agreement below by submitting the form.
Athletic Forms
- IHSA Medical Form This form is a matter of safety and must be signed by a doctor, guardian and student.
- IHSA New Sports Medicine Consent & Acknowledgement
- ICJA Athletic Registration Form
Cross Country
Boys’ Coach: David Shyovitz, davidshy@gmail.com
Girls’ Coach: Dana Hunter, dana.n.hunter@gmail.com
Start date: August 7 (no tryouts)
Schedule: Click Here To View
Boys’ Soccer
Head Coach: Leo Rodriguez, leorodriguez989@gmail.com
Try-Out Dates: August 13
Schedule: Click Here To View
Boys’ Basketball
Boys’ Varsity Coach: Jonathan Rich, jrich18@gmail.com
Boys’ Varsity Assistant Coach: Lior Geft, liorgeft@gmail.com
Sophomore Coach: Jeremy Geller, jeremylgeller@gmail.com
Boy’s Sophomore Assistant Coach:
Try-Out Dates: November 5 and 6
Varsity Schedule: Click Here To View
Sophomore Schedule: Click Here To View
Girls’ Basketball
Girls’ Varsity Head Coach: Avi Levinson, avarnai12@gmail.com
Girls’ Jr Varsity Coach: Harris B. Harris, harris.be.harris@gmail.com
Try-Out Dates: October 29 & 31
Varsity Schedule: Click Here To View
JV Schedule: Click Here To View
Wrestling
Coach: Doug Klein, jdouglasklein@yahoo.com
Assistant Coach: Bill Porter, bporter@mortongroveil.org
Try-Out Dates: November 5 & 7
Schedule: Click Here To View
Boys’ & Girls’ Fencing
Fencing Coach: : Bakhyt Abdikulov, fcc@fencingcenterofchicago.com
Try-Out Dates: No Try-outs
Schedule: Starts October 31
Girls’ Soccer
Head Coach: Leo Rodriguez, leorodriguez989@gmail.com
Try-Out Dates:
Schedule: Click Here To View
Boys’ Baseball
Coach Steve Greenberg, Steven.greenberg18@gmail.com
Try-Out Dates:
Schedule: Click Here To View
Athlete Testimonials
“I like the camaraderie of ICJA’s basketball team and enjoy the whole team dynamics. It’s a fun group of guys. We all get to do a sport we love together.”
— Jack Marshall ’26
“I enjoy the friendship and the fun of the fencing team. Finding your rhythm is something our coach really stresses, and that advice affects all areas of our lives. He always says that discipline and constant practice are the keys to success in anything, and that advice has really enriched me.”
— Ben-Tzion Rine ‘24
“The cross-country team showed me the importance of hard work and determination. I enjoy the sense of camaraderie when we finish a hard run together.”
— Yakira Wittlin ‘ 27
“I like the sense of community in the basketball team. Practices are a lot of fun. Joining the girls JV team freshman year helped me feel a part of Ida Crown right away.”
— Ilya Friedman ‘27
“(ICJA Soccer) Coach Leo pushes you to work your best: to improve and work to your full potential, while maintaining a good environment. The games are a lot of fun, and we enjoy the encouragement between the girls on the team.”
— Leeya Starck, ’24 and Taly Benzaquen, ’24