Bronzeville’s Wendell Phillips Wildcats Become First Ever Chicago Public School to Capture State Football Championship With a 51-7 Win

CHICAGO, IL – In the first 40 years that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) held statewide playoff football competition, no team from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) were crowned champions. The Wendell Phillips Academy High School Wildcats broke that trend with an overwhelming 51-7 victory in the class 4A finals against an undefeated Belleville Althoff Catholic High School on Friday, November 27, 2015.

“Before today, no Chicago Public Schools football team had ever won a state title.  Tonight, the Phillips Academy Wildcats ended that streak. They have proven to be the true definition of perseverance and determination. Tonight, we celebrate them not only as the pride of Bronzeville, but all of Chicago. Congratulations to Coach Troy McAllister and his team on not only a perfect season, but on securing a spot in Illinois’ sports history,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement released Friday night.

The team’s success is the culmination of a transformation of the school by the Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL). Since the fall of 2010, Phillips has been managed by AUSL, a nonprofit CPS school management organization that creates schools of excellence by developing highly effective teachers and transforming educational outcomes for students in what once were CPS’ lowest performing schools.

On their most recent ACT, Phillips students scored higher than at any point in the past 15 years and last year 100 percent of the senior class applied and were accepted to college with more than $5 million in scholarship offers. The football program was also transformed with only a dozen students in the program in 2010 to now involving more than 90.

“This team went out on Friday night to make a statement, which was excellence is achievable for anyone that devotes themselves to a goal. ” said Mike Koldyke, AUSL’s Founder and Chairman Emeritus. “AUSL creates educational equity by asking students to show us what they are capable of and giving them the tools to accomplish it. The 2015 Phillips’ Wildcats are a prime example of what the young people of Chicago can do when given the chance.”

Phillips dominated the 4A IHSA Football Championship, held at NIU’s Husky Stadium in DeKalb Il., with an entire team effort. The team only allowed one early touchdown and then went on to score 51 unanswered points led by quarterback Quayvon Skanes’ one passing and four rushing touchdowns.

“All year I have felt that these student athletes knew they were a part of something much larger than themselves and were playing to show the world what this school and community represents,” said Wendell Phillips Head Football Coach Troy McAllister. “This win is a product of the remarkable transformation of Wendell Phillips Academy and was made possible by the support of our student body, dedicated teachers and the entire city of Chicago.”

The Wildcats were led by 19 seniors all of whom are on track to graduate and several of them that are being recruited to play at the collegiate level. The team has a number of players who are highly sought after by colleges on its roster including Linebacker Amani Jones who has committed to the University of Iowa, Wide Receiver Quayvon Skanes who has committed to the University of Connecticut and Defensive End Amir Watts who is uncommitted but is being recruited by several D1 programs.

About The Academy for Urban School Leadership

AUSL is a Chicago nonprofit school management organization that creates schools of excellence by developing highly effective teachers and transforming educational outcomes for students in the lowest performing schools.

AUSL was founded in 2001 and today manages 32 Chicago Public Schools serving more than 18,000 students. Over 880 teachers have graduated from the AUSL Chicago Teacher Residency™.