Lake County Gazette

It has been a notable year for Westminster Public Schools athletics, with four teams—boys football, boys soccer, girls softball, and girls volleyball—qualifying for the playoffs this fall. The football and volleyball teams both secured league titles. Coaches Chris Helbig (football) and Martin Fuentes (soccer) were named league coaches of the year.

Chris Helbig was previously featured in a district story that followed his journey from high school athlete to professional football player in Europe and back to coaching at the high school level.

Although the seasons ended with playoff losses for football and volleyball over the weekend, district officials highlighted ongoing pride in these achievements. These results are attributed to long-term investment in player development, community engagement, and coaching.

A key factor behind this success is the Westy Futures program, launched eight years ago. The initiative introduces organized sports to students starting in kindergarten through middle school. “Westy Futures has truly changed the landscape for Westminster athletics,” said Gabe Trujillo, Director of Athletics and Activities. “We’re seeing the payoff now because our student-athletes are entering high school more prepared, more confident, and more competitive than ever.”

The program involves about 1,500 student-athletes each year across leagues, tournaments, and camps. Middle school teams have regularly won league titles as part of this effort.

Recent years have seen consistent playoff appearances by various teams: girls basketball reached state playoffs four consecutive years (2019–2023), girls volleyball made state berths in 2020 and 2021, while girls softball advanced to state playoffs in 2024 and won a playoff game.

Coaches and athletic directors have also focused on off-season development opportunities and communication with families. The Westy Futures program maintains an active online presence to keep families informed.

“This is about building a culture of pride and opportunity,” Trujillo added. “We’ve focused on consistency, communication, and giving our kids something to believe in. The results speak for themselves.”

Trujillo summarized: “We’re not just building teams. We’re building generations of champions.”

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serves Lake County schools including Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary School through Waukegan High School according to https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. The district’s demographic breakdown is 3.2 percent White, 13.2 percent Black, 79.5 percent Hispanic, and 1.3 percent Asian as reported by ISBE at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. There are 1,014 teachers with an average salary of $63,524; most are women (71.1 percent), none had more than ten absences last year according to https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/. In 2020 Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 spent $23,429 per student totaling $359 million as detailed at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.