It’s the final quarter, but I’m forever a Hawk

Mr. David Inserra Physical Education Teacher

In 1972, at the age of five, I entered the Maine South gymnasium for the very first time. As the youngest of seven kids, the next nine years were filled with girls’ sports, as my sisters were part of the drive of Title IX. I also attended plays, musicals, V-shows, Orchesis dance shows and choir ensembles to watch my brothers and sisters perform. My older brothers played football, basketball & baseball, so Wilson Field and our baseball fields were also part of my weekly rituals. As maybe many of you may have experienced, Maine South was something I yearned for at a young age. My heroes, besides my siblings, were the athletes donning the Hawks uniform. The coaches at Maine South represented the very best in our state.

I graduated from Maine South in 1985. My years here were entrenched in the gyms and the fields of play. I played football for legendary hall of famer Phil Hopkins in his very first season as head coach. Also playing four years of basketball and baseball shaped most of my memories and the tight bonds I still have today with many of my tremendous friends/ teammates. I was fortunate enough to be in the very first male Physical Education Leaders Program (male and female P.E. was taught separately back then). My coaches were so instrumental in helping shape the future I wanted to have. The reverence for the adults in our building was out of respect and pride for everything they did for our school. I could think of doing nothing else for my career.

Attending Illinois State University, everything I did was to better my chances of one day returning to the Hawks. A fantastic teaching school, my education professors were outstanding and prepared me for hopeful future success. I kept in contact with my Maine South teachers and coaches, and upon graduating from ISU in December of 1989, I was hired at Maine South one month later—a dream come true.

Thirty-three-and-a-half years later, I can honestly say I have enjoyed 99.5% of my career. I met and married the best teacher in the school, my wife Stephanie. Two of my children, and hopefully two more, get to experience the treasured hallways, classrooms and extracurricular spaces forming the phenomenal Maine South experience. My siblings took full advantage, I know I did the same, and we have encouraged our children to do even more so. My fellow staff—you are the aunts and uncles of this village. Maine South is a building, a newly renovated, really cool one. It needs to be cared for and taken care of—that is Hawk Pride. The people inside the building make it such a great place—we are so lucky to have everyone.

I have to thank my Physical Education colleagues for all the support, great stories, movie lines, dad jokes, huge laughs, and office dodgeball. The food and professionalism was pretty good too. My fellow coaches know the long hours it takes to strive to be great. Feeding off each other, learning from each other, and competing for each other has strengthened our teams and our school. Keep up the fantastic work. The experiences you help create are truly lifelong memories.

The students I have directly taught, over 6,000, and the athletes I have coached, nearly 2,500, have been the reason for so much of the joy, grateful tears, elation, happy days and wonderful friendships that have created 33 and a half years of Hawks flying together! Junior/Senior Leaders, you are one of a kind, and I am blessed to have helped guide you. I have learned daily from you, and hopefully you have picked up on some of my wisdom. TBC—what can I say: game day, baby! Since 1990, football has brought us 6 IHSA State Championships, over 300 victories, 27 CSL Championships and the largest crowds to attend any Maine South events. Friday Night Lights is something spectacular, and all of Maine South and Park Ridge can be proud. Football has provided the opportunity for us to play in seven states, for me to coach in Europe four times, and has allowed me to represent our Hawks in ten more states. All of these experiences cannot surpass the daily practices and off-season workouts that amass to an average of 250 of the 365 days in a year. I am so thankful to be able to steer this football ship, and to my players, you have given me so much more than I could ever have asked for.

Thank you Maine South—it’s a wonderful life!!!