When asked to pick a favorite story about Oak Park and River Forest High School tennis teammate George Brennan, Cuyler Dull needs time to sort out several options about his doubles partner.
Finally, Dull hits anecdotal pay dirt.
“We had an ongoing competition on the court to see who could fake each other out on high fives. It was really about who could fool the other the most.”
Brennan added: “Cuyler would hit a big serve to win a set and I would approach him for a big high five and then just drop my hand. It was a good way to stay loose because we play our best pressure-free.”
Presented with the same question about Brennan, OPRF tennis coach Fred Galluzzo recalls a moment at the 2015 tennis state finals with the 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior.
“We were indoors and I was chatting it with up a bunch of people,” Galluzzo said. “George shows up and he’s watching matches, studying other players, and just soaking in the environment with a complete understanding of what’s going on.
“For a young guy, George knows a little bit about a lot of things. He’s one of those guys I tell other players to chase because George is a great player to learn from and emulate. He’s definitely been one of my very favorite kids to coach.”
What becomes quickly apparent about Brennan (who graduated from OPRF over the weekend), is that he is an affable 18-year-old with eclectic interests.
As Sheriff John Behan said in the movie “Tombstone,” Brennan is, well, a man of many parts.
In addition to being a two-sport star in hockey and tennis at OPRF, he was editor in chief of Trapeze (the school newspaper), a founding member and vice president of the Business Club and a member of the all-male service club, “Dudes Make a Difference.”
“I think it’s important to be involved as many aspects of school as you can,” Brennan said. “I can’t put into words how much OPRF has meant to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.”
While he excelled in multiple activities, Brennan savored his senior year in particular as a captain of the hockey team and unquestioned leader (along with top singles player Jacob Palley) in tennis.
His predilection for those sports runs in the family as older sister Laura (22) played both at OPRF. She graduated from Harvard last week. Brennan’s younger sister, Martha, is a fifth-grader at Roosevelt in River Forest who enjoys tennis, hockey, softball and dance.
“I think my sisters gang up on me,” Brennan said with a laugh. “We definitely have a sibling rivalry but we also support each other a lot.
“It’s funny because even my dad would say my parents aren’t the most athletic people, and yet their kids are very athletic. We’re wondering where the gene trickled in.”
On the ice, Brennan played a key role during the Huskies’ inspired run to the quarterfinals of the AHAI (Amateur Hockey Association Illinois) state playoffs.
“Not even a month into the season, I was blown away by George’s ability to lift others,” sophomore goalie Ben Ostler said. “He makes sure everybody is connected on and off the ice. This past year was the best season that OPRF hockey has had in a really long time, and it was no fluke that George was our captain.
“The most impressive part to me about George is that he would still talk to you whether inside or outside the school. This may sound like a small thing, but if your leader ignores you, the team will eventually fracture. Our team jelled because George brought everybody in to a tight circle.”
Although OPRF lost 4-1 to eventual state champion New Trier, Brennan truly appreciated the journey.
“It has been such a tremendous ride,” said Brennan, who finished with 23 goals and 30 assists this season. “Two years ago, we were 4-22. This year, we upset two great hockey teams in Brother Rice and Stevenson in the playoffs, gave New Trier its toughest game of the year in the quarters and then competed in Nationals.”
Seamless transition between sports
Not long after the completion of the hockey season, Brennan hit the hard courts for tennis.
“The adjustment from hockey to tennis really only took a few days,” Brennan said. “I played tennis indoors during the winter and worked on my volleys and footwork. I felt prepared when the regular season started.”
Brennan partnered with Dull for most of the spring.
The senior tandem closed out their careers by winning three of five matches at the IHSA state finals last week. Brennan and Dull qualified for state with a first-place finish at the OPRF Sectional.
“Playing tennis with George is a good time,” Dull said. “The lighthearted mood we have helps us play well. We like joking around on and off the court, which is in stark contrast to when we really focus.”
Palley, who will play tennis at Milikin University, has known Brennan since they were eight.
“George is a very good tennis player, but he chose four other sports in front of tennis,” Palley said. “That just shows his athleticism.”
At the OPRF Senior Sports Awards, Brennan was given a Spirit of the Team award for boys tennis.
Brennan graduated with a grade point average of 3.87 weighted/4.68 weighted and will attend Georgetown in the fall. He’s enrolled in the business school at Georgetown and plans to major in international economics, finance or political science.
Although he applied to nine schools, including Harvard, Penn and primarily other east coast schools, Georgetown felt like the best fit. His father, Peter, is a Georgetown grad and his mother, Linda, went to American University.
“Georgetown is the right size for me and obviously it’s in a great area in (Washington) D.C.,” Brennan said. “Georgetown offers so many opportunities, especially for the kids in the business school. It also has a great blend of academics and athletics.”
While Brennan is excited about becoming a Hoya, Oak Park will always be home.
“I know some people may not be fans of Oak Park but I love it,” he said. “There’s no place I’d rather come home to.”