Last month, Fenwick High School introduced Adrian Remeniuk as its new varsity boys soccer head coach, replacing Craig Blazer, who led the Friars the previous five seasons. Just over a month later, there’s yet another change in the position.
In a press release July 11, Fenwick announced that Giovannie Ortiz has been appointed the new boys soccer coach. He replaces Remeniuk, who left for a counseling position at another school.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Fenwick soccer program and help evolve the culture both on and off the field,” Ortiz said in the release. “I look forward to continuing the success and building off the strong foundation that Coach Blazer has established here at Fenwick.”
Ortiz comes to Fenwick from Morton, where for the past three years he served as junior-varsity one head coach and a varsity assistant coach. Moreover, he has served as a college and career liaison as well as a school counselor intern on Morton’s West Campus in Berwyn.
A Berwyn native, Ortiz graduated from Morton in 2017 and was part of the 2015 Mustangs squad that placed third in the IHSA Class 3A boys soccer state tournament. Collegiately, he played at Purdue University Northwest for two seasons, then transferred to Dominican University in River Forest for his last three years, gaining a bonus season in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A starting center back, he helped the Stars qualify for the NCAA Division III tournament in each of his three seasons.
Ortiz, who will also serve as a full-time counselor at Fenwick, recently received his Master of Arts in School Counseling degree from Concordia University Chicago. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree, along with a minor in marketing.
He still plays competitively with Wisloka Chicago – a semiprofessional team in the United Premier Soccer League, and says he’s looking forward to bringing his experience and passion for soccer to Fenwick.
“I am super-excited to work with the Friars and meet our student-athletes and their families,” he said.
