When the Fenwick varsity boys soccer team made a coaching change this year, Amanda Shaker became concerned. She is the mother of the late Owen Petrzelka, who died in April of 2020 at the age of six due to a rare but fatal cancer named Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).
Former Fenwick player Ethan Briggs, Owen’s cousin, along with his teammates and then-head coach Craig Blazer, helped make Owen’s last few months of his life as enjoyable as possible. They spent plenty of time around him, and following his passing, they decided to participate in a fundraising walk in which the proceeds go to the Chad Tough Defeat DIPG Foundation, which does research and hopes to develop a cure for DIPG.
Shaker was worried about the support from the Fenwick team drying up once Blazer left. But as it turns out, the Friars are continuing to stand by her and her husband and Owen’s father, Oak Park and River Forest High School alum Adam Petrzelka, thanks to the efforts of senior player Luca Ponzio.
“When Coach Blazer switched teams, I just didn’t know if that support would wane,” said Shaker, who attended both Fenwick and OPRF. “But that didn’t happen. The coaches and players, led by Luca this year, are raising money and will participate in the day’s events. It’s really incredible to see. We’re humbled that Owen’s legacy remains strong with this team.”
For Ponzio, a midfielder, it was an easy decision to continue to support Shaker.
“I would say that the biggest influence when it came to keeping the tradition alive was because of how important the cause is,” Ponzio said. “No child should ever lose their life to cancer, so I think it’s important that Fenwick soccer stays involved and helps to raise awareness and find a cure to this awful disease.”
This year’s Team Owen event takes place Sept. 20 with a block party occurring from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the 900 block of North Grove Avenue. Shaker said there will be four bands performing along with food from Big Nick’s Catering and Roeser’s Bakery. Moreover, there are activities for kids to participate in.
“We’ll have Windy City Mobile games and a ton of crafts,” Shaker said. “Mann school principal [Hussain] Ali always generously participates in something fun for the kids like letting them throw whipped cream pies at him.
“It’s a day packed with community connection, celebration, and love,” she added. “It’s just a joyous day; Owen would certainly approve.”
Also taking place on the 20th is a virtual 5K run. Shaker said anyone can participate from anywhere and not just for a run or walk.
“We’ve had people paddle board, bike, scoot, and kayak,” she said, “and people have participated from all over the country and globe, including London and New Zealand.”
Blazer is grateful that the team continues to support Owen and his family, and he adds he has been enriched as a result.
“For me, it’s such a nice life lesson that you never know how anyone can be so impactful in your life,” he said. “Ethan and his teammates were so wonderful to Owen and the gratitude towards his family continues to grow. We’re here to always remember Owen and how impactful he continues to be.”
Ponzio said that after practice at the Fenwick Priory this Saturday, he and his teammates will walk over to the Shaker house to participate in the event.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for the team to be exposed to fundraising and doing service for others who may need it,” Ponzio said. “Cancer’s a terrible disease and we’re all happy to help out a little bit.”
Ponzio would also like to see this tradition continue once he and the other seniors graduate.
“We have a lot of underclassmen on the team this year, and I want to make sure this keeps going,” he said.
For more information on DIPG, to make donations, or to participate in the virtual 5K, please visit TeamOwen.org.
