Founded in 1912, the Chicago Catholic League has been in operation longer than any other high school athletic conference in Illinois. Beginning next fall, the 17-school conference will get even bigger.
In a joint press release on May 5, the CCL along with the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference announced a merger with the East Suburban Catholic Conference, beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
“Both leagues are extremely competitive,” said Thomas Schergen, principal of De La Salle Institute and an executive representative of the CCL and GCAC. “With the addition of these tradition-rich East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC) institutions, we have set our respective conferences on a continued path of success and continue to strengthen these premier Catholic athletic organizations. We look forward to having these new members under the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference banners, both athletically and academically.”
“The ESCC’s legacy of academic and athletic success, as well as our standards for competitive excellence, align closely with the heritage of the Chicago Catholic League and Girls Catholic Athletic Conference,” said Dan Tully, principal of Niles Notre Dame and chair of the ESCC Board of Control. “Bringing our schools together will expand competitive opportunities based on geography and parity, while also maintaining longstanding rivalries for the benefit of our communities, teams, and student-athletes. As faith-based institutions, we strive to offer a comprehensive educational experience, along with high-quality, co-curricular programming. The ESCC’s history of achievement dovetails with the rich traditions of the CCL and GCAC, and we look forward to furthering our partnership.”
Current ESCC schools Benet Academy, Carmel Catholic, Joliet Catholic Academy, Marian Catholic, Marist, Nazareth Academy, Notre Dame, St. Patrick, and St. Viator will join the CCL. Benet, Carmel, Joliet Catholic, Marian Catholic, Marist, Nazareth, and St. Viator will join the GCAC, along with current CCL member Marmion Academy, which will turn coed starting next fall.
When the merger is completed, the CCL will have 26 schools, and the GCAC 24.
Locally, Fenwick joined the CCL in 1930. Coach Matt Battaglia doesn’t anticipate the merger having much impact on the football program because the CCL and ESCC have been playing as one league since 2019.
“CCL/ESCC football has only become stronger and more competitive because of the two leagues competing together,” Battaglia said, “and I hope we see that translate to all sports now with the merger.”
For Fenwick’s girls programs, the merger means a re-familiarization with the ESCC. The Friars were ESCC members from 1992 to 2015, before moving to the GCAC.
“The merger will have a significant impact,” said Fenwick girls volleyball coach Tee Pimsarn. “I’m sure there’ll be division realignment so our conference schedule will be a lot more competitive. I’m all for competition because we’re essentially playing for October.”
Trinity athletic director Ken Trendel wasn’t surprised by the upcoming merger, telling Wednesday Journal such a possibility had been discussed for some time.
“I think the groundwork was most likely laid with football when the CCL and ESCC merged a few years back. In hindsight, it seems like that was a trial run to see if the philosophies and personalities in the room could all mesh.”
Trendel added that the GCAC will only get stronger as a result of the merger. He foresees new rivalries being fostered, which should bring excitement to the league.
“While the addition of these schools will hopefully grow that passion and excitement, I would be lying if I didn’t share that the unknown is always scary,” Trendel said. “Change can be difficult to accept at times, but we understand that bringing in more schools solidifies the conference and offers the opportunity for even more parity, a pillar of the GCAC throughout its history.”