Taft High School Class of 1973 Donates $7,000 for Weight Room in Memory of Phil Vierneisel

The donation will fund new equipment for the recently expanded facility.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:47am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Class of 1973 at Taft High School in Chicago has donated $7,000 to the school's weight room in memory of 1973 graduate Phil Vierneisel, who played on Taft's 1972 Chicago Public League championship team and went on to be a punter at the University of Illinois. The weight room has been expanded by one-third and the donation will be used to purchase new equipment.

Why it matters

The donation from the Class of 1973 will help enhance the athletic facilities at Taft High School, supporting the development of student-athletes and honoring the legacy of an alumnus who excelled in sports. The expanded weight room will provide more opportunities for students to train and improve their physical fitness.

The details

Taft High School recently expanded its weight room by removing underutilized office space, increasing the size to about the equivalent of two large classrooms. Principal Dr. Ryan Glowacz stated that the $7,000 donation from the Class of 1973 will be used to purchase new equipment for the expanded weight room facility.

  • The weight room expansion took place recently at Taft High School.
  • The Class of 1973 donation was made in memory of Phil Vierneisel, who passed away in 2020.

The players

Taft High School

A public high school located in Chicago, Illinois.

Phil Vierneisel

A 1973 graduate of Taft High School who played on the school's 1972 Chicago Public League championship team and later became a punter at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Ryan Glowacz

The principal of Taft High School.

Jayden Camacho

The senior football player at Taft High School who received the leadership award named in Phil Vierneisel's honor this school year.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've increased the size of the weight room by 1/3, and the donation will be used for new equipment.”

— Dr. Ryan Glowacz, Principal, Taft High School (nadignewspapers.com)

What’s next

The school plans to hold a dedication ceremony for the expanded weight room and new equipment in the coming months.

The takeaway

The generous donation from the Taft High School Class of 1973 demonstrates the lasting impact that alumni can have on their alma mater, honoring the memory of a former student-athlete while also investing in the current generation of Taft students and their athletic development.