Friday’s Senior Night a date to remember
By Karie Angell Luc Contributor February 21, 2012 9:18PM
From right, Carrie Wagner, 17, and Marlee Cohen, 18, both seniors, performed at their last Glenbrook North High School basketball game as poms members. Senior Night was Feb. 17.| Karie Angell Luc~for Sun-Times Media.
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Updated: March 24, 2012 8:55AM
It was Senior Night Friday at Glenbrook North High School — and Northbrook’s “GBN Grillmaster” Steve Zohn made sure the last home seasonal Friday basketball game had best-ever seasoning.
“I enjoy it, I really enjoy it,” said Zohn, dressed to grill.
Zohn, a GBN Booster Club volunteer, has been a master griller for 10 years.
Merely steps from GBN’s cafeteria, holding his special spices, Zohn donned his GBN Spartans green apron, featuring “GBN Grillmaster Steve” proudly embroidered on front.
He’s a member of an exclusive quartet of volunteers who call themselves the “Band of Barbecuers” after the Tom Hanks miniseries “Band Of Brothers.”
But Zohn, a 28-year resident, might as well have been standing in Glenview’s Costco in this outdoor courtyard setting by a Northbrook gym where the varsity basketball team versed Maine East.
Surrounded by Costco Apco-brand red onions, 300 burger buns, 200 hot dog buns, 30 pounds of Perdue chicken breast, 50 pounds of hamburger patties and 20 pounds of hot dogs — four men and a grill bested 40-degree temperatures.
“Usually I pick up the food,” said Jim Allen, fellow griller who typically completes Costco runs in his legendary Spartans green van with its appropriate griller flame artwork on its decaled sides.
“But I brought the specialty items tonight,” smiled Zohn.
Compared to football season and sell-out athletic events where an estimated 1,000 sandwiches are sold, Allen said, “This was a light night.”
But football weather in February?
Smoke rising but breath still visible in the crisp evening air, Zohn smartly donned his Navy blue winter hat.
“This is cheddar bacon cherry barbecue sauce,” said Zohn proudly, expertly wielding a flipper.
The sauce gracing sandwiches made chicken fly out of interior concession stands where the $5 treats sold briskly.
Volunteers, including Northbrook’s Patti Simon, traipsed back and forth, slinging pans of freshly-grilled marinated fare.
A “Senior Night Special” with Zohn’s secret marinated chicken cost $6 with chips and pop. Want Gatorade? Still a meal deal steal at $6.50.
“If they build it, we will come,” chuckled Northbrook’s Scott Slutsky, whose “Band of Barbecuers” was complete with Allan Wallis, a 26-year Northbrook resident.
But mostly, three men and a spatula deferred to the quartet’s secret ingredient called GBN Grillmaster Steve.
“I really kinda make it up as I go, kind of by taste,” admits Zohn, of his secret sauces which have championed the Bob Pieper Steak Sandwich or second-hand flavored the Purdy Big Matt (named after football coaches Pieper and Matt Purdy).
But mid-winter indoors, Friday Night Lights featured cherry chicken.
“Last week was Greek Chicken with Feta cheese, before that was Cajun Chicken,” said Zohn.
“That was a little hot, Woo Hoo!” said Jim Allen, making a face while fanning his mouth.
“But that was good,” said Zohn, waving off Allen’s joke.
“And then we had Hawaiian Chicken and Apple Pie Chicken,” added Zohn.
Biting now into the Big Apple?
“It tastes like apple pie,” said Allen.
“Apple sauce you know,” said Zohn. “It’s all in the sauce.”
A knockout sauce and serious volunteering made Senior Night memorable.
Before the varsity game, seniors were recognized with a special ceremony.
GBN Principal Paul Pryma, Athletic Director John Catalano and Head Varsity Basketball Coach David Weber (plus the Spartans mascot) welcomed senior families. Moms held yellow roses, joining their seniors on the court.
Carrie Wagner, 17, performed at her last basketball game as a senior poms member, dancing next to pals.
“I’ve known a lot of these people since I was 3 years old, we danced together at DancEd (Northbrook dance studio),” said Carrie, performing next to Marlee Cohen, 18, also a senior.
“Yah, I’m sad it’s coming to an end but a new chapter is opening,” said Marlee.
Carrie shook her head and pom-pons, adding: “GBN is almost over.”
Her parents David and Janice Wagner stood with other misty-eyed parents posing for photographs.
“It is so moving to me, my baby is graduating,” gushed Janice Wagner.
The Wagners have three children, Carrie, Tracy and Scott plus two grandchildren, Ellie, 4, and Lainey, 1, proudly shown off via cell phone photos.
Their daughter Tracy married her high school sweetheart John Pierce. Both are 1997 GBN graduates.
Of the youngest, Carrie: “I’m holding it together, usually I sob,” said Janice Wagner, eyes welling up.
A Northbrook resident since 1976, this mom was proud “my whole thing is that I had a child every decade.”
An era coming to a close – the Wagners face inevitable June graduation before their baby leaves for college next fall.
College undecided, Carrie Wagner knows to make the rest of senior year count. And enjoying memorable Booster Club fare helps to sweeten the journey.
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