Palatine Pack TFCC
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Palatine Pack TFCC provides affordable training and competition opportunities for youth, middle school, and high school age athletes. We offer sessions during post-season cross country, indoor track and field, and summer track and field. All sessions occur outside of normal school seasons for middle and high school athletes. The club provides primary service to those in Palatine, Mt. Prospect, Lake Zurich, Arlington Heights, Barrington, and nearby suburbs.
Contact: Executive Director - Chris Quick, palatinepack@gmail.com, (847) 483-4642 | Lead Coach - Alex Soto, palatinepack@gmail.com, (847) 754-1300
Above: Palatine Pack TFCC distance coaches celebrate after a day of successful racing at the 2023 USATF Junior National XC meet.
Coaches
Alex Soto has been the Lead Coach of Palatine Pack TFCC since its inception in 2020. Alex ran at Palatine High School and Eastern Illinois University, where he graduated with a degree in Physical Education.
Under Soto’s direction, Palatine Pack TFCC has aggregated an elite staff of teachers, coaches, and exercise enthusiasts in all event areas. Many are skilled educators who teach in local middle schools and high schools and believe in a patient, growth-oriented educational approach.
Alex oversees the track and field staff while serving as lead coach for sprints and relays. In 2023, Alex promoted Alec Bollman and Lori Gonzalez to oversee the boys and girls distance programs.
Above: The original session of Palatine Pack TFCC was held at Falcon Park in February 2021 and served 28 athletes. Since then, we have served 1000s.
History
Chris Quick and Alex Soto founded the Palatine Pack TFCC club in 2020 to provide better service to middle school and youth track and field/cross country athletes in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The club became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2021 and focuses on its mission to build community, teach fundamentals, and have fun.
That mission emerged from two impulses. The first was to critique existing club sports, which focus too often on high achievement, extensive time commitment, travel, and expensive fees. Instead, we created a local community where kids could build friendships and learn the sports of track and field/cross country in a safe and fun environment.
The second impulse was to collaborate with local coaches rather than establish ownership. Palatine Pack TFCC is not a “feeder” for any local high school. Instead, it is a collaborative partnership between The Pack TFCC, middle school, and high school coaches all working to build friendships across schools and meaningful relationships with kids.
Above: Palatine Pack TFCC athletes reconnect at the 2024 IESA State track and field championship.
Impact
It is our sincerest hope that our athletes continue to participate in track and field /cross country at the high school and collegiate levels. Whether the athlete is an elite performer or an enthusiastic participant, we hope that they continue to add their expertise and enthusiasm beyond the middle school level.
Another aspiration is for kids from different schools to develop meaningful relationships with each other. The picture to the left says it all - kids from many different schools taking time to reconnect and celebrate their success on the track. Such connection is an even greater success.
This focus on relationship building has born fruit in competition. In track and field, 85 Palatine Pack TFCC athletes have earned All-State awards, including 15 state champions across the various classes. In cross country, 33 athletes have finished All-State. Many have also been key contributors on IESA state trophy teams.