The North Shore Breeze

The North Shore Breeze, a non-profit training organization founded in 2001, have their final practice just before the new school year begins.  Dorsey Christian IV, age 7 of Gurnee (left) and Amaya Booker, age 8 of Beach Park, chat with the friends they've made just before the beginning of practice.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

The North Shore Breeze, a non-profit training organization founded in 2001, have their final practice just before the new school year begins.  Mora Smith, age 9 of Zion, making sure her shoes are nice and tight, so there's no accidents.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

From left, is Dorsey Christian IV, 7 of Gurnee, Amaya Booker, 8 of Beach Park, Megan Geldernick, 17 of Mundelein, Mora Smith, 9 of Zion, Chelsea Maxey, 17 of Zion, Delante Keys, 18 of Antioch, and his brother Jalen Keys, 12 of Zion.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

From left, hopping on one foot, is Amaya Booker, 8 of Beach Park, Megan Geldernick, 17 of Mundelein, Mora Smith, 9 of Zion, and Chelsea Maxey, 17 of Zion.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

Concentrating extremely while practicing lunges here, is Dorsey Christian IV, age 7 of Gurnee.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

Having fun with the new friends they've made, this year had about 35 athletes while normally averaging about 75 athletes per year.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

Braxton Klavins, seventh in the nation for the 400 meter dash, received a scholarship to SIU Edwardsville, thanking North Shore Breeze for shedding seconds off his times and helping him get to where he is now and where he'll be in the future.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)

The two coaches in white are Vernon George (left) head coach and Dorsey Christian III, is the assistant coach.  From left, top row, is Alan Burchfield, 18 of Zion, Arquennetta Abrams, 14 of Gurnee, Delante Keys, 18 of Antioch, Braxton Klavins, 18 of Lake Zurich, Megan Geldernick, 17 of Mundelein, and Chelsea Maxey, 17 of Zion.  From left front row, is Jalen Keys, 12 of Zion, Melvin Pettis, 11 of Wadsworth, Dorsey Christian IV, 7 of Gurnee, Mora Smith, 9 of Zion, and Amaya Booker, 8 of Beach Park.  (Mark Ukena/Sun-Times Media)