Libertyville's Melcher wants
to remain defensive in the future
Wildcats standout has eyes on the college game
By Mike Garofola
There is more to a defender than just defending and the best left backs are proof of that.
To describe someone as being one of the best left backs was faint praise back in the day. Left back was where managers used to stick the worst player on the team. No left foot, no problem -- it was the place for anyone who didn't have a specific job on the team.
Well, times have changed. Fullbacks are no longer the forgotten men, and left backs have become integral to the way managers set up their clubs, and not just as defenders. They have become invaluable attackers, creators, scorers and set piece takers – soccer’s jacks-of-all-trades.
Libertyville senior Jon Melcher fits the bill perfectly.
"I had the honor of coaching Jon when he was a sophomore, and although he didn't play much his first year with us due to the amazing talent in front of him (including Grant Herbek, now at DePaul, and Landon Johnson at North Park), he trained hard and pushed players to compete each and every day," began Wildcats manager Kevin Thunholm.
"He showed that he would become a terrific team leader. And his love of the game and his teammates has made him an even better one."
"I've had a ball on my foot for as long as I can remember, probably when I first started to walk," recounted Melcher, who was introduced to the sport by his father Wally, who played soccer at Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1987-1990.
The 1987 team is tied for third for most wins (14) in Phoenix history.
As the younger Melcher progressed in his play, first honed at FC United and then with the Chicago Magic, his family moved from Winnetka to Libertyville. He continued to play club soccer during his freshman year of high school. He joined the Wildcats in 2019.
"I wasn't nearly big and strong enough to compete for a spot in our starting 11 on the varsity as a sophomore, but I worked as hard as I could to make myself a better player," said Melcher, who earned all-North Suburban Conference and all-sectional IHSSCA honors following the 2021 fall season.
"I earned playing time here and there. In our first game of that season, I scored a goal against a team from Wisconsin. That was a great way to begin my high school career."
The 5-0 victory over Case High School in late August of the 2019 campaign was the start of a wonderful season of soccer for Libertyville. It included a North Suburban Conference championship and regional title before a disappointing loss in penalties to Fremd in its sectional opener. That ended the postseason far too soon for the Wildcats liking. They finished 15-3-3 and were ranked 12th best in the state in the Chicagoland Soccer Final 50 poll.
"It was a tough way to go,” said Melcher. “But there were a lot of great memories for me, one of which was our late-season trip to Notre Dame (Peoria) and the cookout we had before the long bus ride back home.
"It was good stuff. We all had a lot of fun during that Saturday in Peoria, and it’s something that will be one of the great memories I'll take with me from playing for coach Thunholm and Libertyville."
Melcher did not play during the COVID-shortened 2021 spring season in which the Wildcats finished 5-5-0.
His return to the program this fall was a key to Thunholm and his staff building a strong, sturdy backline.
"We toyed around with our backline for most of the season," said Thunholm.
"Alek (LaRoi) was playing striker, but we realized he was needed along the back to help us out. We moved (Jack) Huber to outside back to give him and Melcher more room to operate and attack.
"Joey Yurik was always in the back as our big, strong, direct player. Alek gave them all more confidence to be able to do more in our attack and not be afraid to make mistakes.
"Our team was young and inexperienced,” continued Thunholm. “We had two sophomores and one freshman on a roster full of juniors. So having a young man like Jon around, he helped this young team become more patient, cool and composed. His service and ability to attack from the back, with speed, made him a game-changer."
Melcher watches as many English Premier League and international games as he can during his free time to further absorb the intricacies of the sport. The position he plays makes him more of hybrid player in the modern game.
"Jon is a hybrid player, because he's an incredible athlete, who is big, strong, quick and fast. He has an amazing soccer IQ," said Thunholm.
"He also has a huge throw that helped create, and helped set up our attack."
Melcher’s piercing long-throw impressed all who witnessed it, including Barrington manager Scott Steib who watched 10 heaves against his club in the Broncos recent regional final triumph.
"That long-throw from no. 15 (Melcher) was amazing,” he said. “Not only did it reach the far post on our super-wide pitch, (it) also arrived there with incredible pace. (It) was a really dangerous component in their attack and provided plenty of nervous moments for us that night."
"I really wasn't able to throw the ball very far when I was a freshman,” said Melcher. “But I continued to work on it. As I got bigger and stronger, I was finally able to really launch the ball with distance and accuracy to help make it a weapon in our attack."
His signature throw is but one of many qualities the Wildcats captain put on display.
Melcher ranked with the best left backs this season. He was aggressive on and off the ball. He hassled and harried opposing wingers out of possession with his defensive intelligence.
His speed, composure, pace, pinpoint delivery and dazzling dribbling added a serious offensive threat.
"We asked (Jon) to go forward from his outside back position to help in our attack," said Thunholm. “With his ability to see the game so well, he made us very dangerous.”
The affable Wildcats star says if not for soccer, the fast-paced sport of lacrosse would have caught his attention.
As far as his next step, Melcher said he hopes to continue his soccer career in the western part of the country.
"I want to play collegiate soccer at the highest level if I can,” he said. “(We) have winter family in Colorado around Highlands Ranch/Littleton, which is 12-15 miles south of Denver. Perhaps somewhere out there would be one of the first places I would look for college and soccer.
"I've really enjoyed playing for coach Thunholm, our coaching staff and with my friends. I'll leave Libertyville High School with a lot of great memories, but I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life in college and soccer."
to remain defensive in the future
Wildcats standout has eyes on the college game
By Mike Garofola
There is more to a defender than just defending and the best left backs are proof of that.
To describe someone as being one of the best left backs was faint praise back in the day. Left back was where managers used to stick the worst player on the team. No left foot, no problem -- it was the place for anyone who didn't have a specific job on the team.
Well, times have changed. Fullbacks are no longer the forgotten men, and left backs have become integral to the way managers set up their clubs, and not just as defenders. They have become invaluable attackers, creators, scorers and set piece takers – soccer’s jacks-of-all-trades.
Libertyville senior Jon Melcher fits the bill perfectly.
"I had the honor of coaching Jon when he was a sophomore, and although he didn't play much his first year with us due to the amazing talent in front of him (including Grant Herbek, now at DePaul, and Landon Johnson at North Park), he trained hard and pushed players to compete each and every day," began Wildcats manager Kevin Thunholm.
"He showed that he would become a terrific team leader. And his love of the game and his teammates has made him an even better one."
"I've had a ball on my foot for as long as I can remember, probably when I first started to walk," recounted Melcher, who was introduced to the sport by his father Wally, who played soccer at Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1987-1990.
The 1987 team is tied for third for most wins (14) in Phoenix history.
As the younger Melcher progressed in his play, first honed at FC United and then with the Chicago Magic, his family moved from Winnetka to Libertyville. He continued to play club soccer during his freshman year of high school. He joined the Wildcats in 2019.
"I wasn't nearly big and strong enough to compete for a spot in our starting 11 on the varsity as a sophomore, but I worked as hard as I could to make myself a better player," said Melcher, who earned all-North Suburban Conference and all-sectional IHSSCA honors following the 2021 fall season.
"I earned playing time here and there. In our first game of that season, I scored a goal against a team from Wisconsin. That was a great way to begin my high school career."
The 5-0 victory over Case High School in late August of the 2019 campaign was the start of a wonderful season of soccer for Libertyville. It included a North Suburban Conference championship and regional title before a disappointing loss in penalties to Fremd in its sectional opener. That ended the postseason far too soon for the Wildcats liking. They finished 15-3-3 and were ranked 12th best in the state in the Chicagoland Soccer Final 50 poll.
"It was a tough way to go,” said Melcher. “But there were a lot of great memories for me, one of which was our late-season trip to Notre Dame (Peoria) and the cookout we had before the long bus ride back home.
"It was good stuff. We all had a lot of fun during that Saturday in Peoria, and it’s something that will be one of the great memories I'll take with me from playing for coach Thunholm and Libertyville."
Melcher did not play during the COVID-shortened 2021 spring season in which the Wildcats finished 5-5-0.
His return to the program this fall was a key to Thunholm and his staff building a strong, sturdy backline.
"We toyed around with our backline for most of the season," said Thunholm.
"Alek (LaRoi) was playing striker, but we realized he was needed along the back to help us out. We moved (Jack) Huber to outside back to give him and Melcher more room to operate and attack.
"Joey Yurik was always in the back as our big, strong, direct player. Alek gave them all more confidence to be able to do more in our attack and not be afraid to make mistakes.
"Our team was young and inexperienced,” continued Thunholm. “We had two sophomores and one freshman on a roster full of juniors. So having a young man like Jon around, he helped this young team become more patient, cool and composed. His service and ability to attack from the back, with speed, made him a game-changer."
Melcher watches as many English Premier League and international games as he can during his free time to further absorb the intricacies of the sport. The position he plays makes him more of hybrid player in the modern game.
"Jon is a hybrid player, because he's an incredible athlete, who is big, strong, quick and fast. He has an amazing soccer IQ," said Thunholm.
"He also has a huge throw that helped create, and helped set up our attack."
Melcher’s piercing long-throw impressed all who witnessed it, including Barrington manager Scott Steib who watched 10 heaves against his club in the Broncos recent regional final triumph.
"That long-throw from no. 15 (Melcher) was amazing,” he said. “Not only did it reach the far post on our super-wide pitch, (it) also arrived there with incredible pace. (It) was a really dangerous component in their attack and provided plenty of nervous moments for us that night."
"I really wasn't able to throw the ball very far when I was a freshman,” said Melcher. “But I continued to work on it. As I got bigger and stronger, I was finally able to really launch the ball with distance and accuracy to help make it a weapon in our attack."
His signature throw is but one of many qualities the Wildcats captain put on display.
Melcher ranked with the best left backs this season. He was aggressive on and off the ball. He hassled and harried opposing wingers out of possession with his defensive intelligence.
His speed, composure, pace, pinpoint delivery and dazzling dribbling added a serious offensive threat.
"We asked (Jon) to go forward from his outside back position to help in our attack," said Thunholm. “With his ability to see the game so well, he made us very dangerous.”
The affable Wildcats star says if not for soccer, the fast-paced sport of lacrosse would have caught his attention.
As far as his next step, Melcher said he hopes to continue his soccer career in the western part of the country.
"I want to play collegiate soccer at the highest level if I can,” he said. “(We) have winter family in Colorado around Highlands Ranch/Littleton, which is 12-15 miles south of Denver. Perhaps somewhere out there would be one of the first places I would look for college and soccer.
"I've really enjoyed playing for coach Thunholm, our coaching staff and with my friends. I'll leave Libertyville High School with a lot of great memories, but I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life in college and soccer."