Prospect alumna Welk
a wonder in college too
By Mike Garofola
Madi Rosen and Stephanie Mazurek both deserved being named to the 2019 IHSSCA All-State Soccer Team a year ago.
Rosen helped lead Barrington to its third-consecutive Class 3A state final appearance. Conant’s Mazurek scored 25 goals last season to set a program record and gave her 63 for her career. Mazurek’s 161 total points put her 13 points behind program leader Courtney Raetzman.
Prospect’s Ashley Welk found her name on the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team alongside that pair and could have easily found her name on the coaches’ list if their flawed voting system was not in place.
Welk was one of the best to come through Tom Froats' program at Prospect in quite some time.
"Ashley is a special player, but even more so as a person," said Froats last spring when asked to comment on his two-time all-MSL, all-sectional, and Daily Herald All-Area midfielder.
"She is a rare breed of talent, ability, high work rate (and ethic) who plays with a great deal of class."
Ashley also happens to have a remarkable soccer IQ, which allows her to read the game at an elite level. On top of that, she is the epitome of what a true student-athlete is all about, thanks to her terrific work in the classroom."
While best playing as an attacking midfielder, Welk was first class, and when Froats moved her up-top or on the flank, her enterprising runs and lovely service proved valuable for the Lady Knights.
Her vision and an ability to dribble in and out of close spaces was a sight to behold, as was consistent all-around play that helped set her apart from others.
Welk bagged 12 goals last season to give her 34 for her career. She left Prospect as its third all-time goal scorer, and third overall in total points with 82.
"I absolutely loved Prospect High School, and playing soccer for Mr. Froats," Welk said.
"We had a very special group of girls. Most of us who graduated last year came up together and had been on the varsity for three years."
"I miss all of my teammates so much. In fact, my best friend (Tina Suto, now at Miami of Ohio) is someone I talked to every day. We continue to stay close with each other."
Welk took a long look at DePaul, Iowa and Loyola before signing to play at Marian University in Indianapolis. There she has continued her sparkling career at the Division III level.
"I went to a lot of (I.D.) camps and, liked DePaul, Iowa and Loyola very much, but in the end, they were a little too big for me. With an opportunity to go in and play right away, plus be challenged academically the way I wanted to was too good to pass up," Welk said.
"The coaching staff, players and campus all made me feel like I belonged there, and that was something that made me feel welcomed right from the start."
Once Welk put on the Marian kit, she would made an immediate mark on Sabres soccer.
During a memorable rookie year at Marian, Welk would lead the club in overall scoring (31) with 14 goals, and 3 helpers.
Welk bagged both goals in a 2-1 victory over Aurora to give the program its first win ever against its longtime rival.
In addition, Welk started in all 18 games and led the club in shots and shots on frame. She had four multi-goal games, collected two game-winners and at the end of the season was named Northern Athletics College Conference second team.
"The level of play at D III was so much better,” said Welk, who was deployed as a central midfielder. “You’re never really sure if you'll fit in or can compete against better competition. Our coaching staff and my teammates made me feel really comfortable from the very beginning.
"One thing that is so different from high school that I like very much is our training schedule (which) runs from 4:30-6:30/7 with our games being played on Wednesday and Saturday only.
"In high school, there were times we played four games a week, which was exhausting and really didn't allow much time to train or to recover."
With a conference that reaches into Wisconsin, Michgan and Illinois, Welk admits the bus rides feel like it takes days before arriving, but that's about all the Mt. Prospect resident can complain about.
Welk, who carried a 3.92 GPA in high school and was a National Merit Scholarship finalist, plans to leave Marian University with a degree in forensic science.
a wonder in college too
By Mike Garofola
Madi Rosen and Stephanie Mazurek both deserved being named to the 2019 IHSSCA All-State Soccer Team a year ago.
Rosen helped lead Barrington to its third-consecutive Class 3A state final appearance. Conant’s Mazurek scored 25 goals last season to set a program record and gave her 63 for her career. Mazurek’s 161 total points put her 13 points behind program leader Courtney Raetzman.
Prospect’s Ashley Welk found her name on the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team alongside that pair and could have easily found her name on the coaches’ list if their flawed voting system was not in place.
Welk was one of the best to come through Tom Froats' program at Prospect in quite some time.
"Ashley is a special player, but even more so as a person," said Froats last spring when asked to comment on his two-time all-MSL, all-sectional, and Daily Herald All-Area midfielder.
"She is a rare breed of talent, ability, high work rate (and ethic) who plays with a great deal of class."
Ashley also happens to have a remarkable soccer IQ, which allows her to read the game at an elite level. On top of that, she is the epitome of what a true student-athlete is all about, thanks to her terrific work in the classroom."
While best playing as an attacking midfielder, Welk was first class, and when Froats moved her up-top or on the flank, her enterprising runs and lovely service proved valuable for the Lady Knights.
Her vision and an ability to dribble in and out of close spaces was a sight to behold, as was consistent all-around play that helped set her apart from others.
Welk bagged 12 goals last season to give her 34 for her career. She left Prospect as its third all-time goal scorer, and third overall in total points with 82.
"I absolutely loved Prospect High School, and playing soccer for Mr. Froats," Welk said.
"We had a very special group of girls. Most of us who graduated last year came up together and had been on the varsity for three years."
"I miss all of my teammates so much. In fact, my best friend (Tina Suto, now at Miami of Ohio) is someone I talked to every day. We continue to stay close with each other."
Welk took a long look at DePaul, Iowa and Loyola before signing to play at Marian University in Indianapolis. There she has continued her sparkling career at the Division III level.
"I went to a lot of (I.D.) camps and, liked DePaul, Iowa and Loyola very much, but in the end, they were a little too big for me. With an opportunity to go in and play right away, plus be challenged academically the way I wanted to was too good to pass up," Welk said.
"The coaching staff, players and campus all made me feel like I belonged there, and that was something that made me feel welcomed right from the start."
Once Welk put on the Marian kit, she would made an immediate mark on Sabres soccer.
During a memorable rookie year at Marian, Welk would lead the club in overall scoring (31) with 14 goals, and 3 helpers.
Welk bagged both goals in a 2-1 victory over Aurora to give the program its first win ever against its longtime rival.
In addition, Welk started in all 18 games and led the club in shots and shots on frame. She had four multi-goal games, collected two game-winners and at the end of the season was named Northern Athletics College Conference second team.
"The level of play at D III was so much better,” said Welk, who was deployed as a central midfielder. “You’re never really sure if you'll fit in or can compete against better competition. Our coaching staff and my teammates made me feel really comfortable from the very beginning.
"One thing that is so different from high school that I like very much is our training schedule (which) runs from 4:30-6:30/7 with our games being played on Wednesday and Saturday only.
"In high school, there were times we played four games a week, which was exhausting and really didn't allow much time to train or to recover."
With a conference that reaches into Wisconsin, Michgan and Illinois, Welk admits the bus rides feel like it takes days before arriving, but that's about all the Mt. Prospect resident can complain about.
Welk, who carried a 3.92 GPA in high school and was a National Merit Scholarship finalist, plans to leave Marian University with a degree in forensic science.