After lost season, senior
bonds remain at South Elgin
By Dave Owen
The connection between South Elgin coach Laura Szwaja and the Class of 2020 runs extra deep.
Szwaja took over as Storm head coach in the spring of 2017, the same year this spring’s seniors entered the school.
“Nicole Peeters and Taylor Latsonas both earned their spots on the varsity squad as freshmen,” the same year that I took over the varsity coaching job,” Szwaja said. “So I was looking forward to rounding out my fourth year with those two by my side.”
Peeters and Latsonas soon had plenty of company.
By the 2018 season, 10 of the 23 varsity roster spots were filled by sophomores from the illustrious class. Nine of those 10 remained in the program the rest of the way.
“More of these kids joined the (varsity) squad their sophomore year,” Szwaja said, “and while we struggled to win games that year (finishing with three victories), this group had fight.”
That fight really showed in 2019. South Elgin exploded to 14 wins last year, winning its first regional title since 2016 and fourth in the last six years.
After COVID-19 wiped out this season, the pain felt statewide and nationwide really hit home for Szwaja.
“I too am not getting my 'senior' year of head coaching,” the fourth-year mentor said. “These kids have been part of my journey, and this was supposed to be their celebration season.
“I think the biggest story about this team is my group of seniors. They are incredible, and the thought of those kids not taking the field together one more time is gut wrenching.”
Less painful is the story of how a sub-.500 team one year developed into a cohesive group that was one of the final 32 teams playing in Class 3A last season.
The story of defender Kaleigh LaRue serves as a good example of that incredible improvement.
“Kaleigh LaRue is probably one of the best defenders to ever play at SEHS,” Szwaja said.
When LaRue joined the Storm varsity in 2018, she likely wouldn’t have expected those type of plaudits.
“Looking back at the conversation I had with coach Szwaja, before I made the varsity team sophomore year, it makes me realize how much it has influenced my individual improvement over the past seasons,” LaRue said.
“She had told me she was worried about me being on the team because of my small stature (5-foot-4). She wasn't sure how I would measure up against the larger high school girls during games.”
If those words were intended as motivation, it worked.
“I recently asked Szwaja about that comment again, if she remembered saying this to me,” LaRue said. “She said she did, and she told me she had said it because I acted so scared and timid during tryouts that year that she was worried I would get injured taking on those bigger girls.
“It always makes me laugh when I think back on it. I feel that comment really reflects how far I came individually over my South Elgin soccer career.
“Not only do I feel more confident in my abilities to defend against strong players,” LaRue added, “but I've also learned how to view the game from a more balanced perspective. I pay greater attention to what I can do to help my team score rather than only focusing on preventing the opponents from scoring.”
While LaRue became a complete player with a completely different approach to the game, the entire Storm senior class also grew in confidence, stature and connection to each other.
“All of the seniors on the team this year are each special in their own way,” said Danielle Kucharski, another arrival on varsity as a sophomore in 2018. “The 10 of us have a different kind of respect and love for each other that you don’t find everywhere.
“Last year as juniors we all wanted to help the seniors go out in the best way possible. I feel we did that, and that’s one reason why we became so successful. We were no longer playing for ourselves; we were playing for each other.”
The level of play really began to soar in May. Road wins at Bartlett, Glenbard South and West Aurora earned the Storm the conference title, and two shutout wins in regionals continued the run. A 2-0 loss to eventual Class 3A runner-up Barrington finally calmed the Storm.
Senior Bella Tusa also saw team chemistry and hard work turn a struggling side in 2018 into a powerhouse one year later.
“This group is the most dedicated and motivated I have ever seen,” Tusa said. “I think what happened last year was that we were used to each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we also had a different mindset. We had a rough year previous to last year, but we put it behind us and started working hard.
“I think this group of seniors were special not only because of the skill level we were at, but we all have this crazy strong bond with one another,” she added. “We basically trust and treat each other as family.”
Haley Molidor, Kayla Mathis, Brianna Saenz, Olivia Diem and goalkeeper Megan McClure also debuted on varsity in 2018. All but Diem returned last season, and Olivia Piaskowy joined the varsity this spring as a senior.
Unfortunately, the 2020 season consisted of only a few weeks of practices.
“Having this season stolen from us hurts more than I can explain,” Szwaja said.
But the Storm seniors will always be able to relish a magical 2019.
“The seniors and I left a great legacy at SEHS,” said Tusa, who will play collegiately at Barry College in south Florida. “We came out conference and regional champions. Not only that, but there are now 10 spots that newcomers need to work hard to fill.”
Kucharski will also continue her soccer career, at Hanover College in Indiana. And the travails of this spring have only added to her determination once she returns to the pitch.
“I would not want any other group of girls to surround myself with in these crazy times,” Kucharski said. “They will forever be my family, and I'll continue to play for them. And for our season we never had.”
bonds remain at South Elgin
By Dave Owen
The connection between South Elgin coach Laura Szwaja and the Class of 2020 runs extra deep.
Szwaja took over as Storm head coach in the spring of 2017, the same year this spring’s seniors entered the school.
“Nicole Peeters and Taylor Latsonas both earned their spots on the varsity squad as freshmen,” the same year that I took over the varsity coaching job,” Szwaja said. “So I was looking forward to rounding out my fourth year with those two by my side.”
Peeters and Latsonas soon had plenty of company.
By the 2018 season, 10 of the 23 varsity roster spots were filled by sophomores from the illustrious class. Nine of those 10 remained in the program the rest of the way.
“More of these kids joined the (varsity) squad their sophomore year,” Szwaja said, “and while we struggled to win games that year (finishing with three victories), this group had fight.”
That fight really showed in 2019. South Elgin exploded to 14 wins last year, winning its first regional title since 2016 and fourth in the last six years.
After COVID-19 wiped out this season, the pain felt statewide and nationwide really hit home for Szwaja.
“I too am not getting my 'senior' year of head coaching,” the fourth-year mentor said. “These kids have been part of my journey, and this was supposed to be their celebration season.
“I think the biggest story about this team is my group of seniors. They are incredible, and the thought of those kids not taking the field together one more time is gut wrenching.”
Less painful is the story of how a sub-.500 team one year developed into a cohesive group that was one of the final 32 teams playing in Class 3A last season.
The story of defender Kaleigh LaRue serves as a good example of that incredible improvement.
“Kaleigh LaRue is probably one of the best defenders to ever play at SEHS,” Szwaja said.
When LaRue joined the Storm varsity in 2018, she likely wouldn’t have expected those type of plaudits.
“Looking back at the conversation I had with coach Szwaja, before I made the varsity team sophomore year, it makes me realize how much it has influenced my individual improvement over the past seasons,” LaRue said.
“She had told me she was worried about me being on the team because of my small stature (5-foot-4). She wasn't sure how I would measure up against the larger high school girls during games.”
If those words were intended as motivation, it worked.
“I recently asked Szwaja about that comment again, if she remembered saying this to me,” LaRue said. “She said she did, and she told me she had said it because I acted so scared and timid during tryouts that year that she was worried I would get injured taking on those bigger girls.
“It always makes me laugh when I think back on it. I feel that comment really reflects how far I came individually over my South Elgin soccer career.
“Not only do I feel more confident in my abilities to defend against strong players,” LaRue added, “but I've also learned how to view the game from a more balanced perspective. I pay greater attention to what I can do to help my team score rather than only focusing on preventing the opponents from scoring.”
While LaRue became a complete player with a completely different approach to the game, the entire Storm senior class also grew in confidence, stature and connection to each other.
“All of the seniors on the team this year are each special in their own way,” said Danielle Kucharski, another arrival on varsity as a sophomore in 2018. “The 10 of us have a different kind of respect and love for each other that you don’t find everywhere.
“Last year as juniors we all wanted to help the seniors go out in the best way possible. I feel we did that, and that’s one reason why we became so successful. We were no longer playing for ourselves; we were playing for each other.”
The level of play really began to soar in May. Road wins at Bartlett, Glenbard South and West Aurora earned the Storm the conference title, and two shutout wins in regionals continued the run. A 2-0 loss to eventual Class 3A runner-up Barrington finally calmed the Storm.
Senior Bella Tusa also saw team chemistry and hard work turn a struggling side in 2018 into a powerhouse one year later.
“This group is the most dedicated and motivated I have ever seen,” Tusa said. “I think what happened last year was that we were used to each other's strengths and weaknesses, and we also had a different mindset. We had a rough year previous to last year, but we put it behind us and started working hard.
“I think this group of seniors were special not only because of the skill level we were at, but we all have this crazy strong bond with one another,” she added. “We basically trust and treat each other as family.”
Haley Molidor, Kayla Mathis, Brianna Saenz, Olivia Diem and goalkeeper Megan McClure also debuted on varsity in 2018. All but Diem returned last season, and Olivia Piaskowy joined the varsity this spring as a senior.
Unfortunately, the 2020 season consisted of only a few weeks of practices.
“Having this season stolen from us hurts more than I can explain,” Szwaja said.
But the Storm seniors will always be able to relish a magical 2019.
“The seniors and I left a great legacy at SEHS,” said Tusa, who will play collegiately at Barry College in south Florida. “We came out conference and regional champions. Not only that, but there are now 10 spots that newcomers need to work hard to fill.”
Kucharski will also continue her soccer career, at Hanover College in Indiana. And the travails of this spring have only added to her determination once she returns to the pitch.
“I would not want any other group of girls to surround myself with in these crazy times,” Kucharski said. “They will forever be my family, and I'll continue to play for them. And for our season we never had.”