Red Stars' Sharples a role model
at alma mater Naperville North
By Matt Le Cren
It is a rite of passage for young athletes to look up to those who came before them and then try to emulate them.
For soccer players at Naperville North, Kayla Sharples is that touchstone.
The 2015 graduate is considered to be one of the finest athletes in school history and became the first female Huskie to play professional soccer when she was drafted in 2019 by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League.
“(It is important) for the players in our program to realize that there is an opportunity out there for kids if they want to continue to pursue their dreams,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “To see Kayla is encouraging for all of our current and future athletes to have a great person, a face and name, with the credentials that Kayla does.
“It’s a best-case scenario not only for our program but for Naperville North High School.”
So you can imagine Emily Magee’s delight when she took part in the January 21 ceremony in which it was announced Sharples’ no. 28 Red Stars jersey will be displayed high on the wall outside Naperville North’s gym, joining those of all the former alumni who have played professional sports.
Magee, a senior, played center back, the same position Sharples did as a freshman in 2012, when she helped the Huskies win the state championship. She carried Sharples’ framed jersey out to center court at halftime of the Jan. 21 basketball game.
“It’s crazy because I’ve grown up and looked up to her and Zoe Swift and been like, ‘Wow, I can’t imagine playing (in the state finals) at North Central College,” Magee said. “That’s insane, and then to think that Kayla Sharples took it to the next level and is on one of the best pro teams in the United States.
“It was really cool meeting her and getting to know her. She’s all-around a good person and a good player. She came from Naperville North. That’s pretty amazing.”
Like Sharples, Magee played center back for the Huskies and won a state title on the pitch at North Central College, playing an integral role in the Huskies’ shootout win over Barrington in the 2019 state championship game, seven years after Sharples helped North to an equally epic four-overtime win over St. Charles North in the title match.
Sharples spent only one season playing for the Huskies, opting to focus on club soccer with Eclipse Select after her freshman year.
“I had a blast my freshman year (at North),” she said. “We won state and you couldn’t ask for more."
Sharples was also a star basketball player at North and graduated as the second-leading score in Huskies history.
Sharples four years as a starter at Northwestern included the Wildcats' first Big 10 soccer championship in 2016 before being drafted by the Red Stars. She appeared in two games during her rookie NWSL season, which ended with the Red Stars losing 4-0 to North Carolina in the National Womens Soccer League championship game.
“I was very fortunate. Naperville North has really made me the athlete, the person, the woman that I am today. So not only was it Naperville North as an institution, but the teachers and the coaches that I encountered.
“I couldn’t speak more highly of it. I was honored when my jersey was hung up ... alongside other professional athletes, some of those greats.”
The jerseys of several other soccer players adorn the wall, including brothers Jim and Jay Konrad, and Jay Rensink, the all-time leading scorer for the boys program. But Sharples is the first female soccer player so honored and just the second female athlete, joining softball player Sammy Marshall, a 2011 graduate who plays for the Chicago Bandits.
The January ceremony gave Sharples a chance to reconnect with students and reminisce about her high school days.
“We also had a mini-presentation about what we had gone through,” Sharples said. “There were students asking questions at a Q & A, so it was a really great experience and we watched the basketball game. It was great day, and I’m very blessed.”
The high schools in Naperville have been blessed with soccer talent for decades. One only has to look at the current Red Stars roster for proof of that.
It includes Naperville Central grad Casey Short, who is a member of the U.S Women’s National Team, Waubonsie Valley alum Vanessa DiBernardo and former Neuqua Valley star Zoey Goralski. All of them played at least one year of high school soccer (DiBernardo and Goralski played four).
“We have a ton of Naperville girls,” Sharples said. “That just shows you that Naperville produces such high talent in all sport, but especially in soccer.
“I remember when I was debating whether or not to play high school soccer versus club, either way you couldn’t go wrong.”
Like most schools, North displays pictures of all of its all-state athletes in the halls outside the gymnasium. No doubt at least a few more will reach the professional ranks.
“We have a full hallway outside the contest gym with pictures of all of those athletes,” Sharples said. “It’s incredible to see that talent and the success that goes along with it.”
Sharples, whose playing career is currently on hiatus along with everyone else’s due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a walking example of the talent, hard work and determination needed to reach the highest level.
Before school was shut down last month, the students at Naperville North got to see quite a bit of Sharples, who was substitute teaching in various departments.
“She’s definitely our most qualified substitute, athletically, that we’ve ever had in our building,” Goletz said. “I can’t say the last time we’ve had a professional athlete be a substitute teacher. It’s great for the kids to see her on a regular basis.”
Sharples has enjoyed being around the kids.
“That’s been great because I’m back where I came from, and it’s so nice to see my old teachers,” Sharples said. “It’s really been a good experience, because I’ve subbed in multiple departments.
“It’s nice to catch up, and it’s nice to be with the kids because I had such a good high school experience. I loved it so much that I wanted to do whatever I could to give back and help them. It’s a different role, but I enjoy it.”
That is just one of many jobs Sharples has taken in the last year to supplement her NWSL salary. She was a soccer analyst for the Big Ten Network last fall and hopes to continue that work.
“It was a great experience,” Sharples said. “The producers, my co-analysts, everyone was so nice and very helpful in helping me in this new goal.
“I didn’t have any prior (broadcasting) experience. I just had to bring my soccer analysis skills to the table and everyone worked with me. I’m looking forward to doing that this year as well.”
Sharples also works for the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, a non-profit whose mission is to unite the glob in the fight against gynecological cancer. Since she can work from home and the job has flexible hours, it has been a great fit for Sharples both in-season and in the off-season.
“I’m their communications specialist and social media specialist,” Sharples said. “I take over their social media channels and push out that contact and encourage our mission, and I help with the website and promoting scientific articles.
“I didn’t have any prior experience with the health care industry, however, it gives me experience doing marketing.”
While Sharples, 22, hopes to have a long playing career, she knows nothing is guaranteed, which is why it pays, literally, to be versatile.
“I’ve dipped my toe in quite a lot of areas,” Sharples said. “This is the time to try different things especially considering our off-season was four months long, which is a lot.
“I’ve been pretty lucky to have those opportunities.”
Younger players like Magee are lucky to have a role model like Sharples. It is perhaps no coincidence that the Huskies have won three state titles and a third place trophy since 2012.
“When there’s people like that to look up to, it just inspires you to try harder,” Magee said. “That would be our goal at practice, to try to be our best so we can play on that (North Central College) field in high school.”
Magee and her teammates did that. So did Sharples, who went on to bigger and better things.
“It’s a testament to her that she got better and better,” Goletz said. “I always say, as good of a player as Kayla is, she’s a better person and her work rate is second-to-none. You can see that by the path that it took her.”
Click here to see Naperville North's 2012 team page!
at alma mater Naperville North
By Matt Le Cren
It is a rite of passage for young athletes to look up to those who came before them and then try to emulate them.
For soccer players at Naperville North, Kayla Sharples is that touchstone.
The 2015 graduate is considered to be one of the finest athletes in school history and became the first female Huskie to play professional soccer when she was drafted in 2019 by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League.
“(It is important) for the players in our program to realize that there is an opportunity out there for kids if they want to continue to pursue their dreams,” Naperville North coach Steve Goletz said. “To see Kayla is encouraging for all of our current and future athletes to have a great person, a face and name, with the credentials that Kayla does.
“It’s a best-case scenario not only for our program but for Naperville North High School.”
So you can imagine Emily Magee’s delight when she took part in the January 21 ceremony in which it was announced Sharples’ no. 28 Red Stars jersey will be displayed high on the wall outside Naperville North’s gym, joining those of all the former alumni who have played professional sports.
Magee, a senior, played center back, the same position Sharples did as a freshman in 2012, when she helped the Huskies win the state championship. She carried Sharples’ framed jersey out to center court at halftime of the Jan. 21 basketball game.
“It’s crazy because I’ve grown up and looked up to her and Zoe Swift and been like, ‘Wow, I can’t imagine playing (in the state finals) at North Central College,” Magee said. “That’s insane, and then to think that Kayla Sharples took it to the next level and is on one of the best pro teams in the United States.
“It was really cool meeting her and getting to know her. She’s all-around a good person and a good player. She came from Naperville North. That’s pretty amazing.”
Like Sharples, Magee played center back for the Huskies and won a state title on the pitch at North Central College, playing an integral role in the Huskies’ shootout win over Barrington in the 2019 state championship game, seven years after Sharples helped North to an equally epic four-overtime win over St. Charles North in the title match.
Sharples spent only one season playing for the Huskies, opting to focus on club soccer with Eclipse Select after her freshman year.
“I had a blast my freshman year (at North),” she said. “We won state and you couldn’t ask for more."
Sharples was also a star basketball player at North and graduated as the second-leading score in Huskies history.
Sharples four years as a starter at Northwestern included the Wildcats' first Big 10 soccer championship in 2016 before being drafted by the Red Stars. She appeared in two games during her rookie NWSL season, which ended with the Red Stars losing 4-0 to North Carolina in the National Womens Soccer League championship game.
“I was very fortunate. Naperville North has really made me the athlete, the person, the woman that I am today. So not only was it Naperville North as an institution, but the teachers and the coaches that I encountered.
“I couldn’t speak more highly of it. I was honored when my jersey was hung up ... alongside other professional athletes, some of those greats.”
The jerseys of several other soccer players adorn the wall, including brothers Jim and Jay Konrad, and Jay Rensink, the all-time leading scorer for the boys program. But Sharples is the first female soccer player so honored and just the second female athlete, joining softball player Sammy Marshall, a 2011 graduate who plays for the Chicago Bandits.
The January ceremony gave Sharples a chance to reconnect with students and reminisce about her high school days.
“We also had a mini-presentation about what we had gone through,” Sharples said. “There were students asking questions at a Q & A, so it was a really great experience and we watched the basketball game. It was great day, and I’m very blessed.”
The high schools in Naperville have been blessed with soccer talent for decades. One only has to look at the current Red Stars roster for proof of that.
It includes Naperville Central grad Casey Short, who is a member of the U.S Women’s National Team, Waubonsie Valley alum Vanessa DiBernardo and former Neuqua Valley star Zoey Goralski. All of them played at least one year of high school soccer (DiBernardo and Goralski played four).
“We have a ton of Naperville girls,” Sharples said. “That just shows you that Naperville produces such high talent in all sport, but especially in soccer.
“I remember when I was debating whether or not to play high school soccer versus club, either way you couldn’t go wrong.”
Like most schools, North displays pictures of all of its all-state athletes in the halls outside the gymnasium. No doubt at least a few more will reach the professional ranks.
“We have a full hallway outside the contest gym with pictures of all of those athletes,” Sharples said. “It’s incredible to see that talent and the success that goes along with it.”
Sharples, whose playing career is currently on hiatus along with everyone else’s due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a walking example of the talent, hard work and determination needed to reach the highest level.
Before school was shut down last month, the students at Naperville North got to see quite a bit of Sharples, who was substitute teaching in various departments.
“She’s definitely our most qualified substitute, athletically, that we’ve ever had in our building,” Goletz said. “I can’t say the last time we’ve had a professional athlete be a substitute teacher. It’s great for the kids to see her on a regular basis.”
Sharples has enjoyed being around the kids.
“That’s been great because I’m back where I came from, and it’s so nice to see my old teachers,” Sharples said. “It’s really been a good experience, because I’ve subbed in multiple departments.
“It’s nice to catch up, and it’s nice to be with the kids because I had such a good high school experience. I loved it so much that I wanted to do whatever I could to give back and help them. It’s a different role, but I enjoy it.”
That is just one of many jobs Sharples has taken in the last year to supplement her NWSL salary. She was a soccer analyst for the Big Ten Network last fall and hopes to continue that work.
“It was a great experience,” Sharples said. “The producers, my co-analysts, everyone was so nice and very helpful in helping me in this new goal.
“I didn’t have any prior (broadcasting) experience. I just had to bring my soccer analysis skills to the table and everyone worked with me. I’m looking forward to doing that this year as well.”
Sharples also works for the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, a non-profit whose mission is to unite the glob in the fight against gynecological cancer. Since she can work from home and the job has flexible hours, it has been a great fit for Sharples both in-season and in the off-season.
“I’m their communications specialist and social media specialist,” Sharples said. “I take over their social media channels and push out that contact and encourage our mission, and I help with the website and promoting scientific articles.
“I didn’t have any prior experience with the health care industry, however, it gives me experience doing marketing.”
While Sharples, 22, hopes to have a long playing career, she knows nothing is guaranteed, which is why it pays, literally, to be versatile.
“I’ve dipped my toe in quite a lot of areas,” Sharples said. “This is the time to try different things especially considering our off-season was four months long, which is a lot.
“I’ve been pretty lucky to have those opportunities.”
Younger players like Magee are lucky to have a role model like Sharples. It is perhaps no coincidence that the Huskies have won three state titles and a third place trophy since 2012.
“When there’s people like that to look up to, it just inspires you to try harder,” Magee said. “That would be our goal at practice, to try to be our best so we can play on that (North Central College) field in high school.”
Magee and her teammates did that. So did Sharples, who went on to bigger and better things.
“It’s a testament to her that she got better and better,” Goletz said. “I always say, as good of a player as Kayla is, she’s a better person and her work rate is second-to-none. You can see that by the path that it took her.”
Click here to see Naperville North's 2012 team page!