Welch wins Gatorade
Illinois Player of the Year honor
Becomes 5th Naperville North player to claim award
By Matt Le Cren
No one who witnessed Tom Welch’s performance in the Class 3A state championship match last November will ever forget it.
The Naperville North junior goalkeeper made 14 saves, a record number for a state title game, in leading the Huskies to a 1-0 victory over Libertyville for their second-consecutive state championship.
It was the exclamation point on a tremendous season for the 6-foot-6 Welch, who recorded an 0.38 goals-against average and 19 of his team’s school-record 21 shutouts. No one scored on Welch in the Huskies' seven-game postseason run.
Those numbers made him Chicagoland Soccer's Player of the Year. Now he's gained national recognition as the Gatorade Illinois Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
The recognition added another chapter to the amazing story of prep soccer's accidental star. All of Welch's future dreams and most of his current athletic efforts are focused on the hardwood.
“During basketball season I kind of forgot about soccer,” Welch said. “Then (Huskies coach Jim) Konrad told me I was up for the award and I was like, ‘Oh, sweet.’”
Welch is the fifth Huskie to win the Gatorade award, joining Jay Rensink (1988), Jay Konrad (1990), Jake Fullerton (2005) and Chris Sullivan (2016).
It continues the trend of excellence in the western suburban programs, which have produced Gatorade's Illinois honoree in each of the past five seasons and eight of the last 11.
Hinsdale Central’s John Shakon (2007), Naperville Central’s Tim Zimmer (2008), Neuqua Valley’s Bryan Ciesiulka (2009), Lake Park’s Mike Catalano (2013) and Wheaton Academy’s Ty Seager (2014 and 2015) are past winners.
“I was kind of blown away, because it’s an incredible honor,” Welch said. “It’s a cool feeling.”
Konrad, whose brother Jay won the award, is especially proud. Welch is the third player he has coached who has earned Gatorade's recognition.
“It’s a huge honor for Tommy,” Konrad said. “Tommy is one of those once-in-a-lifetime players.
“I can take zero credit for how good he is. It’s his natural ability and the childhood training that he got that has allowed him to succeed.
“He’s a super-gifted athlete, and he works extremely hard. He’s so focused and dialed in to what we’re doing.”
Welch, a two-time Chicagoland Soccer all-stater who has 29 career shutouts, has succeeded even though he plays soccer only three months of the year. A star forward in basketball, he focuses on hoops the rest of the year and has 20 Division I scholarship offers in that sport. Final Four finisher Loyola tops the list of college suitors, which includes Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Ball State, Ohio, and Kent State.
Konrad believes Welch can be a professional goalkeeper, but that is unlikely to happen. The junior has had plenty of interest from college soccer coaches, but it's been a one-way relationship.
“I know I want to play college basketball,” Welch said. “That’s kind of shut down (the soccer recruiting), sadly.”
Konrad isn’t surprised that Welch favors basketball.
“He’s had a terrific spring tearing up the AAU basketball circuit,” Konrad said. “Some people are ranking him as a top-20 recruit in Illinois in his class.
“If he wants to, he can play at a major D I soccer program and play overseas eventually. If Tommy wanted to play water polo or run track, he would be all-state in those sports.”
While some may find it ironic that the best soccer player in the state prefers another sport, one can understand his reasoning.
“Being a goalie can be kind of boring, especially on a great team like we have,” Welch said. “When the ball is down the other end of the field you’re drinking water or daydreaming. It’s not high energy.
“In basketball, I’m a big part of the offense. It’s constant action, and that’s what I like. I kind of fell in love with basketball and fell out of love with soccer.”
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy soccer. To the contrary, Welch loves winning and most of all enjoys being around his teammates, which is why he continues to play for the Huskies.
“Just spending time playing with your friends is what it’s all about,” Welch said. “But the goal now is always a state championship at North.
“I haven’t thought about soccer in a while, but we definitely have a chance.”
The Huskies will be shooting for a third-consecutive title in the fall. That’s a feat pulled off by just two other schools: Granite City South set the standard with five-straight championships from 1976-1980 during the single-class era; and Gibault reigned from 2005-07 in the small school class of the two-tournmanent system.
Last fall Naperville North became the first team at any level to win back-to-back titles in the 10-year history of the three-class system.
Welch will be a major component of Naperville North’s three-peat try.
“He’s obviously been a huge part of our success,” Konrad said. “We’ve never had a three-time all-stater.
“Obviously if he plays the way he’s capable of he could do that. He will graduate as the most decorated soccer player in Naperville North history.
“I’m so thrilled that he decided to play soccer.”
Illinois Player of the Year honor
Becomes 5th Naperville North player to claim award
By Matt Le Cren
No one who witnessed Tom Welch’s performance in the Class 3A state championship match last November will ever forget it.
The Naperville North junior goalkeeper made 14 saves, a record number for a state title game, in leading the Huskies to a 1-0 victory over Libertyville for their second-consecutive state championship.
It was the exclamation point on a tremendous season for the 6-foot-6 Welch, who recorded an 0.38 goals-against average and 19 of his team’s school-record 21 shutouts. No one scored on Welch in the Huskies' seven-game postseason run.
Those numbers made him Chicagoland Soccer's Player of the Year. Now he's gained national recognition as the Gatorade Illinois Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
The recognition added another chapter to the amazing story of prep soccer's accidental star. All of Welch's future dreams and most of his current athletic efforts are focused on the hardwood.
“During basketball season I kind of forgot about soccer,” Welch said. “Then (Huskies coach Jim) Konrad told me I was up for the award and I was like, ‘Oh, sweet.’”
Welch is the fifth Huskie to win the Gatorade award, joining Jay Rensink (1988), Jay Konrad (1990), Jake Fullerton (2005) and Chris Sullivan (2016).
It continues the trend of excellence in the western suburban programs, which have produced Gatorade's Illinois honoree in each of the past five seasons and eight of the last 11.
Hinsdale Central’s John Shakon (2007), Naperville Central’s Tim Zimmer (2008), Neuqua Valley’s Bryan Ciesiulka (2009), Lake Park’s Mike Catalano (2013) and Wheaton Academy’s Ty Seager (2014 and 2015) are past winners.
“I was kind of blown away, because it’s an incredible honor,” Welch said. “It’s a cool feeling.”
Konrad, whose brother Jay won the award, is especially proud. Welch is the third player he has coached who has earned Gatorade's recognition.
“It’s a huge honor for Tommy,” Konrad said. “Tommy is one of those once-in-a-lifetime players.
“I can take zero credit for how good he is. It’s his natural ability and the childhood training that he got that has allowed him to succeed.
“He’s a super-gifted athlete, and he works extremely hard. He’s so focused and dialed in to what we’re doing.”
Welch, a two-time Chicagoland Soccer all-stater who has 29 career shutouts, has succeeded even though he plays soccer only three months of the year. A star forward in basketball, he focuses on hoops the rest of the year and has 20 Division I scholarship offers in that sport. Final Four finisher Loyola tops the list of college suitors, which includes Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Ball State, Ohio, and Kent State.
Konrad believes Welch can be a professional goalkeeper, but that is unlikely to happen. The junior has had plenty of interest from college soccer coaches, but it's been a one-way relationship.
“I know I want to play college basketball,” Welch said. “That’s kind of shut down (the soccer recruiting), sadly.”
Konrad isn’t surprised that Welch favors basketball.
“He’s had a terrific spring tearing up the AAU basketball circuit,” Konrad said. “Some people are ranking him as a top-20 recruit in Illinois in his class.
“If he wants to, he can play at a major D I soccer program and play overseas eventually. If Tommy wanted to play water polo or run track, he would be all-state in those sports.”
While some may find it ironic that the best soccer player in the state prefers another sport, one can understand his reasoning.
“Being a goalie can be kind of boring, especially on a great team like we have,” Welch said. “When the ball is down the other end of the field you’re drinking water or daydreaming. It’s not high energy.
“In basketball, I’m a big part of the offense. It’s constant action, and that’s what I like. I kind of fell in love with basketball and fell out of love with soccer.”
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy soccer. To the contrary, Welch loves winning and most of all enjoys being around his teammates, which is why he continues to play for the Huskies.
“Just spending time playing with your friends is what it’s all about,” Welch said. “But the goal now is always a state championship at North.
“I haven’t thought about soccer in a while, but we definitely have a chance.”
The Huskies will be shooting for a third-consecutive title in the fall. That’s a feat pulled off by just two other schools: Granite City South set the standard with five-straight championships from 1976-1980 during the single-class era; and Gibault reigned from 2005-07 in the small school class of the two-tournmanent system.
Last fall Naperville North became the first team at any level to win back-to-back titles in the 10-year history of the three-class system.
Welch will be a major component of Naperville North’s three-peat try.
“He’s obviously been a huge part of our success,” Konrad said. “We’ve never had a three-time all-stater.
“Obviously if he plays the way he’s capable of he could do that. He will graduate as the most decorated soccer player in Naperville North history.
“I’m so thrilled that he decided to play soccer.”