Wheaton Academy retains Wheaton Cup
Warriors roll past Wheaton Warrenville South to keep prize
By Chris Walker
WHEATON – Wheaton Warrenville South was looking to put a damper on the fun Wheaton Academy has had this season.
The Tigers' hopes didn’t last very long Saturday.
The visiting Warriors scored three times in the first half and cruised to a 5-0 victory.
Wheaton Academy has won the Wheaton Cup the past two seasons and during that run hasn't allowed Wheaton North or Wheaton Warrenville South to score.
The Warriors beat Wheaton North on Thursday night at home and have outscored the Wheaton public schools by the football-like number of 14-0 the last two years.
“We always have a good back-and-forth rivalry with (Wheaton Warrenville) South,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said. “We got those two goals in the first half, but I think getting the third one was what really took the air out of their sails. There’s something about going ahead 3-0 that changes the dynamics.
“So, I was proud of our guys for pushing real hard to get that third before halftime and changing the rest of the game.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (5-12-2) was hoping a quick start could get to the Warriors, but it was actually the visitors who came out from the get-go to seize control right away. The Tigers needed to beat the Warriors by two or more goals to recapture the Cup.
“It was a nice day for one of the teams, but not us,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “We had a nice rhythm going early, but they started to serve it in and had some nice pace and got behind us. We just did not have the intensity and enthusiasm I was kind of hoping for.”
The Tigers were coming off a 1-1 tie against St. Charles East on Thursday night. While that was a noteworthy effort, especially since the Saints have had a very good season, it was also Senior Night. Plus, the Tigers let a victory in that one slip away by allowing a late goal. Perhaps that carried over into Saturday.
“I actually told the guys that I’m scratching my head at our record because I think we’re a good team,” Callipari said. “It’s tough to come out every given day and not get the results. We make a mistake or two though, and we’re paying the price.”
Wheaton Academy (17-1-1) is having the kind of season in which they pounce on each and every opportunity, While they certainly aren’t converting all of those chances or turning those unforced errors into goals in the flow of play, they are putting forth threats which ultimately seem to exhaust opposing teams both physically and mentally.
“I thought we were able to continue some things from our last game and be a little more explosive in the attack,” Brooke said. “Jacob Kapitaniuk, in the midfield, was able to play some bigger balls but also still show patience.”
Senior Grant Rougas scored what would prove to be the game winner in the first half and was selected as Chicagoland Soccer’s “Man of the Match” for doing so.
“I was just playing right wing and just hanging out wide, and we countered,” he said. “Jacob Kapitaniuk put one over the top, and I just made a diagonal run across the field, got a touch on it. It was a great ball by (Kapitaniuk).”
Ty Seager added a pair of goals while Reid Culberson and Isaac Anthony also scored as the Warriors were able to seize control midway through the first half.
“We’re working hard every time out and at every practice so it’s good to see the work paying off,” Rougas said. “We got the Wheaton Cup, and that’s a great accomplishment and was one of our goals. Now we’ll move on to our next goals. Sure, we’ll enjoy this for a bit, but we also have to move on.”
Brooke is trying to make sure his players are enjoying these moments, these accomplishments that are part of their road to their ultimate goal – a state championship.
“We’ve been trying to preach since day one over the summer that it’s one day at a time,” he said. “We try to talk about how great it is to go through the process together and that all the games matter and all the training matters. If you just focus on the IHSA playoffs then you miss out on the great relationships and all of the moments during the regular season.”
So far, so good.
“They’ve really done a nice job of celebrating the landmarks along the way while collecting memories,” he said. “I think it helps that we have such a great group of seniors who are so likeable and willing to help each other.”
So much so that Rougas is already thinking a little bit about next year, despite the fact that he graduates next spring.
“We’re all a part of this program even when we’re gone,” he said. “We have a lot of younger guys on the roster and we have three seniors on the defensive line so we know next year guys are going to have to step up. (Juniors) Christian Ziesmer, Sam Bergquist and (sophomore) Andrew VanNisper are all looking great defensive-wise and they’re going to be able to step up next year so I’m glad they’re getting some playing time now.”
Rougas likely learned about that kind of school pride from his older brother, Mark Rougas, a standout at Wheaton Academy as well. Mark graduated in 2011 and is now a junior at Cornerstone University along with three fellow Wheaton Academy grads.
“Mark traveled back home to watch him play the other night so Grant knows all about history through the program,” Brooks said. “I think all the guys who come through the program don’t want to see the end of success and we’ve got some juniors, sophomores and a freshman who want to carry that baton next year.”
Next year can wait though. These next few weeks the Warriors will be focusing on a run toward a Class 2A state title.
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK: Drew Sezonov
D: Michael Carver
D: Hunter Finnegan
D: Parker Setran
D: Andrew VanNispen
MF: Lucas Hoepner
MF: JhaLon Johnson
MF: Jacob Kapitaniuk
MF: Grant Rougas
F: Reid Culberson
F: Ty Seager
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Adam Mrzlak
D: Luis Cruz
D: Ian Daniel
D: Charlie Kerby
D: Chris Stamatopoulos
D: Darby Anderson
MF: Mark Crisostomo
MF: Haris Hadzic
MF: Elliot Kettle
MF: Anthony Berardi
F: Danny Jiminez
Man of the Match: Grant Rougas, Wheaton Academy
Warriors roll past Wheaton Warrenville South to keep prize
By Chris Walker
WHEATON – Wheaton Warrenville South was looking to put a damper on the fun Wheaton Academy has had this season.
The Tigers' hopes didn’t last very long Saturday.
The visiting Warriors scored three times in the first half and cruised to a 5-0 victory.
Wheaton Academy has won the Wheaton Cup the past two seasons and during that run hasn't allowed Wheaton North or Wheaton Warrenville South to score.
The Warriors beat Wheaton North on Thursday night at home and have outscored the Wheaton public schools by the football-like number of 14-0 the last two years.
“We always have a good back-and-forth rivalry with (Wheaton Warrenville) South,” Wheaton Academy coach Jeff Brooke said. “We got those two goals in the first half, but I think getting the third one was what really took the air out of their sails. There’s something about going ahead 3-0 that changes the dynamics.
“So, I was proud of our guys for pushing real hard to get that third before halftime and changing the rest of the game.”
Wheaton Warrenville South (5-12-2) was hoping a quick start could get to the Warriors, but it was actually the visitors who came out from the get-go to seize control right away. The Tigers needed to beat the Warriors by two or more goals to recapture the Cup.
“It was a nice day for one of the teams, but not us,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari said. “We had a nice rhythm going early, but they started to serve it in and had some nice pace and got behind us. We just did not have the intensity and enthusiasm I was kind of hoping for.”
The Tigers were coming off a 1-1 tie against St. Charles East on Thursday night. While that was a noteworthy effort, especially since the Saints have had a very good season, it was also Senior Night. Plus, the Tigers let a victory in that one slip away by allowing a late goal. Perhaps that carried over into Saturday.
“I actually told the guys that I’m scratching my head at our record because I think we’re a good team,” Callipari said. “It’s tough to come out every given day and not get the results. We make a mistake or two though, and we’re paying the price.”
Wheaton Academy (17-1-1) is having the kind of season in which they pounce on each and every opportunity, While they certainly aren’t converting all of those chances or turning those unforced errors into goals in the flow of play, they are putting forth threats which ultimately seem to exhaust opposing teams both physically and mentally.
“I thought we were able to continue some things from our last game and be a little more explosive in the attack,” Brooke said. “Jacob Kapitaniuk, in the midfield, was able to play some bigger balls but also still show patience.”
Senior Grant Rougas scored what would prove to be the game winner in the first half and was selected as Chicagoland Soccer’s “Man of the Match” for doing so.
“I was just playing right wing and just hanging out wide, and we countered,” he said. “Jacob Kapitaniuk put one over the top, and I just made a diagonal run across the field, got a touch on it. It was a great ball by (Kapitaniuk).”
Ty Seager added a pair of goals while Reid Culberson and Isaac Anthony also scored as the Warriors were able to seize control midway through the first half.
“We’re working hard every time out and at every practice so it’s good to see the work paying off,” Rougas said. “We got the Wheaton Cup, and that’s a great accomplishment and was one of our goals. Now we’ll move on to our next goals. Sure, we’ll enjoy this for a bit, but we also have to move on.”
Brooke is trying to make sure his players are enjoying these moments, these accomplishments that are part of their road to their ultimate goal – a state championship.
“We’ve been trying to preach since day one over the summer that it’s one day at a time,” he said. “We try to talk about how great it is to go through the process together and that all the games matter and all the training matters. If you just focus on the IHSA playoffs then you miss out on the great relationships and all of the moments during the regular season.”
So far, so good.
“They’ve really done a nice job of celebrating the landmarks along the way while collecting memories,” he said. “I think it helps that we have such a great group of seniors who are so likeable and willing to help each other.”
So much so that Rougas is already thinking a little bit about next year, despite the fact that he graduates next spring.
“We’re all a part of this program even when we’re gone,” he said. “We have a lot of younger guys on the roster and we have three seniors on the defensive line so we know next year guys are going to have to step up. (Juniors) Christian Ziesmer, Sam Bergquist and (sophomore) Andrew VanNisper are all looking great defensive-wise and they’re going to be able to step up next year so I’m glad they’re getting some playing time now.”
Rougas likely learned about that kind of school pride from his older brother, Mark Rougas, a standout at Wheaton Academy as well. Mark graduated in 2011 and is now a junior at Cornerstone University along with three fellow Wheaton Academy grads.
“Mark traveled back home to watch him play the other night so Grant knows all about history through the program,” Brooks said. “I think all the guys who come through the program don’t want to see the end of success and we’ve got some juniors, sophomores and a freshman who want to carry that baton next year.”
Next year can wait though. These next few weeks the Warriors will be focusing on a run toward a Class 2A state title.
Starting lineups
Wheaton Academy
GK: Drew Sezonov
D: Michael Carver
D: Hunter Finnegan
D: Parker Setran
D: Andrew VanNispen
MF: Lucas Hoepner
MF: JhaLon Johnson
MF: Jacob Kapitaniuk
MF: Grant Rougas
F: Reid Culberson
F: Ty Seager
Wheaton Warrenville South
GK: Adam Mrzlak
D: Luis Cruz
D: Ian Daniel
D: Charlie Kerby
D: Chris Stamatopoulos
D: Darby Anderson
MF: Mark Crisostomo
MF: Haris Hadzic
MF: Elliot Kettle
MF: Anthony Berardi
F: Danny Jiminez
Man of the Match: Grant Rougas, Wheaton Academy