Notebook: Young
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — In the frequently insular world of Chicago Public League sports, Nick Maksa is an insurgent.
He is directing the Young boys team after spending a couple of years working with the boys and girls programs as the top lieutenant to Ross LaBauex.
LaBauex was also an outsider, a former star player at Mount Carmel.
Maksa played at Naperville North under Jim Konrad. He began his coaching career with the Huskies’ three-year championship run with Konrad and his top assistant Steve Goletz.
He also worked with Goletz during the girls’ state championship run in 2019.
As the protege of Konrad and Goletz, the Naperville North style is evident at Young.
“Obviously if you watch us play, it is very Huskies-soccer-like,” Maksa said. “We want to be good at the little things, like defending.
“We want to be focused on pressing — making people feel us — and not letting them turn and take us on without pressure. We are super focused on set pieces and things like that.”
The Maksa era has begun with a great deal of promise with a season-opening tie with Loyola and his first-career victory over defending city champion Payton.
However, their most impressive performance came in defeat, a 3-2 loss against no. 4 Morton where they jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
In the aftermath of a 0-0 tie against historic rival Lane in their last game Sept. 1, Maksa and the team are surveying the landscape.
The growing pains, the changes and the possibility of a massive leap are all very much in play.
“He is a new head coach, and he is making different choices, and we have to get used to how he wants us to play,” said forward Reese Kruschke, who
scored a goal against Morton.
He said the play has been up and down, perhaps unavoidably so given the state of things.
“We’ve been on and off,” he said. “We played a good game against Loyola, and then we got a little complacent.
“We need to be on it 100 percent all the time.”
The Dolphins (1-1-2) now embark on a deeply challenging week with its important Premier Division Northwest opener against Von Steuben, a showdown with Wheaton Warrenville South and games at the BodyArmor event Saturday and Sunday.
Click here to see the Young team page
A four-game week provides new opportunities at growth and development after
the Dolphins have flashed significant potential.
Keeper Jackson Sprenger is athletic and savvy in the back. He has shown tremendous anticipation skills and the ability to read the flow of the action.
The backline of Garen Petrulis, Sascha Frias-Kaehler, Diego Delgado and Nate Chmielowicz combines size, a physical and punishing style, and the ability to push up in the attack and generate scoring opportunities off set pieces and free kicks.
Delgado is especially dangerous with his kicks.
Nikhil Bapat is a returning starter with excellent command, athleticism and shot creativity in the middle of the attack.
In addition to Kruschke and Cole Hickman at the top of the attack, the Dolphins have unleashed an exceptionally gifted freshman in M.J. Hicks.
“I like the direction we’re going,” Maksa said. “I think the program is in a very strong spot.
“We’ve got seniors who are playing well for us, and we also have some young kids who can step up and play at any time.”
This is a team with offensive weapons and defensive acumen.
New-look league
The city’s soccer dynamics have undergone a massive restructuring with two new Premier Division conferences.
Young’s showdown with Lane did not lack intensity or excitement, despite the fact it is now an out-of-division showdown.
The newly aligned Premier divisions are:
Premier North: Amundsen, Lake View, Lane, Lincoln Park, Senn, Payton
Premier Northwest: Marine, Northside, Prosser, Taft, Von Steuben, Young
Premier South: Back of the Yards, Farcia, Jones, Juarez, Soto, Washington
Premier Central: Curie, Goode, Hancock, Hubbard, Little Village, Solorio
The city tournament has a 32-team, single-elimination format.
The city landscape has been shaken up and stirred, one might say. The ascension of Maksa fits in with these structural changes.
New coach ready to lead
All teams naturally reflect the personality, drive and manner of their coach.
Effort and purpose are the prevailing actions.
“If we bring the energy that we saw against Morton or the first game against Loyola—against good teams—I’ll put us up against anybody,” Maksa said.
“When we’re not focused or not doing the little things, we’re just like everybody else.”
A teacher at Young, Maksa even stepped in and agreed to coach the boys bowling team during the winter break between the boys and girls’ soccer seasons.
After developing his craft with Konrad, Goletz and LaBauex, he is naturally enjoying his moment of leadership.
“I really liked working with Ross,” he said. “I learned some things from him, and I picked some things up.
“Being the head coach is different. You get a few more questions than you normally would about things that aren’t necessarily soccer-related. I’m really loving it, and I appreciate the opportunity.”
By Patrick Z. McGavin
CHICAGO — In the frequently insular world of Chicago Public League sports, Nick Maksa is an insurgent.
He is directing the Young boys team after spending a couple of years working with the boys and girls programs as the top lieutenant to Ross LaBauex.
LaBauex was also an outsider, a former star player at Mount Carmel.
Maksa played at Naperville North under Jim Konrad. He began his coaching career with the Huskies’ three-year championship run with Konrad and his top assistant Steve Goletz.
He also worked with Goletz during the girls’ state championship run in 2019.
As the protege of Konrad and Goletz, the Naperville North style is evident at Young.
“Obviously if you watch us play, it is very Huskies-soccer-like,” Maksa said. “We want to be good at the little things, like defending.
“We want to be focused on pressing — making people feel us — and not letting them turn and take us on without pressure. We are super focused on set pieces and things like that.”
The Maksa era has begun with a great deal of promise with a season-opening tie with Loyola and his first-career victory over defending city champion Payton.
However, their most impressive performance came in defeat, a 3-2 loss against no. 4 Morton where they jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
In the aftermath of a 0-0 tie against historic rival Lane in their last game Sept. 1, Maksa and the team are surveying the landscape.
The growing pains, the changes and the possibility of a massive leap are all very much in play.
“He is a new head coach, and he is making different choices, and we have to get used to how he wants us to play,” said forward Reese Kruschke, who
scored a goal against Morton.
He said the play has been up and down, perhaps unavoidably so given the state of things.
“We’ve been on and off,” he said. “We played a good game against Loyola, and then we got a little complacent.
“We need to be on it 100 percent all the time.”
The Dolphins (1-1-2) now embark on a deeply challenging week with its important Premier Division Northwest opener against Von Steuben, a showdown with Wheaton Warrenville South and games at the BodyArmor event Saturday and Sunday.
Click here to see the Young team page
A four-game week provides new opportunities at growth and development after
the Dolphins have flashed significant potential.
Keeper Jackson Sprenger is athletic and savvy in the back. He has shown tremendous anticipation skills and the ability to read the flow of the action.
The backline of Garen Petrulis, Sascha Frias-Kaehler, Diego Delgado and Nate Chmielowicz combines size, a physical and punishing style, and the ability to push up in the attack and generate scoring opportunities off set pieces and free kicks.
Delgado is especially dangerous with his kicks.
Nikhil Bapat is a returning starter with excellent command, athleticism and shot creativity in the middle of the attack.
In addition to Kruschke and Cole Hickman at the top of the attack, the Dolphins have unleashed an exceptionally gifted freshman in M.J. Hicks.
“I like the direction we’re going,” Maksa said. “I think the program is in a very strong spot.
“We’ve got seniors who are playing well for us, and we also have some young kids who can step up and play at any time.”
This is a team with offensive weapons and defensive acumen.
New-look league
The city’s soccer dynamics have undergone a massive restructuring with two new Premier Division conferences.
Young’s showdown with Lane did not lack intensity or excitement, despite the fact it is now an out-of-division showdown.
The newly aligned Premier divisions are:
Premier North: Amundsen, Lake View, Lane, Lincoln Park, Senn, Payton
Premier Northwest: Marine, Northside, Prosser, Taft, Von Steuben, Young
Premier South: Back of the Yards, Farcia, Jones, Juarez, Soto, Washington
Premier Central: Curie, Goode, Hancock, Hubbard, Little Village, Solorio
The city tournament has a 32-team, single-elimination format.
The city landscape has been shaken up and stirred, one might say. The ascension of Maksa fits in with these structural changes.
New coach ready to lead
All teams naturally reflect the personality, drive and manner of their coach.
Effort and purpose are the prevailing actions.
“If we bring the energy that we saw against Morton or the first game against Loyola—against good teams—I’ll put us up against anybody,” Maksa said.
“When we’re not focused or not doing the little things, we’re just like everybody else.”
A teacher at Young, Maksa even stepped in and agreed to coach the boys bowling team during the winter break between the boys and girls’ soccer seasons.
After developing his craft with Konrad, Goletz and LaBauex, he is naturally enjoying his moment of leadership.
“I really liked working with Ross,” he said. “I learned some things from him, and I picked some things up.
“Being the head coach is different. You get a few more questions than you normally would about things that aren’t necessarily soccer-related. I’m really loving it, and I appreciate the opportunity.”