Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year
Kacper Janowski, sr., MF, York
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The goal that set that stage for York’s state championship was pure poetry.
On the first Friday in November in the Class 3A state semifinals at Hoffman Estates High School, Kacper Janowski began a beautiful sequence by working a perfectly timed give-and-go against Lockport with forward Jose Herrera.
Janowski found Herrera in space. He, in turn, worked a sharp and fluid back tap to his teammate.
Janowski received the ball perfectly in stride and drilled a low-lying ball from 15 yards for a textbook finish.
He ostensibly created the hockey assist of his goal with the pass that led to the ultimate set up.
“We just had to make sure we were working hard,” Janowski said after the game. “That’s what the play was, the two of us just working hard.
“I won the ball and gave it to Jose. He took a guy on and flipped it on to me, and I just ripped it in the back of the net.”
The consequential goal gave York a 3-0 lead. The 63rd-minute score turned out to be the game-winner after Lockport rallied for two goals.
Janowski ended up with a goal and assist in the semifinal victory, but the best was yet to come.
The following night, the Dukes provided the finest moment in program history with a 4-0 state championship victory over Fremd. Herrera scored a first-minute goal to create the template. He added a second goal, and senior midfielder Sam Musial also scored twice.
Janowski earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match in both games at the state finals; he shared the award with Musial in the championship match.
"Unbelievable, and crazy is what that night was all about," Janowski said in the wild moments following the state championship game. "I am so happy for my teammates, and especially for (coach Jordan) Stopka, who is the reason for this state title.
"He impressed me, because he was a players’ coach and one who was open to ideas. He helped turn our team into one big family. He's the guy who helped turn around the program here at York."
Soccer is one of the sports most reliant on the chemistry and cohesion of teammates, who must work in stylistic and formal unity to find success.
Janowski was not just a connective thread. The play with Herrera demonstrated something essential about his modus operandi -- how he elevated those around him.
The midfielder’s five goals and seven assists on the season did not tell his whole story. His preternatural cool and heady style set the tone.
The versatility and positional flexibility he brought to the team deepened and opened up the balance of the Dukes, making them more than just the sum of their parts. The whole was now dominant.
His all-around impactful play, secondary shot creation and defensive acumen made him the choice for the 2021 Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year honor. He was chosen from a talented group of finalists that included: Morton senior midfielder Gio Alvarez;
Naperville North junior forward Alex Barger; Boylan senior forward Jack Bonavia; New Trier senior goalkeeper Aiden Crawford; and St. Charles East senior forward Sebastian Carranza.
New coach Stopka took over during the pandemic season and did not have a sufficient opportunity to fully incorporate his systems and culture-cultivating plan. He inherited a team with a great foundation.
Janowski helped in the transition. He took the team to a new level, super-charging every aspect of the game. His elite two-way talents closed off air space and shut down opposition attacks in the middle.
His quickness, speed and on-the-ball athleticism transformed the Dukes’ attack.
“Kacper brought a work ethic and tenacity to training that was infectious,” Stopka said. “His teammates really fed off of his relentless work and leadership in the middle of the field.
“He showed why he was an academy player before this year.”
There’s the rub and fascinating counter-narrative to how everything played out. The York team made history, and Janowski was a principal author, but he joined the operation late in the process.
Though the camaraderie and intuitive byplay among the players felt so natural, easy and organic, the astonishing fact is that a week before the August tryouts to determine the varsity roster, Janowski was not even technically a part of the program.
It was the ambitious intervention of York’s de facto general manager and emotional leader Musial who swung the deal.
The players paths crossed in August. Musial convinced Janowski it was in his best interests -- and those of the Dukes -- for him to join his schoolmates.
“It really was Sam,” Janowski said. “I saw him a week before the start of the high school tryouts, and I decided to go play. My previous three years of high school, I was on the academy team Sockers FC Chicago in Palatine.
“Instead of playing academy soccer, we wanted to play high school.”
The leap was as vast as it originally appeared. Janowski had never been on a team with any of the York players, though he had personal connections.
“When I was growing up, I would always play soccer with them at recess at elementary school,” Janowski said. “We never got to play together because of club.
“I just asked myself why not try something new and play for a high school.”
Both of his parents came to Chicago from Poland when they were in their 20s. As a first-generation American, Janowski learned about hard work and sacrifice.
Curiously enough, his father never played the game, despite growing up in soccer-crazed Eastern Europe.
The game struck an early emotional chord with Kacper.
“It was the first sport I ever played in my life,” he said. “I started playing, and it didn’t go away.”
With the quick transition from training to the start of the season, he sought to fit in and do his part. At FC Sockers, he played primarily as a central and right back.
He knew immediately his high school role would be different.
“York already had good center backs and right backs, I didn’t want to change that,” he said. “I knew I had the offensive talent to play midfield.”
His game and his skill set meshed with the rest of the team.
“I really like to describe myself as a hard worker and somebody who likes to win tackles or win the head balls,” he said. “I like to be aggressive. I probably averaged four or five headers a game just from the goalies’ kicks.
“I had a few moments this year where I went up and was able to score.”
Seasons gain a quick downward momentum once they start. Janowski said the turning point was the single-overtime 1-0 victory at Hinsdale Central on September 28.
“I knew we were a talented team,” he said. “We had a loss [1-0 at home against Oak Park and River Forest] that really woke us up. The Hinsdale game was probably the main game in the season,
“We were constantly fighting together, and we all had each other’s back.”
The Dukes survived a gauntlet to earn their spot in the Final Four. They topped traditional power St. Charles North in the regional final at home.
The next to fall was defending state champion West Chicago 2-0 in an Addison Trail Sectional semifinal. In the next game, York survived apocalyptic weather and highly skilled St. Charles East. After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, York prevailed 9-8 in an epic nine-round shootout to take the title.
“In the St. Charles East game, we had to change the way we were playing,” Janowski said. “The weather was horrible, and they were winning and attacking us.”
York scored two late goals in its 3-1 supersectional victory over Huntley which led them to the final steps of their state title. Huntley was the only team to beat Class AA state champion Boylan this season.
York concluded its dream season with a 23-2-0 record and 15 shutouts. The team’s seven combined goals in the state tournament's final weekend set a Class 3A record. The last time that many goals were scored in the finals of the big-school division was 1999 when United scored seven goals in its title run However, the East Moline school played three games to win the Class AA championship in the old two-class system, which stated in 1997 and ended in 2007. Granity City South holds the overall record with 12 goals in 1979 in the single-class tournament.
The next part of Janowski’s life is undetermined. He is uncommitted about playing in college. He said he has spoken with some coaches.
He is not sure how that is going to work out.
But York’s state championship and his part in the final equation is resolute and unmistakable. It will rank as one of the defining experiences of his athletic career.
He is, obviously, pleased with the decision he made in August.
“My favorite part about high school soccer is the bond you create with your teammates,” Janowski said. “Being able to meet the new guys and fight for each other, I think that is the greatest thing about the high school game.
“Nothing you do at school is the same as that.”
Kacper Janowski, sr., MF, York
By Patrick Z. McGavin
The goal that set that stage for York’s state championship was pure poetry.
On the first Friday in November in the Class 3A state semifinals at Hoffman Estates High School, Kacper Janowski began a beautiful sequence by working a perfectly timed give-and-go against Lockport with forward Jose Herrera.
Janowski found Herrera in space. He, in turn, worked a sharp and fluid back tap to his teammate.
Janowski received the ball perfectly in stride and drilled a low-lying ball from 15 yards for a textbook finish.
He ostensibly created the hockey assist of his goal with the pass that led to the ultimate set up.
“We just had to make sure we were working hard,” Janowski said after the game. “That’s what the play was, the two of us just working hard.
“I won the ball and gave it to Jose. He took a guy on and flipped it on to me, and I just ripped it in the back of the net.”
The consequential goal gave York a 3-0 lead. The 63rd-minute score turned out to be the game-winner after Lockport rallied for two goals.
Janowski ended up with a goal and assist in the semifinal victory, but the best was yet to come.
The following night, the Dukes provided the finest moment in program history with a 4-0 state championship victory over Fremd. Herrera scored a first-minute goal to create the template. He added a second goal, and senior midfielder Sam Musial also scored twice.
Janowski earned the Chicagoland Soccer Man of the Match in both games at the state finals; he shared the award with Musial in the championship match.
"Unbelievable, and crazy is what that night was all about," Janowski said in the wild moments following the state championship game. "I am so happy for my teammates, and especially for (coach Jordan) Stopka, who is the reason for this state title.
"He impressed me, because he was a players’ coach and one who was open to ideas. He helped turn our team into one big family. He's the guy who helped turn around the program here at York."
Soccer is one of the sports most reliant on the chemistry and cohesion of teammates, who must work in stylistic and formal unity to find success.
Janowski was not just a connective thread. The play with Herrera demonstrated something essential about his modus operandi -- how he elevated those around him.
The midfielder’s five goals and seven assists on the season did not tell his whole story. His preternatural cool and heady style set the tone.
The versatility and positional flexibility he brought to the team deepened and opened up the balance of the Dukes, making them more than just the sum of their parts. The whole was now dominant.
His all-around impactful play, secondary shot creation and defensive acumen made him the choice for the 2021 Chicagoland Soccer Player of the Year honor. He was chosen from a talented group of finalists that included: Morton senior midfielder Gio Alvarez;
Naperville North junior forward Alex Barger; Boylan senior forward Jack Bonavia; New Trier senior goalkeeper Aiden Crawford; and St. Charles East senior forward Sebastian Carranza.
New coach Stopka took over during the pandemic season and did not have a sufficient opportunity to fully incorporate his systems and culture-cultivating plan. He inherited a team with a great foundation.
Janowski helped in the transition. He took the team to a new level, super-charging every aspect of the game. His elite two-way talents closed off air space and shut down opposition attacks in the middle.
His quickness, speed and on-the-ball athleticism transformed the Dukes’ attack.
“Kacper brought a work ethic and tenacity to training that was infectious,” Stopka said. “His teammates really fed off of his relentless work and leadership in the middle of the field.
“He showed why he was an academy player before this year.”
There’s the rub and fascinating counter-narrative to how everything played out. The York team made history, and Janowski was a principal author, but he joined the operation late in the process.
Though the camaraderie and intuitive byplay among the players felt so natural, easy and organic, the astonishing fact is that a week before the August tryouts to determine the varsity roster, Janowski was not even technically a part of the program.
It was the ambitious intervention of York’s de facto general manager and emotional leader Musial who swung the deal.
The players paths crossed in August. Musial convinced Janowski it was in his best interests -- and those of the Dukes -- for him to join his schoolmates.
“It really was Sam,” Janowski said. “I saw him a week before the start of the high school tryouts, and I decided to go play. My previous three years of high school, I was on the academy team Sockers FC Chicago in Palatine.
“Instead of playing academy soccer, we wanted to play high school.”
The leap was as vast as it originally appeared. Janowski had never been on a team with any of the York players, though he had personal connections.
“When I was growing up, I would always play soccer with them at recess at elementary school,” Janowski said. “We never got to play together because of club.
“I just asked myself why not try something new and play for a high school.”
Both of his parents came to Chicago from Poland when they were in their 20s. As a first-generation American, Janowski learned about hard work and sacrifice.
Curiously enough, his father never played the game, despite growing up in soccer-crazed Eastern Europe.
The game struck an early emotional chord with Kacper.
“It was the first sport I ever played in my life,” he said. “I started playing, and it didn’t go away.”
With the quick transition from training to the start of the season, he sought to fit in and do his part. At FC Sockers, he played primarily as a central and right back.
He knew immediately his high school role would be different.
“York already had good center backs and right backs, I didn’t want to change that,” he said. “I knew I had the offensive talent to play midfield.”
His game and his skill set meshed with the rest of the team.
“I really like to describe myself as a hard worker and somebody who likes to win tackles or win the head balls,” he said. “I like to be aggressive. I probably averaged four or five headers a game just from the goalies’ kicks.
“I had a few moments this year where I went up and was able to score.”
Seasons gain a quick downward momentum once they start. Janowski said the turning point was the single-overtime 1-0 victory at Hinsdale Central on September 28.
“I knew we were a talented team,” he said. “We had a loss [1-0 at home against Oak Park and River Forest] that really woke us up. The Hinsdale game was probably the main game in the season,
“We were constantly fighting together, and we all had each other’s back.”
The Dukes survived a gauntlet to earn their spot in the Final Four. They topped traditional power St. Charles North in the regional final at home.
The next to fall was defending state champion West Chicago 2-0 in an Addison Trail Sectional semifinal. In the next game, York survived apocalyptic weather and highly skilled St. Charles East. After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, York prevailed 9-8 in an epic nine-round shootout to take the title.
“In the St. Charles East game, we had to change the way we were playing,” Janowski said. “The weather was horrible, and they were winning and attacking us.”
York scored two late goals in its 3-1 supersectional victory over Huntley which led them to the final steps of their state title. Huntley was the only team to beat Class AA state champion Boylan this season.
York concluded its dream season with a 23-2-0 record and 15 shutouts. The team’s seven combined goals in the state tournament's final weekend set a Class 3A record. The last time that many goals were scored in the finals of the big-school division was 1999 when United scored seven goals in its title run However, the East Moline school played three games to win the Class AA championship in the old two-class system, which stated in 1997 and ended in 2007. Granity City South holds the overall record with 12 goals in 1979 in the single-class tournament.
The next part of Janowski’s life is undetermined. He is uncommitted about playing in college. He said he has spoken with some coaches.
He is not sure how that is going to work out.
But York’s state championship and his part in the final equation is resolute and unmistakable. It will rank as one of the defining experiences of his athletic career.
He is, obviously, pleased with the decision he made in August.
“My favorite part about high school soccer is the bond you create with your teammates,” Janowski said. “Being able to meet the new guys and fight for each other, I think that is the greatest thing about the high school game.
“Nothing you do at school is the same as that.”