State preview: Wheaton Academy
By Curt Herron
A lot of coaches spend a large part of their careers just trying to get one of their teams to the state finals.
So, when a coach is able to not only have a successful season but also lead a team to a state trophy, it's an impressive achievement.
That's just what Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio has done this season. She has directed her first team to an 18-4-0 record and an appearance in Friday's IHSA Class A semifinals where they'll meet Althoff at 11 a.m. in the opening semifinal match at Hoffman Estates High School.
"We are prepared and confident to finish this season well," Selvaggio said. "Our girls know how to play in big games. We are excited and ready to make a statement this weekend."
The Warriors won their final six matches of the regular season and all four of their matches in the playoffs.
Leading the attack for the Warriors are senior midfielders Amy Alexander (18 goals, 5 assists) and Kelly Bickhart (13, 10). Junior forwards Emily Setran (9, 13) and Jocelyn Royce (5, 5), and freshman forward Eva DeSouza (8, 5) have also made an impact.
Junior goalkeeper Sara Swoboda has been in the net for the majority of her team's matches and 15 shutouts.
The Warriors have a young team and only seven seniors on the roster: Kelsey Bowling, Olivia Crane, Brooke Hermes, Darah Vander Klok, Emma Van Wagner, Alexander and Bickhart.
During its current 10-match win streak, Wheaton Academy has outscored their opponents by a 45-2 margin and have posted eight shutouts, including six in a row.
Three of the Warriors four defeats during the regular-season came against Class 3A teams who advanced to sectionals and the other one was against Class AA St. Francis, which was unbeaten before losing in the sectional finals.
One victory came against a fellow Metro Suburban Conference team that is also in the Class A Final Four. Timothy, who they beat 2-0 on May 11, plays Notre Dame (Quincy) in the second semifinal at 1 p.m.
This is the sixth time in its history that Wheaton Academy has advanced to state. It has won three state titles to go along with second, third and fourth place finishes.
The last time that the Warriors reached state was under coach Jeff Brooke in 2017, they beat Lemont on penalties in the semifinals but lost to Triad in the same fashion in the title match. Wheaton Academy last won a state title in 2016 under coach Dave Underwood.
By Curt Herron
A lot of coaches spend a large part of their careers just trying to get one of their teams to the state finals.
So, when a coach is able to not only have a successful season but also lead a team to a state trophy, it's an impressive achievement.
That's just what Wheaton Academy coach Maria Selvaggio has done this season. She has directed her first team to an 18-4-0 record and an appearance in Friday's IHSA Class A semifinals where they'll meet Althoff at 11 a.m. in the opening semifinal match at Hoffman Estates High School.
"We are prepared and confident to finish this season well," Selvaggio said. "Our girls know how to play in big games. We are excited and ready to make a statement this weekend."
The Warriors won their final six matches of the regular season and all four of their matches in the playoffs.
Leading the attack for the Warriors are senior midfielders Amy Alexander (18 goals, 5 assists) and Kelly Bickhart (13, 10). Junior forwards Emily Setran (9, 13) and Jocelyn Royce (5, 5), and freshman forward Eva DeSouza (8, 5) have also made an impact.
Junior goalkeeper Sara Swoboda has been in the net for the majority of her team's matches and 15 shutouts.
The Warriors have a young team and only seven seniors on the roster: Kelsey Bowling, Olivia Crane, Brooke Hermes, Darah Vander Klok, Emma Van Wagner, Alexander and Bickhart.
During its current 10-match win streak, Wheaton Academy has outscored their opponents by a 45-2 margin and have posted eight shutouts, including six in a row.
Three of the Warriors four defeats during the regular-season came against Class 3A teams who advanced to sectionals and the other one was against Class AA St. Francis, which was unbeaten before losing in the sectional finals.
One victory came against a fellow Metro Suburban Conference team that is also in the Class A Final Four. Timothy, who they beat 2-0 on May 11, plays Notre Dame (Quincy) in the second semifinal at 1 p.m.
This is the sixth time in its history that Wheaton Academy has advanced to state. It has won three state titles to go along with second, third and fourth place finishes.
The last time that the Warriors reached state was under coach Jeff Brooke in 2017, they beat Lemont on penalties in the semifinals but lost to Triad in the same fashion in the title match. Wheaton Academy last won a state title in 2016 under coach Dave Underwood.