Regional loss can't
obscure Barrington's outlook
'Bronco Way' keeps program pointed upward
By Ken Keenan
BARRINGTON -- Though the pain of a stinging loss to Stevenson in the semifinals of the Class 3A Barrington Regional on Oct. 21 lingers for the Broncos, who dominated the match before falling 1-0 on a direct free kick in double overtime, it won't hurt for too long.
Knowing that the squad adhered to what could be called "The Bronco Way" speeds up the healing process for Barrington, which finished the 2014 season with a solid 15-8-0 record overall, including a 7-4-0 mark in Mid-Suburban League play.
"You expect your kids to show up and work hard, and develop chemistry -- and we had a great group of guys this year," said coach Scott Steib, whose assistants include Tony Kees, Andy Stengren and Caleb Copeland, as well as team manager Bob "Grandpa" Steib, the skipper's father. "We set goals to win the (Mid-Suburban League) West, a league championship, and to go through regionals and sectionals to make the (IHSA) Final Four.
"We didn't win any of those things ... came close, but we didn't reach those goals. We may not have hit specific targets, but the things we were able to control, we did. We did win 15 matches, and that's a pretty good mark.
"Even when we won a state championship (in 2007), after that's over, the big-picture stuff is understanding certain targets and goals daily -- and just being good people ... being better people today than we were yesterday. And when guys are locked into playing hard for each other, being on the same page, the expectation in our program is to find ways to be competitive. The goal is to try to win -- and make sure the guys follow that."
Steib pointed to the fact that Barrington marked its fourth-consecutive, top-three finish in the MSL this year as an example of consistency in the program. Another illustration was provided by the Broncos' under-level teams. The Junior Varsity 1 squad (coached by Stengren) finished 10-1-4, while the JV 2 crew (under Aris Kolitsasa) was 14-1-1. In addition, the Freshman Red (coached by Cesar Carranza) and B (Roberto Avendano) teams combined to go 19-8-5.
"I really think we have one of the best coaching staffs around -- guys who love the game and still play the game," Steib said.
Among the varsity assistants, Kees is a former head coach at Conant, Elk Grove and Neuqua Valley; Avendano was previously the lead man at Saint Viator; and Stengren also serves as Barrington's girls head coach.
"That's pretty good," Steib said. "You've got to have good players as well, and our kids do a great job of playing a lot of soccer. Plus, we have a lot of depth compared to a lot of other programs."
This year's varsity bunch will lose 12 seniors to graduation. Chief among the contributors from the Class of 2015 are forward/midfielders Giles Phillips and Austin Grzebieniak; midfielder/defender Casey Slingo; defenders Tyler Anderson, Jason Frenk, Shawn Owen and Jack Harrington; and goalkeeper Jaime Diaz.
Phillips (7 goals, 6 assists) earned Illinois Soccer Coaches Association all-state and MSL all-conference honors, while Slingo (3 goals, 13 assists) and Anderson (2 goals, assist) each made all-conference.
"Giles (Phillips) is a big (6-foot-1, 180 pounds), strong kid -- not only that, he might be our smartest player and among the most skillful," Steib said. "He's quite an all-around player -- any spot on the field -- and he has tenacity. Austin (Grezebieniak; team-high 10 goals, 7 assists; co-captain) started quite a bit as a junior, so we knew he'd come into his senior season and that it would be a good one -- and he ends up being our leading scorer. He also goes out of his way to show respect ... just a fantastic kid.
"Casey (Slingo, a co-captain) was kind of a warrior for us. When we had four defenders out, he went from midfield to the backline and didn't miss a beat. His versatility was a big attribute, and he was one of the guys who had so much pride to be part of the Broncos program. He's a do-what-I-need-to-do kind of a guy.
"I think Tyler (Anderson, a co-captain and three-year varsity starter) has been one of my favorite players to coach in my 21 years of coaching. A lot of teams aren't used to someone like him jumping into the attack, and he was good at serving balls into the box. He's also a high-level character guy. We play a game: 'How well do you know your teammate?' And the question was, 'If you had a sister, who would you want her to date?' And all the guys said, 'Tyler, Tyler, Tyler.' He's a kid you can trust ... a phenomenal kid."
Frenk, a two-year starter in a central defender role, helped the Broncos set a school record in 2013 for fewest goals allowed (14). This year's group surrendered only 24.
"(Frenk) is one of the core guys there -- a soft-spoken, smart defender who shows up to get his job done," Steib said. "Shawn (Owen, another two-year starter) is physically fast and strong -- a good balance of speed and strength. Diaz (1.05 goals-against average, 4 shutouts) had limited experience, but he had a great year as a senior goalkeeper."
The senior class was rounded out by defenders Jack Harrington (goal, 2 assists), Ian Ford, Brian Tapia (4 assists), midfielder Jack Wilson and forward Colin Malia.
"Harrington became kind of the heartbeat of the team," Steib said. "He was dialed into helping the team when he was injured, yelling out encouragement. Ian (Ford) gave us a spark off the bench, and Wilson did the same. Tapia ended up starting a lot of games for us, and he got better and better down the stretch. And Colin (Malia) was a really good program kid who would do anything you ask of him."
"The Bronco Way"
As they continued to digest the regional loss that ended their season and high school careers, Anderson and Slingo agreed with Steib regarding the coach's "big-picture" outlook.
"'The Bronco Way' -- I like that," Anderson said. "Having the right mentality every single day is really an important thing. Coach Steib says being relentless, hardworking and focused is key. Some days it's tough to stay on track, but it's really important. You want to adhere to your goal, staying on top of things to translate what we do on the practice field to the game field. It's coming out every day, loving what you do and having that tenacity and hard work."
Slingo said, "I was a little disappointed with how the season ended. The last game was the best game we played all year, but we just couldn't finish. But I am pleased with the guys we had -- a good group of guys all connected. And I personally felt I did everything I could. I tried my best to put everything out there. As a captain, you have to be able to make plays on the field and have everyone trust you and have your teammates know you tried your best."
Next chapter
A handful of sophomores and juniors emerged as solid players this season, led by all-conference choice Hans Pallan. In making the move from defender to forward, the 6-foot-3,185-pound junior compiled seven goals and eight assists.
"Certainly, Hans stands out as a core guy coming back next year," Steib said. "He's a big, strong kid with a good attitude."
Pallan said it was difficult to watch film of the season-ending loss, but he's already looking ahead to the 2015 campaign. He also said he's fully on board with "The Bronco Way."
"I feel like we're all over it and looking forward to the next chapter -- moving on with what we need to do," he said. "We're a pretty close group of guys, and we already started scrimmages. We want to stay connected as a group of people to be ready for next year. It's great that everyone has a goal, and that we work together to achieve that goal -- stay on track and keep your head in the right places."
Other cornerstones of next year's squad figure to be sophomore keeper Alex Ruffolo (1.04 goal-against average, 3 shutouts), sophomore forward Kyle Owen (5 goals, 6 assists), junior forward Peyton Mohr (8 goals), sophomore midfielder Zach Carbonara, junior midfielders Ryan Lauderback (2 goals, assist) and Luke Sellers, soph defender Nash Pirie and sophomore forward Jordan Fermin.
Steib said standouts in line for promotion from the lower levels include sophomore defender/midfielder Alex Drewno, sophomore defender Braeden Nelson and freshman midfielder Gio Guarnero -- each from the JV1 squad.
"The door closes on one season, and then it opens up for the next one," Steib said. "This year, we did a lot of things well (on varsity), but not good enough -- and that should serve as motivation. When you combine that with the character of our guys, that's a great mind-set to have going into the offseason."
obscure Barrington's outlook
'Bronco Way' keeps program pointed upward
By Ken Keenan
BARRINGTON -- Though the pain of a stinging loss to Stevenson in the semifinals of the Class 3A Barrington Regional on Oct. 21 lingers for the Broncos, who dominated the match before falling 1-0 on a direct free kick in double overtime, it won't hurt for too long.
Knowing that the squad adhered to what could be called "The Bronco Way" speeds up the healing process for Barrington, which finished the 2014 season with a solid 15-8-0 record overall, including a 7-4-0 mark in Mid-Suburban League play.
"You expect your kids to show up and work hard, and develop chemistry -- and we had a great group of guys this year," said coach Scott Steib, whose assistants include Tony Kees, Andy Stengren and Caleb Copeland, as well as team manager Bob "Grandpa" Steib, the skipper's father. "We set goals to win the (Mid-Suburban League) West, a league championship, and to go through regionals and sectionals to make the (IHSA) Final Four.
"We didn't win any of those things ... came close, but we didn't reach those goals. We may not have hit specific targets, but the things we were able to control, we did. We did win 15 matches, and that's a pretty good mark.
"Even when we won a state championship (in 2007), after that's over, the big-picture stuff is understanding certain targets and goals daily -- and just being good people ... being better people today than we were yesterday. And when guys are locked into playing hard for each other, being on the same page, the expectation in our program is to find ways to be competitive. The goal is to try to win -- and make sure the guys follow that."
Steib pointed to the fact that Barrington marked its fourth-consecutive, top-three finish in the MSL this year as an example of consistency in the program. Another illustration was provided by the Broncos' under-level teams. The Junior Varsity 1 squad (coached by Stengren) finished 10-1-4, while the JV 2 crew (under Aris Kolitsasa) was 14-1-1. In addition, the Freshman Red (coached by Cesar Carranza) and B (Roberto Avendano) teams combined to go 19-8-5.
"I really think we have one of the best coaching staffs around -- guys who love the game and still play the game," Steib said.
Among the varsity assistants, Kees is a former head coach at Conant, Elk Grove and Neuqua Valley; Avendano was previously the lead man at Saint Viator; and Stengren also serves as Barrington's girls head coach.
"That's pretty good," Steib said. "You've got to have good players as well, and our kids do a great job of playing a lot of soccer. Plus, we have a lot of depth compared to a lot of other programs."
This year's varsity bunch will lose 12 seniors to graduation. Chief among the contributors from the Class of 2015 are forward/midfielders Giles Phillips and Austin Grzebieniak; midfielder/defender Casey Slingo; defenders Tyler Anderson, Jason Frenk, Shawn Owen and Jack Harrington; and goalkeeper Jaime Diaz.
Phillips (7 goals, 6 assists) earned Illinois Soccer Coaches Association all-state and MSL all-conference honors, while Slingo (3 goals, 13 assists) and Anderson (2 goals, assist) each made all-conference.
"Giles (Phillips) is a big (6-foot-1, 180 pounds), strong kid -- not only that, he might be our smartest player and among the most skillful," Steib said. "He's quite an all-around player -- any spot on the field -- and he has tenacity. Austin (Grezebieniak; team-high 10 goals, 7 assists; co-captain) started quite a bit as a junior, so we knew he'd come into his senior season and that it would be a good one -- and he ends up being our leading scorer. He also goes out of his way to show respect ... just a fantastic kid.
"Casey (Slingo, a co-captain) was kind of a warrior for us. When we had four defenders out, he went from midfield to the backline and didn't miss a beat. His versatility was a big attribute, and he was one of the guys who had so much pride to be part of the Broncos program. He's a do-what-I-need-to-do kind of a guy.
"I think Tyler (Anderson, a co-captain and three-year varsity starter) has been one of my favorite players to coach in my 21 years of coaching. A lot of teams aren't used to someone like him jumping into the attack, and he was good at serving balls into the box. He's also a high-level character guy. We play a game: 'How well do you know your teammate?' And the question was, 'If you had a sister, who would you want her to date?' And all the guys said, 'Tyler, Tyler, Tyler.' He's a kid you can trust ... a phenomenal kid."
Frenk, a two-year starter in a central defender role, helped the Broncos set a school record in 2013 for fewest goals allowed (14). This year's group surrendered only 24.
"(Frenk) is one of the core guys there -- a soft-spoken, smart defender who shows up to get his job done," Steib said. "Shawn (Owen, another two-year starter) is physically fast and strong -- a good balance of speed and strength. Diaz (1.05 goals-against average, 4 shutouts) had limited experience, but he had a great year as a senior goalkeeper."
The senior class was rounded out by defenders Jack Harrington (goal, 2 assists), Ian Ford, Brian Tapia (4 assists), midfielder Jack Wilson and forward Colin Malia.
"Harrington became kind of the heartbeat of the team," Steib said. "He was dialed into helping the team when he was injured, yelling out encouragement. Ian (Ford) gave us a spark off the bench, and Wilson did the same. Tapia ended up starting a lot of games for us, and he got better and better down the stretch. And Colin (Malia) was a really good program kid who would do anything you ask of him."
"The Bronco Way"
As they continued to digest the regional loss that ended their season and high school careers, Anderson and Slingo agreed with Steib regarding the coach's "big-picture" outlook.
"'The Bronco Way' -- I like that," Anderson said. "Having the right mentality every single day is really an important thing. Coach Steib says being relentless, hardworking and focused is key. Some days it's tough to stay on track, but it's really important. You want to adhere to your goal, staying on top of things to translate what we do on the practice field to the game field. It's coming out every day, loving what you do and having that tenacity and hard work."
Slingo said, "I was a little disappointed with how the season ended. The last game was the best game we played all year, but we just couldn't finish. But I am pleased with the guys we had -- a good group of guys all connected. And I personally felt I did everything I could. I tried my best to put everything out there. As a captain, you have to be able to make plays on the field and have everyone trust you and have your teammates know you tried your best."
Next chapter
A handful of sophomores and juniors emerged as solid players this season, led by all-conference choice Hans Pallan. In making the move from defender to forward, the 6-foot-3,185-pound junior compiled seven goals and eight assists.
"Certainly, Hans stands out as a core guy coming back next year," Steib said. "He's a big, strong kid with a good attitude."
Pallan said it was difficult to watch film of the season-ending loss, but he's already looking ahead to the 2015 campaign. He also said he's fully on board with "The Bronco Way."
"I feel like we're all over it and looking forward to the next chapter -- moving on with what we need to do," he said. "We're a pretty close group of guys, and we already started scrimmages. We want to stay connected as a group of people to be ready for next year. It's great that everyone has a goal, and that we work together to achieve that goal -- stay on track and keep your head in the right places."
Other cornerstones of next year's squad figure to be sophomore keeper Alex Ruffolo (1.04 goal-against average, 3 shutouts), sophomore forward Kyle Owen (5 goals, 6 assists), junior forward Peyton Mohr (8 goals), sophomore midfielder Zach Carbonara, junior midfielders Ryan Lauderback (2 goals, assist) and Luke Sellers, soph defender Nash Pirie and sophomore forward Jordan Fermin.
Steib said standouts in line for promotion from the lower levels include sophomore defender/midfielder Alex Drewno, sophomore defender Braeden Nelson and freshman midfielder Gio Guarnero -- each from the JV1 squad.
"The door closes on one season, and then it opens up for the next one," Steib said. "This year, we did a lot of things well (on varsity), but not good enough -- and that should serve as motivation. When you combine that with the character of our guys, that's a great mind-set to have going into the offseason."