Season preview: DuKane Conference
By Steve Nemeth
History buffs will want to pay close attention to Sept. 4.
Not because it’s National Macadamia Nut Day or National Wildlife Day, but that’s the date when the question “Who scored the first goal in DuKane Conference boys soccer history?” will be answered.
Depending on the time it takes to score, someone will earn that distinction as the brand new league stages its boys soccer debut with its full slate of four matches.
Geneva is at Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard North is at St. Charles East, and Wheaton North is at St. Charles North --- all with 6:30 p.m. start times. Lake Park at Batavia is slated for a 7 p.m. whistle which puts those two schools at a possible disadvantage for making history.
Like most high school league shuffles, the change was originally driven by football. But unlike some other conference switches, this one appears to draw approval as a quality and competitive fit for multiple sports and gets a thumbs up from boys soccer coaches.
Batavia, Geneva plus St. Charles East and North departed the Upstate Eight while Glenbard North, Lake Park plus Wheaton North and Warrenville South left the DuPage Valley to establish the new DuKane loop.
“My immediate reaction was it’s a strong conference from top to bottom, a good fit in terms of similar schools in good proximity, plus good traditions for both boys and girls in several sports,” Geneva skipper Jason Bhatta said. “For Geneva, it won’t be a complete surprise because we’ve scheduled some (Lake Park and Wheaton North) and engaged in summer friendlies with others. I’m excited to see how some new rivalries develop while we continue our old ones.”
Now starting his 28th year at Wheaton Warrenville South, Guy Callipari’s tenure made him the dean of DVC coaches, but the sportsmanship and heart of the Tigers will certainly commands equal respect in the DuKane.
“From a matter of firsts it’s a refreshing change, but for me it’s also a little disheartening in that all I’ve known is the DVC,” Callipari admitted. “I felt fortunate to have mentors like (Naperville North’s Dave) Bucher and (Naperville Central’s John) Paskavlich instill in me a respect for competing in a conference. Knowing the quality of the teams in the DKC, I’m certain we’ll have no trouble developing new rivalries to continue that hunger.”
“It’s probably not as big a deal for us because we’ve had regular (home and away) series with three of them (Glenbard North and the Wheaton schools),” veteran Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “Plus we knew Lake Park from the UEC past. So my initial thought is those games take on a different emphasis as a league match. But from a history standpoint and as an original Wheaton Central grad, it’s an affiliation coming full circle that myself and a lot of people I know look forward to.”
“As a past UEC member, it is a little like recycling history,” Lake Park’s Sean Crosby said. “It’s a little tough to leave a quality league when it’s included the state champ the last few years. But when I told some people (the DKC) would have St. Charles North and East, Geneva and Batavia, I was told ‘Good luck with that! It’s not like your route got any easier.’
“For our players it creates an opportunity to write new chapters in a record book. Every (league) game is still important and there’s a golden boot or golden glove to aspire to that will be meaningful,” Crosby added.
“While I liked the UEC, and we saw the Elgin teams coming on, this will be a strong group for soccer,” St. Charles North’s Eric Willson forecast. “There are some fantastic coaches who work hard to have consistently competitive programs. So we know it’ll be a challenge every time we step on a field.”
“We enjoyed the DVC and certainly took some lumps and knew what it was going to take, so our seniors had targeted a run for this year,” Wheaton North’s Robert Stassen stated. “Now that target will be the DuKane title, so the bottom line desire to leave as conference champion remains. We expect every game to be a dogfight because with these eight, any team has potential because there isn’t a huge gap from one to eight.”
“Although I’ll miss working with some of the UEC coaches, you can’t help but have respect for the rivalries we’ll keep and the new ones to come,” St. Charles East boss Vince DiNuzzo said. “We’re combining with four good programs and the transition is easier working with Guy (Callipari) and Sean (Crosby), who I know share the idea of winning a conference banner is always a goal. With this group, if you do well in the league it’ll mean you’ll have had a good year.”
“Being my first year (at Glenbard North) means our fresh start coincides with the fresh start for this conference,” new Panther coach Spero Mandakas added. “Looking at the membership I view it as a soccer-group heavy on quality, so of course we’re eager to get it started and be competitive.”
Team profiles (listed in alphabetical order)
Batavia
Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco (20th year -- all at Batavia)
2017 record: 7-13-2 overall, 1-4-1 Upstate Eight Conference River Division, sixth
Key returnees: Max Hardin (Sr. F, 4g/2a), Adler Palos (Sr. M), Joe Grendzinski (Sr. M), Miguel Garcia (Sr. D, 2a), Ian Wood (Sr. D), Jacob Mefford (Sr. GK)
Departed: Joe Corno (F, Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Honorable Mention Section 3, All-UEC River, 10 goals/8 assists), Sal Garcia (M, All-UEC River, 3g/6a), Brandon Knapp (F, 7g/10a), Nick Cannella (M, 5g), Trevor Ritko-Siros (GK)
Outlook: Rumor has it that Gianfrancesco began coaching the year after he got his drivers license. Forget the youthful appearance because the Bulldog boss is now in his 20th season and has been through enough conference changes to simply view 2018 as the next challenge for Batavia. He’s more focused on seeing the Bulldogs end a two-year drought for a regional plaque. Of course, those two regional efforts fell short both times thanks to eventual state champion Naperville North.
Because of overall program depth, roster turnover is nothing new at Batavia. Even though there are only six returnees, the initial 2018 roster has 16 seniors thanks to a nucleus infusion from the JV program.
Those 2017 juniors back include forward Hardin plus solid duos in the midfield (Palos and Grendzinski) and on defense (Garcia and Wood), while Mefford split time in goal for much of the year.
“Integrating their talent with everybody moving up to varsity shouldn’t be a problem because they’re all friends who have been playing together since the days they rode their bikes to a park to play pick-up games,” Gianfrancesco noted. “The chemistry is really good, and this will be one of my bigger teams from a sense of height. We’ll be much better as a collective group.”
A team concept and emphasis on group success instead of individual notoriety is why it's rare for Gianfrancesco to single players out. And yet, he admitted to expecting impacts from Jason Nichols, Carter Craney and Eddie Torres.
Although Batavia has experienced a couple of single-digit victory seasons, Palos has some simple advice for opponents: “Don’t sleep on Batavia.
“We know we’re capable of a much better record whether it’s familiar foes or the challenge that comes with some new opponents or styles in the new conference,” Palos said. "We’re ready. Our team bond goes deep from youth days or club play, so team chemistry is definitely a strength.”
Geneva
Coach: Jason Bhatta (2nd year -- both at Geneva)
2017 record: 11-6-8, 2-3-1 UEC River, fifth
Key returnees: Jack Belloli (Sr. M, 3g/5a), Colin Fromm (Sr. F, 1g/5a), Will Lew (Sr. D-M, 2a)
Departed: Eric Anderson (F, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R 13g/4a), Jack Cottrell (M, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 3g/4a), Nick Dispensa (M, 4g/1a), Sean Geismann (M, IHSSCA HM Section 3, 3g), Ivan Vilchis (D, 2g/4a), Jeffrey Bode (GK, 4.5 shutouts); Jason Belloli (D)
Outlook: Pardon coach Bhatta for experiencing a twinge of Groundhog Day. He took over the Vikings program in 2017 but 2018 feels a little like starting all over again. When Geneva came up short in a 2-1 regional championship loss, freshman defender Jason Belloli was persuaded to join the Chicago Fire Junior Academy program. That left brother Jack (a senior midfielder) as the one – and only – starter returning for this year. Add on two reserves and it’s no wonder Bhatta is wondering if he has the most untested lineup in the whole state.
“Having such a big senior class (16) last year obviously makes for a big loss in experience,” Bhatta admitted. “But we actually have a great group of guys, a good mix with nine seniors, nine juniors and six sophomores. They’re big on a energy and being a little unknown cuts both ways. We need to find the right combinations, but no one can truly know what to expect from us.”
The elder Belloli essentially echoed his coach: “Teams look at us losing 17 of 20 from last year’s roster, and they’ll automatically figure us to be at the bottom. But I know we’ll come out ready to play everyone and despite how young we are, we’ve got a lot of potential and a lot of skill. To me, it’s a question of how soon and how well we get it all to mesh.
“Everybody is excited at the start of a season, but we’re really up for the challenge of also being part of a new conference.”
As is the case with other Tri-Cities programs, there is always undiscovered talent from the JV1, JV2 or freshman teams itching for playing time. And of course such soccer-rich areas have bloodlines.
The Vikings lost a veteran goalie in Bode, but Chris Morales is the younger brother of previous Geneva netminder Jason Morales. Ready to challenge Morales in goal is Austin Lockner, who returns to the pitch after rehabbing a volleyball injury.
Needless to say, Bhatta envisions prominent roles for returnees Fromm (1g/5a), a senior forward, and Lew (2a), a senior defender-midfielder. Stuart Turnbull has already made his presence known in the backline. “He’s a big kid with both good feet and is also good in the air,” Bhatta notes. Junior Josh Eiss adds energy and fearlessness on attack while senior Joel Peruba can fill multiple spots according to Bhatta.
Glenbard North
Coach: Spero Mandakas (Ninth year / first at Glenbard North)
2017 record: 2-13-3, 0-8-0 DuPage Valley Conference, ninth
Key returnees: Ode Emena (Jr. M-D, 5g/1a), Jesus Aragon (Jr. F, 2a), Martin Argirov (So. GK, 1.99 gaa, 1.5 shutouts), Andres Sanchez (Sr. D), Owen Van Pouke (Jr. M), Nestor Dominguez (So. M).
Departed: Best Emena (M, IHSSCA Section 10, 5g/1a), Erik Lopez (M, 3g/3a), Fabrizio Guajardo (F, 2g/3a), Danny Le (M, 1g), Evan Scott (D, 1g).
Season outlook: When it comes to fresh starts the plural applies with Glenbard North’s first DuKane Conference campaign which coincides with Mandakas’ initial season as a boys varsity head coach. Former Glenbard North mainstay Gregg Koeller saw his 25-year run in the area (Glenbard East and North) end when he retired after the Panthers 1-0 loss to Bartlett in a 2017 regional opener.
Having once student taught in the Glenbard system, Mandakas accepted the challenge of turning North’s fortunes around after enjoying success as the varsity girls coach at Young. During his eight-year tenure, the Lady Dolphins reached the Chicago city championship final six times and captured the crown in 2012 and 2014. His record of 112-68-18 at Young translates to a 61.1 win percentage. During that span, he also served as a varsity assistant and head JV boys coach at Young.
Glenbard North's 2017 campaign saw an extremely young roster further hampered by injuries. A 2-1-0 start ended with a 2-13-3 mark, so the initial aim is simply to stay healthy and compete.
“The DVC before and the new league are soccer-heavy in quality so the transition is that much tougher for us to become the type of high-pressure team I want,” Mandakas said “Ultimately our goal will be to win every ball and then have 11 attackers; we will not sit and defend. On day one I saw a roomful of eager guys who believe we can get the program back to the level it was just a few years ago.”
The Panthers claimed a regional plaque in 2015 before a narrow sectional loss that year to eventual fourth place state finisher Bartlett.
There are only three starters back, so it's no surprise that Mandakas will begin with a roster mix of sophomores and juniors plus a sprinkle of seniors.
This may only be his sophomore year but Argirov is labeled as “a solid goalie” by Mandakas who is asking junior Ode Emena to move from defense to midfield to capitalize on his distribution skills and ability to maintain the team’s shape. Aragon is the third starter back, and Mandakas is optimistic about the junior forward becoming more productive. That is a must since Aragon accounted for two of the Panthers’ 10 assists, and the five goal-scorers who produced 12 tallies last season graduated.
Other returning letterwinners counted on to step up include Sanchez for senior leadership, outside back Van Pouke, whose twin brother Ethan will now join him on varsity, plus Dominguez, whose foot skills fit with the type of fluid attack that doesn’t rely on just one player. Junior midfielder Emanuel Castanon was also tagged as an impact newcomer.
“Between the players back from last year and the new guys, we’ve already shown some better team chemistry and seem more connected in the preseason,” Aragon said. “We also believe we’ve got a great new coach who can help us improve the good skills we have and help us achieve the goal of making this a year to remember. It’ll already be that with the new conference, but we’ll want to have several reasons to want to look back on this season.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby (Third year / all at Lake Park)
2017 record: 10-8-4, 3-5-0 DVC, tied for sixth
Key returnees: Matteo Costa (Sr. M, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 11g/5a), Franco Presta (Sr. F, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 4g/4a), Jesus Juarez (Sr. F, 2g/4a), Tom Zakic (Sr. D), Christian Lekki (Sr. GK), Max Ellenbecker (Sr. D)
Departed: Sebastian Glodz (M, 6g/4a), Brent Hatfield (M, 2g/3a), Daniel Nocek (D)
Season outlook: Based on veteran experience, Lake Park could be crowned as the initial DuKane favorite. With seven starters and three other lettermen on a roster with 14 seniors, coach Crosby put such speculation in proper order quite quickly.
“With the talent and experience we have, there are reasons to be labeled a favorite, but the question becomes do you just accept that thinking or are you truly hungry enough to go after it, earn it, and make it a reality?
“Many of them are in their third or fourth year on varsity and some started as sophomores or juniors, so the chemistry they’ve developed over the years and the confidence they show in one another should make us better,” Crosby said. “Each player understands the strengths of the teammates around them and are confident when defending and attacking as a unit. They communicate well and move off the ball at all times. Our defensive line is strong, big and fast and our midfielders and forwards are all talented on the ball.”
Named to Chicagoland Soccer’s 2017 All-State Watch List, Presta is a Lancer to track with or without possession. “He’s definitely our leader and very versatile with the ball,” said Crosby.
And he’s much more vital to Lake Park’s success than his 12 points (4g/4a) would suggest. Presta and fellow senior midfielder Costa (11g/5a) both earned IHSSCA Section 10 and DVC acclaim. Other starters back include forward Juarez (2g/4a), Andrew Eliopoulos (1g/1a), Ellenbecker (1g), and Zakic (1g), plus goalie Lekki (six shutouts).
Like every program there are players who will become known as the season unfolds; two such players according to Crosby are junior forward Grayden McClellan and frosh outside back Frankie Caira.
After a road opener, the Lancers look to defend the crown from their own Hillner Classic as a cornerstone to yet another successful campaign.
“This is the year we’ve building for with a core group,” Presta said. “So yes we figure to contend for a conference title and a long postseason showing. Knowing that each match can be a part of a historical inaugural year adds a little extra incentive. But knowing that those (Tri-Cities) teams are usually part of our sectional is going to make it fun to battle them as part of the regular season and for conference.”
St. Charles East
Coach: Vince DiNuzzo (4th year / second year at St. Charles East)
2017 record: 8-10-4, 3-2-1 UEC R, fourth)
Key returnees: top goal scorers, Truitt Battin (Sr. M, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 12g/3a), George Maridis (Sr. F, 5g/4a), Luke Schnitker (Sr. M, 4g/5a) and Nicholas Nelson (Sr. F, 3g/1a), Gray Biddle (Sr. D, 1g/1a)
Departed: Riley Arnold (D, IHSSCA Section 3g/4a), Colin Coine (F, 3g/1a), Zach Kennedy (GK).
Outlook: DiNuzzo was hired just 13 days before the 2017 tryouts began, so time for the coach to get to know his Fighting Saints was very limited last year. After a 2-7-4 open, the Saints used a stunning 3-0 road shutout of then no. 4-ranked St. Charles North to win six of eight before the rival North Stars gained revenge in a 3-2 regional championship slugfest.
That’s not to say the process for determining this year’s varsity, JV, etc., was easier, because in true St. Charles tradition, well over 100 players tried out. However, DiNuzzo is quite familiar with the crop of starters back: seniors Battin (27 points/four game-winners) and Schnitker (13 pts./1 gw) in midfield, Maridis (14 pts./1 gw) at forward, plus defender Biddle.
“Our entire senior class createa a real positive for us,” DiNuzzo noted. “Both the players and I have earned each other’s trust, which is important to running the kind of tight ship that also existed previously under (coach Paul) Jennison. Reinforcing that disciplined approach should make a difference in the close games that slipped away or ended in ties last year.”
While Battin came up shy in all-state balloting, DiNuzzo doesn’t see that happening again because of the senior’s work ethic and the help of others. “I did more subbing last year than usual, so there are guys like Brendan Adams, Nick Nelson, Matt Clancy, and Ulises Cabellero who logged valuable minutes,” he said.
“We got better as the season went on, finishing on a 6-3 run that included beating quality foes like St. Charles North, Benet, Streamwood and Geneva,” DiNuzzo said. “So with all the returning players eager to continue that progress, there’s an added enthusiasm for more success.”
Sam Wade was coming on as a freshman before becoming sidelined but is ready to contribute to this year’s attack as is 2017’s top JV scorer in junior Renato Avendado. Senior Andrew Cayton adds some leadership and tenacity on defense.
“I believe we’ve got a really strong senior class but more importantly, either from club ball or simply growing with the game we’ve gotten to know all our teammates,” Schnitker explained. “We know each other’s tendancies and talents. It sounds over used, but our team chemistry is strong enough to make us believe we’ve got another of the most talented squads at East.
“We’ve got rivalries with the Tri-Cities schools in the new league and know about the quality and tradition of the Wheaton programs and the other two new teams. It adds some freshness to the excitement that always comes with wanting to win a conference.”
St. Charles North
Coach: Eric Willson (16th year / all at St. Charles North)
2017 record: 16-4-3, 3-1-2 UEC R, tied for second
Key returnees: Matt Beaulieu (Sr. F, 6g/7a), Josh Amaro (Sr. M, 1g/1a), Parker Kolb (Jr. M, 1g/3a), Gabriel D’Amico (Jr. M, 3g), Joey Sommer (Sr. D)
Departed: Jake Persenico (F, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 17g/8a), Peter Willis (D, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 3g/3a), Bernard Elegbede (F, All-UEC R, 13g/7a), Kyle Kolodziej (D, All-UEC R), Piercarlo Ricossa (GK, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R), Jameson D’Amico (Jr. M, 1g/1a),
Outlook: Unless there was a guarantee of another state trophy, coach Willson’s focus is on the new year and not last season. And there are a number of new elements for the North Stars leading up to the hopes of an encore for their Class 3A Final Four trip. Despite capturing a PepsiCo Showdown bracket in 2017 and enjoying varying degrees of success in that and the Barrington tourney in years past, North is headed in new directions and not just with the new DuKane Conference.
Partnering with St. Charles East, the two schools will stage the inaugural St. Charles Tournament, an eight-team event that features two pools of four with cross-bracketing on the final day to determine first, third, fifth and seventh place finishers. Later the North Stars trek south to Lexington, Ky., to compete in the Thoroughbred Classic.
And the word new can be applied to the North line-up everywhere but in the midfield.
Keeper Ricossa graduated as did the entire backline plus the one-two scoring punch of Persenico (17g/8a) and Elegbede (13g/7a).
“We went into last year needing to replace a lot of players with honors, so we’ll simply make the changes knowing we’ve got some good young newcomers mixed with other varsity returnees,” Willson said. “Right now our only concern is on Huntley, then we’ll worry about whatever follows. We loved the experiences we had at Barrington and the Pepsi (tournaments), but the timing was right and fantastic to host an event we believe will become a quality tournament. I also liked the idea of a trip to another state to see some different opponents and styles, plus a chance for the team to really bond.”
The midfield core includes a trio of Chicagoland Soccer Watch List selections in senior Beaulieu and juniors Gabriel D’Amico and Kolb. Senior Amaro completes that unit.
Last year’s back-up Bobby Curran and JV standout Nicholas “Nico” Ragano compete at goalie while Sommer was an occasional starter on defense. Logan Michaels was seeing regular action before a knee injury in game five, but he’s back bidding for minutes along with Gabriel D’Amico, Mitch Bricker, Vito Lagioia, and Hunter Denson.
“One thing that made last year special was that everyone liked each other, and I’d already say it’s 100% the same with this year’s team,” Beaulieu insisted. “We already are working well with each other. Among the guys we lost were some great players, but we’ve got talent coming up and all of us seniors are helping everyone get in sync.
“We’re excited about getting this season going, yes we had a good experience (winning) in the Pepsi, but the idea of hosting our own tourney and winning it is special,” Beaulieu added. “We look forward to whenever conference starts, but this one adds a little uniqueness.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Robert Stassen (10th year / fourth at Wheaton North)
2017 record: 7-13-1, 3-3-2 DVC, fifth)
Key returnees: Eight starters led by Alex Beausoleil (Sr. F, co-DVC Golden Boot winner, 19g/1a), Joe Gaither (Sr. F, 4g/7a), Jack Morrissey (Sr. F, 8a), Sunday Moo (Jr. M), Nathan Heyen (Sr. D), Jack Mancuso (Sr. D)
Departed: Jake Dzarnowski (M, IHSSCA Section 10, 6g), Jorge Patino (M, HM Section 10, 10g)
Outlook: This is Stassen’s first true senior class so DVC or not, the Falcons aim to contend for a league title believing this is their legacy season. “Our major strength is our returning backline,” Stassen insists citing seniors Mancuso, Heyen, and Tegart, who are together for a fourth year.
Up-top there’s a “killer three” in Beausoleil, Gaither and Morrissey. Having gone from two goals as a sophomore to 19 as a junior, Beausoleil was the DVC co-Golden Boot recipient. Yet Stassen labeled the senior an underachiever and challenged him to improve. “He’s capable of a greater scoring percentage. To me it’s the difference between scoring 10 goals which sounds good, but you take 100 shots and you’re capable of nailing 25 or 30, which is really good.”
Stassen is convinced Gaither (4g/7a) can add more while Morrissey (8a) was the consummate waiter setting up Beausoleil. “Jack is capable of scoring nearly as often as he earns assists.” North lost two quality midfielders in IHSSCA All-Section 10 and All-DVC pick Dzarnowski plus Patino. But there are capable returnees in Moo, Ethan Shikany and Will Wanzenburg. Stassen describes the former as an “aerial missile” just now coming into his own.
“From one through 18 this is probably my deepest squad,” Stassen noted, even optimistic about one untested area. Ray Kim has come up through the ranks as a netminder, instead of previous years when the Falcons converted a field player for on-the-job training.
“On the field, these guys are hard-nosed, get-in-your-face players, but off the field they’re the kindest, nicest guys you’d ever want to be around. On the field they’ve bought in to our system and off the field they’re committed to giving back to the community,” Stassen said. “They’ve previously worked with the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans but this past year they added working with kids at the Ronald McDonald House in Winfield.”
“It’s a big fresh start because we’ve got a chance to prove and show the new teams and some previous foes how solid of a unit we now are,” Mancuso said. “There is a bit of a letdown leaving the DVC because we enjoyed playing the powerhouse Naperville teams. Those were always hard-fought matches that made us improve. But any conference game is always a challenge and with this new league we’ll still face quality opposition. We’ve played St. Charles North twice in playoffs and lost both. We know about the soccer tradition at Geneva and St. Charles (East), so we’ll be motivated.
“Our seven back on varsity bring a lot of experience and leadership to the team to help in the tight, hard-fought matches. But I also believe our depth is a major asset,” Mancuso added. “No matter who is playing or coming off the bench, everyone is similar in skill and ability.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari (28th year / all at Wheaton Warrenville South)
2017 record: 7-12-2, 1-6-1 DVC, eighth)
Key returnees: Sumani Husseini (Sr. F, 11g/1a), Declin Ermer (Sr. F, 6g/4a), Nick McGrath (Jr. M, 1a), Sam Schlegel (Jr. D), Joe Adamek (Sr. GK, 3.96 gaa, 3.5 shutouts), Ryan Dufy (Jr. M, 4g/6a).
Departed: Gabby Lazcano (D, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 1g/1a), Unla Husseini (M, All-DVC, 7g/11a), Jesus Martinez (M, 4g/2a).
Outlook: Yet another individual whose sincerity, wit, knowledge and natural smile dispel the notion of an aging, gray coach, Guy Callipari begins his 28th campaign with the Tigers and is among the exceptionally elite club of coaches with more than 300-career victories for both boys and girls soccer. “This will be one of the youngest teams I’ve had in some time, but I believe the culture we’ve set of representing ourselves, our school and community to the best of our ability and playing to a high standard, can and will continue,” Callipari said. “We do have a block of experienced players that we’ll build around. Blending the newcomers with them is both the opportunity and challenge ahead of us.”
That core group features a pair of seniors up top in Sumani Husseini and Ermer, and in goal with Adamek. The fourth and fifth returning starters are juniors McGrath in midfield and Schlegel on defense. Then there’s a trio – senior midfielder Jordy Morales plus junior defender Sean Tully and midfielder Ryan Duffy -- who have the opportunity to go from reserve duty to being active contributors.
As is the case in each campaign, determining best positions and combinations may take some experimenting, but Callipari has an athletic and interesting mix to work with: senior Griffin Wright, junior Paul Thalmann, plus the sophomore quartet of Cristian Munoz, Jackson Moran, Ben Webber, and Kevin Stumbris.
“Although we may be a young team, at South we have a long, proud tradition in soccer that emphasizes work ethic and being competitive,” Ermer said sounding every bit like a committed senior. “We’re ready to push ourselves to live up to the traditions of Wheaton soccer, especially since this year is the eve of the school’s 50th season. Throughout the years in the DVC, we played against really good schools and always held our own. The new schools present the same challenge to us as do those programs we already know.
“This will be a unique year in its own right because the opportunity is there to be remembered for so many things, be it our first DuKane goal, first DuKane win, first DuKane shutout, and hopefully, first DuKane title,” Ermer said.
By Steve Nemeth
History buffs will want to pay close attention to Sept. 4.
Not because it’s National Macadamia Nut Day or National Wildlife Day, but that’s the date when the question “Who scored the first goal in DuKane Conference boys soccer history?” will be answered.
Depending on the time it takes to score, someone will earn that distinction as the brand new league stages its boys soccer debut with its full slate of four matches.
Geneva is at Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard North is at St. Charles East, and Wheaton North is at St. Charles North --- all with 6:30 p.m. start times. Lake Park at Batavia is slated for a 7 p.m. whistle which puts those two schools at a possible disadvantage for making history.
Like most high school league shuffles, the change was originally driven by football. But unlike some other conference switches, this one appears to draw approval as a quality and competitive fit for multiple sports and gets a thumbs up from boys soccer coaches.
Batavia, Geneva plus St. Charles East and North departed the Upstate Eight while Glenbard North, Lake Park plus Wheaton North and Warrenville South left the DuPage Valley to establish the new DuKane loop.
“My immediate reaction was it’s a strong conference from top to bottom, a good fit in terms of similar schools in good proximity, plus good traditions for both boys and girls in several sports,” Geneva skipper Jason Bhatta said. “For Geneva, it won’t be a complete surprise because we’ve scheduled some (Lake Park and Wheaton North) and engaged in summer friendlies with others. I’m excited to see how some new rivalries develop while we continue our old ones.”
Now starting his 28th year at Wheaton Warrenville South, Guy Callipari’s tenure made him the dean of DVC coaches, but the sportsmanship and heart of the Tigers will certainly commands equal respect in the DuKane.
“From a matter of firsts it’s a refreshing change, but for me it’s also a little disheartening in that all I’ve known is the DVC,” Callipari admitted. “I felt fortunate to have mentors like (Naperville North’s Dave) Bucher and (Naperville Central’s John) Paskavlich instill in me a respect for competing in a conference. Knowing the quality of the teams in the DKC, I’m certain we’ll have no trouble developing new rivalries to continue that hunger.”
“It’s probably not as big a deal for us because we’ve had regular (home and away) series with three of them (Glenbard North and the Wheaton schools),” veteran Batavia coach Mark Gianfrancesco said. “Plus we knew Lake Park from the UEC past. So my initial thought is those games take on a different emphasis as a league match. But from a history standpoint and as an original Wheaton Central grad, it’s an affiliation coming full circle that myself and a lot of people I know look forward to.”
“As a past UEC member, it is a little like recycling history,” Lake Park’s Sean Crosby said. “It’s a little tough to leave a quality league when it’s included the state champ the last few years. But when I told some people (the DKC) would have St. Charles North and East, Geneva and Batavia, I was told ‘Good luck with that! It’s not like your route got any easier.’
“For our players it creates an opportunity to write new chapters in a record book. Every (league) game is still important and there’s a golden boot or golden glove to aspire to that will be meaningful,” Crosby added.
“While I liked the UEC, and we saw the Elgin teams coming on, this will be a strong group for soccer,” St. Charles North’s Eric Willson forecast. “There are some fantastic coaches who work hard to have consistently competitive programs. So we know it’ll be a challenge every time we step on a field.”
“We enjoyed the DVC and certainly took some lumps and knew what it was going to take, so our seniors had targeted a run for this year,” Wheaton North’s Robert Stassen stated. “Now that target will be the DuKane title, so the bottom line desire to leave as conference champion remains. We expect every game to be a dogfight because with these eight, any team has potential because there isn’t a huge gap from one to eight.”
“Although I’ll miss working with some of the UEC coaches, you can’t help but have respect for the rivalries we’ll keep and the new ones to come,” St. Charles East boss Vince DiNuzzo said. “We’re combining with four good programs and the transition is easier working with Guy (Callipari) and Sean (Crosby), who I know share the idea of winning a conference banner is always a goal. With this group, if you do well in the league it’ll mean you’ll have had a good year.”
“Being my first year (at Glenbard North) means our fresh start coincides with the fresh start for this conference,” new Panther coach Spero Mandakas added. “Looking at the membership I view it as a soccer-group heavy on quality, so of course we’re eager to get it started and be competitive.”
Team profiles (listed in alphabetical order)
Batavia
Coach: Mark Gianfrancesco (20th year -- all at Batavia)
2017 record: 7-13-2 overall, 1-4-1 Upstate Eight Conference River Division, sixth
Key returnees: Max Hardin (Sr. F, 4g/2a), Adler Palos (Sr. M), Joe Grendzinski (Sr. M), Miguel Garcia (Sr. D, 2a), Ian Wood (Sr. D), Jacob Mefford (Sr. GK)
Departed: Joe Corno (F, Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Honorable Mention Section 3, All-UEC River, 10 goals/8 assists), Sal Garcia (M, All-UEC River, 3g/6a), Brandon Knapp (F, 7g/10a), Nick Cannella (M, 5g), Trevor Ritko-Siros (GK)
Outlook: Rumor has it that Gianfrancesco began coaching the year after he got his drivers license. Forget the youthful appearance because the Bulldog boss is now in his 20th season and has been through enough conference changes to simply view 2018 as the next challenge for Batavia. He’s more focused on seeing the Bulldogs end a two-year drought for a regional plaque. Of course, those two regional efforts fell short both times thanks to eventual state champion Naperville North.
Because of overall program depth, roster turnover is nothing new at Batavia. Even though there are only six returnees, the initial 2018 roster has 16 seniors thanks to a nucleus infusion from the JV program.
Those 2017 juniors back include forward Hardin plus solid duos in the midfield (Palos and Grendzinski) and on defense (Garcia and Wood), while Mefford split time in goal for much of the year.
“Integrating their talent with everybody moving up to varsity shouldn’t be a problem because they’re all friends who have been playing together since the days they rode their bikes to a park to play pick-up games,” Gianfrancesco noted. “The chemistry is really good, and this will be one of my bigger teams from a sense of height. We’ll be much better as a collective group.”
A team concept and emphasis on group success instead of individual notoriety is why it's rare for Gianfrancesco to single players out. And yet, he admitted to expecting impacts from Jason Nichols, Carter Craney and Eddie Torres.
Although Batavia has experienced a couple of single-digit victory seasons, Palos has some simple advice for opponents: “Don’t sleep on Batavia.
“We know we’re capable of a much better record whether it’s familiar foes or the challenge that comes with some new opponents or styles in the new conference,” Palos said. "We’re ready. Our team bond goes deep from youth days or club play, so team chemistry is definitely a strength.”
Geneva
Coach: Jason Bhatta (2nd year -- both at Geneva)
2017 record: 11-6-8, 2-3-1 UEC River, fifth
Key returnees: Jack Belloli (Sr. M, 3g/5a), Colin Fromm (Sr. F, 1g/5a), Will Lew (Sr. D-M, 2a)
Departed: Eric Anderson (F, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R 13g/4a), Jack Cottrell (M, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 3g/4a), Nick Dispensa (M, 4g/1a), Sean Geismann (M, IHSSCA HM Section 3, 3g), Ivan Vilchis (D, 2g/4a), Jeffrey Bode (GK, 4.5 shutouts); Jason Belloli (D)
Outlook: Pardon coach Bhatta for experiencing a twinge of Groundhog Day. He took over the Vikings program in 2017 but 2018 feels a little like starting all over again. When Geneva came up short in a 2-1 regional championship loss, freshman defender Jason Belloli was persuaded to join the Chicago Fire Junior Academy program. That left brother Jack (a senior midfielder) as the one – and only – starter returning for this year. Add on two reserves and it’s no wonder Bhatta is wondering if he has the most untested lineup in the whole state.
“Having such a big senior class (16) last year obviously makes for a big loss in experience,” Bhatta admitted. “But we actually have a great group of guys, a good mix with nine seniors, nine juniors and six sophomores. They’re big on a energy and being a little unknown cuts both ways. We need to find the right combinations, but no one can truly know what to expect from us.”
The elder Belloli essentially echoed his coach: “Teams look at us losing 17 of 20 from last year’s roster, and they’ll automatically figure us to be at the bottom. But I know we’ll come out ready to play everyone and despite how young we are, we’ve got a lot of potential and a lot of skill. To me, it’s a question of how soon and how well we get it all to mesh.
“Everybody is excited at the start of a season, but we’re really up for the challenge of also being part of a new conference.”
As is the case with other Tri-Cities programs, there is always undiscovered talent from the JV1, JV2 or freshman teams itching for playing time. And of course such soccer-rich areas have bloodlines.
The Vikings lost a veteran goalie in Bode, but Chris Morales is the younger brother of previous Geneva netminder Jason Morales. Ready to challenge Morales in goal is Austin Lockner, who returns to the pitch after rehabbing a volleyball injury.
Needless to say, Bhatta envisions prominent roles for returnees Fromm (1g/5a), a senior forward, and Lew (2a), a senior defender-midfielder. Stuart Turnbull has already made his presence known in the backline. “He’s a big kid with both good feet and is also good in the air,” Bhatta notes. Junior Josh Eiss adds energy and fearlessness on attack while senior Joel Peruba can fill multiple spots according to Bhatta.
Glenbard North
Coach: Spero Mandakas (Ninth year / first at Glenbard North)
2017 record: 2-13-3, 0-8-0 DuPage Valley Conference, ninth
Key returnees: Ode Emena (Jr. M-D, 5g/1a), Jesus Aragon (Jr. F, 2a), Martin Argirov (So. GK, 1.99 gaa, 1.5 shutouts), Andres Sanchez (Sr. D), Owen Van Pouke (Jr. M), Nestor Dominguez (So. M).
Departed: Best Emena (M, IHSSCA Section 10, 5g/1a), Erik Lopez (M, 3g/3a), Fabrizio Guajardo (F, 2g/3a), Danny Le (M, 1g), Evan Scott (D, 1g).
Season outlook: When it comes to fresh starts the plural applies with Glenbard North’s first DuKane Conference campaign which coincides with Mandakas’ initial season as a boys varsity head coach. Former Glenbard North mainstay Gregg Koeller saw his 25-year run in the area (Glenbard East and North) end when he retired after the Panthers 1-0 loss to Bartlett in a 2017 regional opener.
Having once student taught in the Glenbard system, Mandakas accepted the challenge of turning North’s fortunes around after enjoying success as the varsity girls coach at Young. During his eight-year tenure, the Lady Dolphins reached the Chicago city championship final six times and captured the crown in 2012 and 2014. His record of 112-68-18 at Young translates to a 61.1 win percentage. During that span, he also served as a varsity assistant and head JV boys coach at Young.
Glenbard North's 2017 campaign saw an extremely young roster further hampered by injuries. A 2-1-0 start ended with a 2-13-3 mark, so the initial aim is simply to stay healthy and compete.
“The DVC before and the new league are soccer-heavy in quality so the transition is that much tougher for us to become the type of high-pressure team I want,” Mandakas said “Ultimately our goal will be to win every ball and then have 11 attackers; we will not sit and defend. On day one I saw a roomful of eager guys who believe we can get the program back to the level it was just a few years ago.”
The Panthers claimed a regional plaque in 2015 before a narrow sectional loss that year to eventual fourth place state finisher Bartlett.
There are only three starters back, so it's no surprise that Mandakas will begin with a roster mix of sophomores and juniors plus a sprinkle of seniors.
This may only be his sophomore year but Argirov is labeled as “a solid goalie” by Mandakas who is asking junior Ode Emena to move from defense to midfield to capitalize on his distribution skills and ability to maintain the team’s shape. Aragon is the third starter back, and Mandakas is optimistic about the junior forward becoming more productive. That is a must since Aragon accounted for two of the Panthers’ 10 assists, and the five goal-scorers who produced 12 tallies last season graduated.
Other returning letterwinners counted on to step up include Sanchez for senior leadership, outside back Van Pouke, whose twin brother Ethan will now join him on varsity, plus Dominguez, whose foot skills fit with the type of fluid attack that doesn’t rely on just one player. Junior midfielder Emanuel Castanon was also tagged as an impact newcomer.
“Between the players back from last year and the new guys, we’ve already shown some better team chemistry and seem more connected in the preseason,” Aragon said. “We also believe we’ve got a great new coach who can help us improve the good skills we have and help us achieve the goal of making this a year to remember. It’ll already be that with the new conference, but we’ll want to have several reasons to want to look back on this season.”
Lake Park
Coach: Sean Crosby (Third year / all at Lake Park)
2017 record: 10-8-4, 3-5-0 DVC, tied for sixth
Key returnees: Matteo Costa (Sr. M, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 11g/5a), Franco Presta (Sr. F, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 4g/4a), Jesus Juarez (Sr. F, 2g/4a), Tom Zakic (Sr. D), Christian Lekki (Sr. GK), Max Ellenbecker (Sr. D)
Departed: Sebastian Glodz (M, 6g/4a), Brent Hatfield (M, 2g/3a), Daniel Nocek (D)
Season outlook: Based on veteran experience, Lake Park could be crowned as the initial DuKane favorite. With seven starters and three other lettermen on a roster with 14 seniors, coach Crosby put such speculation in proper order quite quickly.
“With the talent and experience we have, there are reasons to be labeled a favorite, but the question becomes do you just accept that thinking or are you truly hungry enough to go after it, earn it, and make it a reality?
“Many of them are in their third or fourth year on varsity and some started as sophomores or juniors, so the chemistry they’ve developed over the years and the confidence they show in one another should make us better,” Crosby said. “Each player understands the strengths of the teammates around them and are confident when defending and attacking as a unit. They communicate well and move off the ball at all times. Our defensive line is strong, big and fast and our midfielders and forwards are all talented on the ball.”
Named to Chicagoland Soccer’s 2017 All-State Watch List, Presta is a Lancer to track with or without possession. “He’s definitely our leader and very versatile with the ball,” said Crosby.
And he’s much more vital to Lake Park’s success than his 12 points (4g/4a) would suggest. Presta and fellow senior midfielder Costa (11g/5a) both earned IHSSCA Section 10 and DVC acclaim. Other starters back include forward Juarez (2g/4a), Andrew Eliopoulos (1g/1a), Ellenbecker (1g), and Zakic (1g), plus goalie Lekki (six shutouts).
Like every program there are players who will become known as the season unfolds; two such players according to Crosby are junior forward Grayden McClellan and frosh outside back Frankie Caira.
After a road opener, the Lancers look to defend the crown from their own Hillner Classic as a cornerstone to yet another successful campaign.
“This is the year we’ve building for with a core group,” Presta said. “So yes we figure to contend for a conference title and a long postseason showing. Knowing that each match can be a part of a historical inaugural year adds a little extra incentive. But knowing that those (Tri-Cities) teams are usually part of our sectional is going to make it fun to battle them as part of the regular season and for conference.”
St. Charles East
Coach: Vince DiNuzzo (4th year / second year at St. Charles East)
2017 record: 8-10-4, 3-2-1 UEC R, fourth)
Key returnees: top goal scorers, Truitt Battin (Sr. M, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 12g/3a), George Maridis (Sr. F, 5g/4a), Luke Schnitker (Sr. M, 4g/5a) and Nicholas Nelson (Sr. F, 3g/1a), Gray Biddle (Sr. D, 1g/1a)
Departed: Riley Arnold (D, IHSSCA Section 3g/4a), Colin Coine (F, 3g/1a), Zach Kennedy (GK).
Outlook: DiNuzzo was hired just 13 days before the 2017 tryouts began, so time for the coach to get to know his Fighting Saints was very limited last year. After a 2-7-4 open, the Saints used a stunning 3-0 road shutout of then no. 4-ranked St. Charles North to win six of eight before the rival North Stars gained revenge in a 3-2 regional championship slugfest.
That’s not to say the process for determining this year’s varsity, JV, etc., was easier, because in true St. Charles tradition, well over 100 players tried out. However, DiNuzzo is quite familiar with the crop of starters back: seniors Battin (27 points/four game-winners) and Schnitker (13 pts./1 gw) in midfield, Maridis (14 pts./1 gw) at forward, plus defender Biddle.
“Our entire senior class createa a real positive for us,” DiNuzzo noted. “Both the players and I have earned each other’s trust, which is important to running the kind of tight ship that also existed previously under (coach Paul) Jennison. Reinforcing that disciplined approach should make a difference in the close games that slipped away or ended in ties last year.”
While Battin came up shy in all-state balloting, DiNuzzo doesn’t see that happening again because of the senior’s work ethic and the help of others. “I did more subbing last year than usual, so there are guys like Brendan Adams, Nick Nelson, Matt Clancy, and Ulises Cabellero who logged valuable minutes,” he said.
“We got better as the season went on, finishing on a 6-3 run that included beating quality foes like St. Charles North, Benet, Streamwood and Geneva,” DiNuzzo said. “So with all the returning players eager to continue that progress, there’s an added enthusiasm for more success.”
Sam Wade was coming on as a freshman before becoming sidelined but is ready to contribute to this year’s attack as is 2017’s top JV scorer in junior Renato Avendado. Senior Andrew Cayton adds some leadership and tenacity on defense.
“I believe we’ve got a really strong senior class but more importantly, either from club ball or simply growing with the game we’ve gotten to know all our teammates,” Schnitker explained. “We know each other’s tendancies and talents. It sounds over used, but our team chemistry is strong enough to make us believe we’ve got another of the most talented squads at East.
“We’ve got rivalries with the Tri-Cities schools in the new league and know about the quality and tradition of the Wheaton programs and the other two new teams. It adds some freshness to the excitement that always comes with wanting to win a conference.”
St. Charles North
Coach: Eric Willson (16th year / all at St. Charles North)
2017 record: 16-4-3, 3-1-2 UEC R, tied for second
Key returnees: Matt Beaulieu (Sr. F, 6g/7a), Josh Amaro (Sr. M, 1g/1a), Parker Kolb (Jr. M, 1g/3a), Gabriel D’Amico (Jr. M, 3g), Joey Sommer (Sr. D)
Departed: Jake Persenico (F, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 17g/8a), Peter Willis (D, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R, 3g/3a), Bernard Elegbede (F, All-UEC R, 13g/7a), Kyle Kolodziej (D, All-UEC R), Piercarlo Ricossa (GK, IHSSCA Section 3, All-UEC R), Jameson D’Amico (Jr. M, 1g/1a),
Outlook: Unless there was a guarantee of another state trophy, coach Willson’s focus is on the new year and not last season. And there are a number of new elements for the North Stars leading up to the hopes of an encore for their Class 3A Final Four trip. Despite capturing a PepsiCo Showdown bracket in 2017 and enjoying varying degrees of success in that and the Barrington tourney in years past, North is headed in new directions and not just with the new DuKane Conference.
Partnering with St. Charles East, the two schools will stage the inaugural St. Charles Tournament, an eight-team event that features two pools of four with cross-bracketing on the final day to determine first, third, fifth and seventh place finishers. Later the North Stars trek south to Lexington, Ky., to compete in the Thoroughbred Classic.
And the word new can be applied to the North line-up everywhere but in the midfield.
Keeper Ricossa graduated as did the entire backline plus the one-two scoring punch of Persenico (17g/8a) and Elegbede (13g/7a).
“We went into last year needing to replace a lot of players with honors, so we’ll simply make the changes knowing we’ve got some good young newcomers mixed with other varsity returnees,” Willson said. “Right now our only concern is on Huntley, then we’ll worry about whatever follows. We loved the experiences we had at Barrington and the Pepsi (tournaments), but the timing was right and fantastic to host an event we believe will become a quality tournament. I also liked the idea of a trip to another state to see some different opponents and styles, plus a chance for the team to really bond.”
The midfield core includes a trio of Chicagoland Soccer Watch List selections in senior Beaulieu and juniors Gabriel D’Amico and Kolb. Senior Amaro completes that unit.
Last year’s back-up Bobby Curran and JV standout Nicholas “Nico” Ragano compete at goalie while Sommer was an occasional starter on defense. Logan Michaels was seeing regular action before a knee injury in game five, but he’s back bidding for minutes along with Gabriel D’Amico, Mitch Bricker, Vito Lagioia, and Hunter Denson.
“One thing that made last year special was that everyone liked each other, and I’d already say it’s 100% the same with this year’s team,” Beaulieu insisted. “We already are working well with each other. Among the guys we lost were some great players, but we’ve got talent coming up and all of us seniors are helping everyone get in sync.
“We’re excited about getting this season going, yes we had a good experience (winning) in the Pepsi, but the idea of hosting our own tourney and winning it is special,” Beaulieu added. “We look forward to whenever conference starts, but this one adds a little uniqueness.”
Wheaton North
Coach: Robert Stassen (10th year / fourth at Wheaton North)
2017 record: 7-13-1, 3-3-2 DVC, fifth)
Key returnees: Eight starters led by Alex Beausoleil (Sr. F, co-DVC Golden Boot winner, 19g/1a), Joe Gaither (Sr. F, 4g/7a), Jack Morrissey (Sr. F, 8a), Sunday Moo (Jr. M), Nathan Heyen (Sr. D), Jack Mancuso (Sr. D)
Departed: Jake Dzarnowski (M, IHSSCA Section 10, 6g), Jorge Patino (M, HM Section 10, 10g)
Outlook: This is Stassen’s first true senior class so DVC or not, the Falcons aim to contend for a league title believing this is their legacy season. “Our major strength is our returning backline,” Stassen insists citing seniors Mancuso, Heyen, and Tegart, who are together for a fourth year.
Up-top there’s a “killer three” in Beausoleil, Gaither and Morrissey. Having gone from two goals as a sophomore to 19 as a junior, Beausoleil was the DVC co-Golden Boot recipient. Yet Stassen labeled the senior an underachiever and challenged him to improve. “He’s capable of a greater scoring percentage. To me it’s the difference between scoring 10 goals which sounds good, but you take 100 shots and you’re capable of nailing 25 or 30, which is really good.”
Stassen is convinced Gaither (4g/7a) can add more while Morrissey (8a) was the consummate waiter setting up Beausoleil. “Jack is capable of scoring nearly as often as he earns assists.” North lost two quality midfielders in IHSSCA All-Section 10 and All-DVC pick Dzarnowski plus Patino. But there are capable returnees in Moo, Ethan Shikany and Will Wanzenburg. Stassen describes the former as an “aerial missile” just now coming into his own.
“From one through 18 this is probably my deepest squad,” Stassen noted, even optimistic about one untested area. Ray Kim has come up through the ranks as a netminder, instead of previous years when the Falcons converted a field player for on-the-job training.
“On the field, these guys are hard-nosed, get-in-your-face players, but off the field they’re the kindest, nicest guys you’d ever want to be around. On the field they’ve bought in to our system and off the field they’re committed to giving back to the community,” Stassen said. “They’ve previously worked with the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans but this past year they added working with kids at the Ronald McDonald House in Winfield.”
“It’s a big fresh start because we’ve got a chance to prove and show the new teams and some previous foes how solid of a unit we now are,” Mancuso said. “There is a bit of a letdown leaving the DVC because we enjoyed playing the powerhouse Naperville teams. Those were always hard-fought matches that made us improve. But any conference game is always a challenge and with this new league we’ll still face quality opposition. We’ve played St. Charles North twice in playoffs and lost both. We know about the soccer tradition at Geneva and St. Charles (East), so we’ll be motivated.
“Our seven back on varsity bring a lot of experience and leadership to the team to help in the tight, hard-fought matches. But I also believe our depth is a major asset,” Mancuso added. “No matter who is playing or coming off the bench, everyone is similar in skill and ability.”
Wheaton Warrenville South
Coach: Guy Callipari (28th year / all at Wheaton Warrenville South)
2017 record: 7-12-2, 1-6-1 DVC, eighth)
Key returnees: Sumani Husseini (Sr. F, 11g/1a), Declin Ermer (Sr. F, 6g/4a), Nick McGrath (Jr. M, 1a), Sam Schlegel (Jr. D), Joe Adamek (Sr. GK, 3.96 gaa, 3.5 shutouts), Ryan Dufy (Jr. M, 4g/6a).
Departed: Gabby Lazcano (D, IHSSCA Section 10, All-DVC, 1g/1a), Unla Husseini (M, All-DVC, 7g/11a), Jesus Martinez (M, 4g/2a).
Outlook: Yet another individual whose sincerity, wit, knowledge and natural smile dispel the notion of an aging, gray coach, Guy Callipari begins his 28th campaign with the Tigers and is among the exceptionally elite club of coaches with more than 300-career victories for both boys and girls soccer. “This will be one of the youngest teams I’ve had in some time, but I believe the culture we’ve set of representing ourselves, our school and community to the best of our ability and playing to a high standard, can and will continue,” Callipari said. “We do have a block of experienced players that we’ll build around. Blending the newcomers with them is both the opportunity and challenge ahead of us.”
That core group features a pair of seniors up top in Sumani Husseini and Ermer, and in goal with Adamek. The fourth and fifth returning starters are juniors McGrath in midfield and Schlegel on defense. Then there’s a trio – senior midfielder Jordy Morales plus junior defender Sean Tully and midfielder Ryan Duffy -- who have the opportunity to go from reserve duty to being active contributors.
As is the case in each campaign, determining best positions and combinations may take some experimenting, but Callipari has an athletic and interesting mix to work with: senior Griffin Wright, junior Paul Thalmann, plus the sophomore quartet of Cristian Munoz, Jackson Moran, Ben Webber, and Kevin Stumbris.
“Although we may be a young team, at South we have a long, proud tradition in soccer that emphasizes work ethic and being competitive,” Ermer said sounding every bit like a committed senior. “We’re ready to push ourselves to live up to the traditions of Wheaton soccer, especially since this year is the eve of the school’s 50th season. Throughout the years in the DVC, we played against really good schools and always held our own. The new schools present the same challenge to us as do those programs we already know.
“This will be a unique year in its own right because the opportunity is there to be remembered for so many things, be it our first DuKane goal, first DuKane win, first DuKane shutout, and hopefully, first DuKane title,” Ermer said.