Fenwick hopes to make
opponents see double in ‘22
Key returnees include Henige, Rogowski sisters, GK Hinrichs
By Chris Walker
While Fenwick coach Craig Blazer gets his first full season with the Friars, several seniors will relish their final opportunity to play alongside their younger sisters this spring.
It should be an exciting and successful season for all involved at Fenwick, a team that welcomes back several key players, including Julia Cianci, Kate Henige, Audrey Hinrichs, Emily Ortiz and Abbie Rogowski for their senior seasons.
“We’re all super excited, obviously, and with no COVID restrictions we’re back for a longer season that’s not going to be cut short like last year,” Henige said. “We’re super excited to be able to play a full season.”
Henige, who received all-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference recognition during the truncated campaign last spring along with Hinrichs and Rogowski, is also thrilled get to play again with her sister, sophomore Caroline Henige.
While the elder Henige is a key part of the team’s offensive attack, Caroline will join fellow sophomore Maddie Rogowski as a center midfielder. Abbie Rogowski is a strong presence at center back.
“Our team chemistry is amazing, right off the bat,” Kate Henige said. “We’re really lucky for that. I’m not on the same club as my sister so it’s exciting to be able to play with her and to also have Abbie (Rogowski) and Maddie (Rogowski) with that same connection.”
The Rogowski sisters are club teammates so the high school season is an added opportunity for them to don the same uniform and when the need arises, to give each a nudge, so to speak.
“It’s so nice having a sister on the team who loves playing,” Abbie Rogowski said. “It makes it kind of easier to get on people because they are a sibling. It adds to that dynamic. And they’ll (our younger sisters) will get on us too. It’s not just one way either. I just feel that we’re all so used to playing with each other. Even after just one week together it feels like we’ve all been playing for a long time.”
Such familiarity with one another and team chemistry are what the Friars are hopeful with lead to a fun season filled with awesome memories and plenty of victories.
The Friars (8-3-2) did a lot of great things last year. They finished second in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division (7-2-1), blanked six opponents and upset Hinsdale Central in the post-season before seeing their season end against Downers Grove South in a regional final.
“They got a good feel for what they could do last year,” Blazer said. “It’s a fun group and a motivated group. It’s just my second season with them, and you know, coming out of COVID and everything, that was just a challenge every day. Now we’re just excited for the opportunity for being together for a season.”
Having a talented group of athletes with high soccer IQs certainly has helped the Friars, whose only loss in their final six games last spring was a 2-0 decision to the Mustangs in the regional final June 5.
“We did establish a nice foundation, and we’ve got some quality players. So, we’re kind of feeling like we’re in a good spot,” Blazer said. “The players kind of understand the system and are flexible enough to fit it or for the system to fit the players. Everybody gives some ideas of what to work on and the behaviors we’re looking for.”
The real learning comes next week when the Friars begin squaring up against opponents. They open with a nonconference match March 19 against Nazareth.
“We learn a lot from conversations during sessions and now with games,” Blazer said. “It may take a little while to get where we want to go, but we’re going to get there.”
Having Hinrichs, a three-sport athlete who is coming off a strong basketball season, in the goal will give the Friars a constant boost of support, knowing she’s a great final line of defense.
“She’s a heck of a basketball player and did really well as goalkeeper last year,” Blazer said. “She’s a tremendous competitor. Having a solid goalkeeper goes a long way in helping win games.”
Fenwick won’t get a chance to avenge Loyola for its two conference losses a season ago until May 10, it’s regular-season finale. A competitive nonconference schedule will challenge the Friars early and often. It includes the bragging rights game against Oak Park and River Forest on March 23. Other notable nonconference foes include Deerfield, Downers Grove North, Maine South and Willowbrook.
“I’m really hoping for a state championship, that’s our big goal,” Kate Henige said. “But for now it’s working on the little goals of just taking it day by day as we get ready for our first game against Naz. So, our goal is now to get that one.”
For the seniors, it’s a final chance to represent the Friars, one last hurrah to play high school soccer.
“It’s kind of bittersweet that it’s ending, but I’m also happy to go off to college,” Kate Henige said. “I love playing with these girls. High school has been a completely different vibe from club. It’s kind of relaxing. The end is kind of sad, but it’s also super exciting.”
opponents see double in ‘22
Key returnees include Henige, Rogowski sisters, GK Hinrichs
By Chris Walker
While Fenwick coach Craig Blazer gets his first full season with the Friars, several seniors will relish their final opportunity to play alongside their younger sisters this spring.
It should be an exciting and successful season for all involved at Fenwick, a team that welcomes back several key players, including Julia Cianci, Kate Henige, Audrey Hinrichs, Emily Ortiz and Abbie Rogowski for their senior seasons.
“We’re all super excited, obviously, and with no COVID restrictions we’re back for a longer season that’s not going to be cut short like last year,” Henige said. “We’re super excited to be able to play a full season.”
Henige, who received all-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference recognition during the truncated campaign last spring along with Hinrichs and Rogowski, is also thrilled get to play again with her sister, sophomore Caroline Henige.
While the elder Henige is a key part of the team’s offensive attack, Caroline will join fellow sophomore Maddie Rogowski as a center midfielder. Abbie Rogowski is a strong presence at center back.
“Our team chemistry is amazing, right off the bat,” Kate Henige said. “We’re really lucky for that. I’m not on the same club as my sister so it’s exciting to be able to play with her and to also have Abbie (Rogowski) and Maddie (Rogowski) with that same connection.”
The Rogowski sisters are club teammates so the high school season is an added opportunity for them to don the same uniform and when the need arises, to give each a nudge, so to speak.
“It’s so nice having a sister on the team who loves playing,” Abbie Rogowski said. “It makes it kind of easier to get on people because they are a sibling. It adds to that dynamic. And they’ll (our younger sisters) will get on us too. It’s not just one way either. I just feel that we’re all so used to playing with each other. Even after just one week together it feels like we’ve all been playing for a long time.”
Such familiarity with one another and team chemistry are what the Friars are hopeful with lead to a fun season filled with awesome memories and plenty of victories.
The Friars (8-3-2) did a lot of great things last year. They finished second in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division (7-2-1), blanked six opponents and upset Hinsdale Central in the post-season before seeing their season end against Downers Grove South in a regional final.
“They got a good feel for what they could do last year,” Blazer said. “It’s a fun group and a motivated group. It’s just my second season with them, and you know, coming out of COVID and everything, that was just a challenge every day. Now we’re just excited for the opportunity for being together for a season.”
Having a talented group of athletes with high soccer IQs certainly has helped the Friars, whose only loss in their final six games last spring was a 2-0 decision to the Mustangs in the regional final June 5.
“We did establish a nice foundation, and we’ve got some quality players. So, we’re kind of feeling like we’re in a good spot,” Blazer said. “The players kind of understand the system and are flexible enough to fit it or for the system to fit the players. Everybody gives some ideas of what to work on and the behaviors we’re looking for.”
The real learning comes next week when the Friars begin squaring up against opponents. They open with a nonconference match March 19 against Nazareth.
“We learn a lot from conversations during sessions and now with games,” Blazer said. “It may take a little while to get where we want to go, but we’re going to get there.”
Having Hinrichs, a three-sport athlete who is coming off a strong basketball season, in the goal will give the Friars a constant boost of support, knowing she’s a great final line of defense.
“She’s a heck of a basketball player and did really well as goalkeeper last year,” Blazer said. “She’s a tremendous competitor. Having a solid goalkeeper goes a long way in helping win games.”
Fenwick won’t get a chance to avenge Loyola for its two conference losses a season ago until May 10, it’s regular-season finale. A competitive nonconference schedule will challenge the Friars early and often. It includes the bragging rights game against Oak Park and River Forest on March 23. Other notable nonconference foes include Deerfield, Downers Grove North, Maine South and Willowbrook.
“I’m really hoping for a state championship, that’s our big goal,” Kate Henige said. “But for now it’s working on the little goals of just taking it day by day as we get ready for our first game against Naz. So, our goal is now to get that one.”
For the seniors, it’s a final chance to represent the Friars, one last hurrah to play high school soccer.
“It’s kind of bittersweet that it’s ending, but I’m also happy to go off to college,” Kate Henige said. “I love playing with these girls. High school has been a completely different vibe from club. It’s kind of relaxing. The end is kind of sad, but it’s also super exciting.”