Several World Relief refugees enjoy playing soccer at West Aurora

One of the West Aurora boys soccer assistants was wondering why last month it seemed that a couple players were dragging.

Joe Sustersic, who coaches the Blackhawks and also teaches about world cultures at the school, had a plausible reason: Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that ordains fasting from dawn to sunset.

Wholly possible on the Blackhawks, who have five international students on varsity, three on junior varsity and a sophomore who all have arrived since 2000 via World Relief Aurora. One of four offices in Illinois and 23 nationwide, World Relief transplants victims of war and persecution to safer spots.

“A new chance on life,” as Sustersic calls it.

Nearly a quarter of West Aurora's 22-player varsity squad comes from the program, Sustersic said. The Blackhawks are a melting pot — players from Iraq, Togo, the Philippines, Thailand, Russia, Serbia, Tanzania in addition to Hispanic and native-born students. There's also a plain old foreign exchange student from Brazil.

Some of the international students have been in the States for awhile, like Milomar Suvira, who arrived from Serbia in 2000. Haitham Al Rubai arrived from Iraq only late last year. Sustersic said he's noticed other teams and schools, like Wheaton North and Rock Island, that have also accepted many foreigners needing aid.

There may be periodic communication breakdowns since, for example, one of the boys still writes in Arabic. But it's nothing patience and play cannot overcome.

“The sport speaks one language and it's a soccer ball. Really, it doesn't make a difference what (nationality) you are, it speaks a universal language,” said Sustersic, whose parents came to America from Yugoslavia after World War II.

“I've learned a lot from different cultures without ever being there. Each kid brings his own distinctive traits to the team,” he said.

And they can be distinctive. Last year the team pulled into a gas station for a pit stop. As the players munched convenience store snacks outside one boy popped a crunchy insect into his mouth and ate it. Just like the old country.

There is mild trash-talking that occurs during practice, Sustersic said, but it's done in fun, not out of disrespect or malice. No grudges are held if one of the World Relief players earns increased playing time.

“Most of them are role players on our team,” the coach said, “but they take advantage of their opportunities and whenever they have a chance to play they do make the best of their abilities. Their work ethic is never in question.”

Though many of them have played soccer all their lives, Sustersic said their talent is raw. Only Olivier Dasilveira, from Togo, is a consistent varsity starter, while Al Rubai has started a handful of games. Given more time under experienced coaching, Sustersic said, others probably also would crack the lineup.

Through Tuesday, when the Blackhawks beat Glenbard North 2-1 on Matt Toth's goal in the 83rd minute, West Aurora was 8-3. Sustersic certainly has been challenged to blend all the different styles on the practice field, and to make sure his direction is understood. But his international squad — “almost like United Nations soccer at times” — makes it fun.

“It's a delight to have them on the team just because they offer us so much. You can see their love of the sport, why they are doing it,” Sustersic said.

“It's nice to see kids working hard and enjoying the sport here in America, halfway around the world from where they come from.”

Long-distance relationship

The longer he runs — in distance and in years — the faster Drew Schmitt gets.

A 2009 Batavia graduate who is now the No. 1 men's cross country runner at Aurora University, on Monday Schmitt earned his second straight honor as Northern Athletics Conference student athlete of the week in his sport.

Schmitt ran the 8-kilometer distance at Aurora's Spartan Classic in 26 minutes, 17.1 seconds, fastest of any conference athlete there.

That's well below his personal-record of 24:56 at Augustana during last year's regionals, but Schmitt has definitely seen improvement since his high school days, and also since his freshman year at Waubonsee Community College. He earned the first of his two NAC awards after winning Waubonsee's invitational on Sept. 3.

“It's nice because it tells me I'm doing better and in my conference I'm running to the competition, I guess, and where I need to be,” he said.

Schmitt, a biology major who turned 21 on Aug. 3., recalled being a Batavia senior at Leroy Oakes in the St. Charles East sectional and finishing one position off qualifying for the 2008 Class 3A state cross country meet. That hardly diminished his attitude.

“I'm happy that did happen, because if I'd have run faster I may not be where I am today,” he said.

Solid collegiate coaching and higher mileage due to more consistent training — he's simply got more time to run, he said — have led to more enjoyment and better times.

Similar to his cross country finale at Batavia, last fall representing Aurora University Schmitt just missed getting out of regionals. Breaking that jinx, even nabbing an all-American berth at the Division III Championships at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh rank among this year's goals.

The big meets — conference, regional, nationals — are still more than a month away. That means more miles for Schmitt. The more the merrier.

“Everything's different, I just think I like it better. Higher mileage, and I like the workouts. They're better for me, and the distance is longer,” Schmitt said.

“I'm definitely long distance. That's one thing I didn't like about high school, is I thought the five-kilometer distance was too short. I've found a distance that works.”

doberhelman@dailyherald.com