Quite a finish for Barrington finisher Szczesny
No question about it. The Barrington Fillies' Jenna Szczesny is the real deal.
Szczesny's rise accelerated under girls soccer coach Ryan Stengren in a brilliant four-year career, ending with a phenomenal senior season that featured 37 goals and a wave of postseason honors, including a repeat captaincy of the Daily Herald's Northwest all-area team.
"All of the attention I've received this year is really kind of overwhelming," said Szczesny, who preferred to let her dynamic play do most the talking during her high-profile time at Barrington. "It's not something I ever got used to at all, but it certainly was appreciated nonetheless."
"She was always a shy, quiet girl," said Stengren. "I was actually coaching her older sister (Nina) in club with the Eclipse, so I knew her family, and Jenna from the time she was a baby. So I've had a long connection to the Szczesny family.
"Even though she's a person of few words, once we got comfortable with each other, she finally opened up and became someone I always enjoyed seeing and talking to. We knew she would be good - she was always an amazing athletic. But never in my wildest dreams did I think she would end up being this good."
With most effective strikers, there's an element of me-first at play. Szczesny managed to succeed in another way - by playing first and foremost for her teammates.
"It's like family here," said Szczesny, who will play at Loyola next year. "In fact, that's been the real highlight of my career."
There were plenty more traditional highlights, too.
"You saw just what type of player she was in our state semifinal loss to New Trier last Friday night," said Stengren.
During the closing moments of a tense 100-minute match, and with the Fillies pushing numbers up in at attempt to find the equalizer in the closing moments, a ball feel to the Trevians two-time all-state scoring star Kelly Maday, giving the junior a 20-yard headstart on Barrington keeper Hannah Luedtke.
With the match likely over and Maday ready to put the icing on the cake, Szczesny - starting on the other side of the midline and 20 yards back - used her tremendous speed to get back even with Maday near the top of the box before cleanly tackling, and clearing the ball away.
"First of all, Jenna is a great defender, and how many big-time scorers play both sides of the ball the way she does?" said Stengren. "And second, how many players at that point in the game and knowing it's all over and you're not playing for the state championship the next day race all the way back to defend and tackle?"
Of course, Szczesny wasn't an overnight success. It took plenty of work to make her the player she's become.
"Jenna was a project for sure. She came from a great family, who stressed hard work, and she obviously had the talent, but that doesn't always translate over," said Stengren.
So many things were discussed, including the mindset of a goal-scorer along with tactics, the technical side of her game, finishing technique, how and when to strike. And always - repetition, repetition, repetition.
Benefitting from having a marvelous mentor in former teammate Molly Pfeiffer, Szczesny was brought along at a nice pace during her rookie season, scoring 10 goals. She had 25 the next season, including two in the Class 3A third-place match in the state finals.
Last spring, after taking her training to another level, Szczesny turned in a breakout season, firing in 30 goals and providing 15 assists on her way to her first appointment to the all-state team and a nod as Gatorade's Illinois Soccer Player of the Year.
"Jenna has been the best attacking player we've faced the last two seasons," said Fremd coach Steve Keller. "She has tremendous speed along with good ball skills, and it's this combination which allows her to have defenders on their heels. It isn't often a player of Jenna's caliber comes along, and for me, she was an absolute joy to watch."
"When Jenna plays like she did against us this year, she is unstoppable," said Conant coach Jason Franco. "When you look at her numbers against top-tier opponents, you have to be impressed. She is clearly one of the best to ever come through the MSL, and the area."
She repeated as Gatorade's Player of the Year. Szczesny is also a two-time all-stater, a two-time MSL West Player of the Year and a three-time all-MSL choice.
A tower of strength in her 5-foot-9 frame, Szczesny is strong enough to turn her back to goal and bring others into play, while creating opportunities for her teammates. With an explosive move she could dart past defenders, with control of the ball more like that of a midfielder. And such a knack for scoring, with one-touches, side volleys, even side-footing it into the back of the net occasionally.
Or simply unloading thunderbolt shots from in close or long range.
"Jenna has come a long way in all facets of her game, and she now really understands the little nuances of the game, both technically and tactically, which you can really see up close when watching her play," said Stengren.
Szczesny completes her Barrington run with 102 goals and 39 assists, many of them coming because she was sturdy enough to withstand the attention of the top marking back along with frequent double teams.
After spending most of her upcoming summer training, Szczesny will report to college.
The Szczesny era at Barrington ends as the Szczesny era at Loyola begins.
"I am really looking forward to moving on to the next chapter in my life," said Szczesny. "But I say that knowing how much I will miss my teammates, who became like family, as well as coach Stengren, who has become such a big part of my life and success that I've had thus far," said Szczesny, who will pursue a career in pediatric nursing. "It was all very special at Barrington, and I'll remember all of it forever."