Boys soccer / Lake County all-area team

Kenny Adiyiah MundeleinShowing quickness with his first step, Adiyiah routinly got ahead of defenders and was always dangerous for the Mustangs going forward. "Kenny's pace makes him a constant threat on goal and unbalances a lot of teams we've played," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "There are few defenders who can run with him. He is a box-to-box winger who consistently whips in crosses, gets isolated in 1v1 situations out wide and who also has the discipline to track marks defensively. In any given game Kenny will serve at least 5 crosses, have at least 5 shots and create a few corner kicks. He was a lot to handle."

Bryan Alba MundeleinShowing leadership by example in the midfield and up top, Alba turned out to play a big role for this season. "Bryan's passion for the game is clear in how he plays," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "He's technically gifted and loves to find the ball, turn and attack any defenders that are in his path to goal. He plays with an enthusiasm that is contagious for the team. One of the most important moves for our team was to change our formation, to allow him more of the ball during the game. Once we made that switch as a team, our productivity improved noticeably. He is a game-changer who is dangerous every time he touches the ball."

Cam Beezley Lakes

Lakes played a competitive schedule and thus needed competitive players to help its team measure up. Enter Beezley, a senior, who was a proven midfielder. He prove to be up to the challenge, finishing with 18 goals and 7 assists in his final prep season before starting a collegiate career next year at DePaul. "Cam Beezley is an outstanding all-around soccer player on both sides of the ball," Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. "He scored goals against some of the best teams in the area and scored several game-winning goals for us. He not only has a knack for finishing but he can also make the pass that puts his teammate through to goal. Without a doubt one of the area's finest players."

Ben Brandt Stevenson

Veteran leadership? Ben Brandt supplied plenty of it this season for the Patriots from the midfield, contributing with 4 goals and 11 assists. He'll take his steady, productive play to the University of Chicago next fall. "He was easily twice a good as last season," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "He was the player that controlled our rhythm and pace. Ben was an outstanding leader. He loves to practice and work his skills. His dedication to learning is so evident in his amazing play."

Ethan Butler MundeleinOne of the best reasons for Mundelein's successful season was its defense. Ethan Butler led the way with his ability and soccer knowledge of the game. "Ethan's addition this year impacted our team immediately," Mundelein coach Ernie Billittier said. "He's physically gifted, technically strong, and has a high soccer IQ. His calming presence at center back had a big impact on the team's morale because we were confident that on most days. We weren't going to concede a lot of goals, so victory was always an option. He was dominant in the air and often times started our attack with accurate passes to our midfielders or outside backs so that they could move forward."

Abel Campa Round LakeThanks to his services, strength in the back became Round Lake's calling card. Campa was the rock in goal for the Panthers, allowing 22 goals in 21 games for a goals-against average of 1.05. But perhaps the best part of the game was his communication with his defense. "He was one of the most flexible goalies Round Lake has ever had," Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. "He was the heart in the goal, and everybody listened what he had to say - on and off the field. One of his best games was against Morton (road loss 2-1), making back-to-back saves from left to right."

Zane Chung-Medhi Lake ZurichHard work goes a long way, and Chung-Medhi provides ample evidence as a midfield workhorse for Lake Zurich. He dished out 12 assists and led the Bears in that stat this season. "He was consistently one of the hardest-working players on the field," Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. "He was noticeable all over the field and would regularly make runs from 18-yard box to 18-yard box. As a center-mid, he helped start our attack, and he was also important to our defensive abilities. His long throw gave us consistent scoring chances every game."

Raffaele Consalvo WaucondaThe man in the middle, Raffaele Consalvo was at the heart of all Wauconda achieved, finishing with 6 goals and 7 assists. "He was a captain of our team, leader in the program and without a doubt our most positive player," Wauconda coach Mike Jacobs said. "Not only does his game command respect from his teammates and opponents, but his attitude sets the example for all people who work with him - how a true soccer player handles the game in all aspects. His leadership off the field is second to none and he truly helped our soccer family this season considering the incredible amount of injuries we sustained during the year. He was an ironman for us and played almost every second of every match both because we needed his skills and because no one could replace his presence on the field."

Marlon De ita Grayslake NorthGrayslake North turned to this reliable senior in its successful efforts at slowing down opposing teams. "Marlon is an incredibly quiet player who does all of his talking with his ability to dominate in our defense," Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. "He's a quick and relentless defender who not only shuts down opponents, but also gets forward to offer options in our attack. His reading of the game, quickness of his feet, and his fearless approach to the game make Marlon one of the toughest defenders in the area to beat. While he shuts down whoever he might be responsible for, he also has the willingness and ability to cover for his teammates when needed."

Austin Ehren Carmel CatholicA quality player with a style that's hard to defend, Ehren's strength with the ball led to 17 goals and 5 assists this season; he now has 60 in three seasons with the Corsairs. He was one of three main players who had the nose for the goal in Carmel's attack, especially in the final third of the field. "He's a special type of attacker," Carmel Catholic coach Ray Krawzak said. "His quickness and finishing ability make him a great threat. He is a natural striker, and having a player like Austin raises the level our team incredibly."

Hugo Flores WarrenBeing fit is one thing, but being able to play every day in practice and come up with big contributions in games is another. Flores had the talent to do so, and his exceptional speed led to 15 goals and 5 assists for the Blue Devils. "Hugo was one of the most athletic players I have ever coached," said coach Jason Ahonen. "He has a wonderful first touch and runs like a gazelle. He gave outside mids and defensive backs fits all year long running the flanks for us."

Josh Grzesiak Carmel CatholicA four-year varsity player, Grzesiak demonstrated just what it takes to be a leader in the midfield. He contributed 6 goals and 3 assists for Carmel Catholic and will next play at St. Thomas in Minnesota next fall. "He's our senior leader and captain," Carmel Catholic coach Ray Krawzak said. "He has consistently been among our hardest workers for four years. He is a role model to younger players. His ability to take defenders on with aggressive dribbling makes him stand out. He does great work on both offense and defense."

Ryan Kim Vernon HillsDefense was a strength for the Cougars all season as they made their move into the Central Suburban North. Kim's heady play was key reason for that success. "Ryan is one of our smartest players on the field in regard to tactics," said Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou. "He's always in great position to help our team be successful on both sides of the ball. His primary responsibility is to defend other teams' best players, but he's also great and getting up the flanks to support the attack. He has many assists from the wide position as right back because he understands the game so well. He's a pleasure to coach as he wears his emotions on his sleeve, which brings out the best in himself and his teammates."

Thomas Macheras WarrenBeing able to both defend and work up with the offense when needed was a big part of what Thomas could deliver for Warren this fall. His efforts were always evident on defense, and he layed a big role at the other end as well, contriubting 3 goals and 5 assists. "He exceeded all exceptions with his size and skill," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. "We were able to use him as a center back and push him into the attack when needed. He was very composed on the ball and has a very high soccer IQ."

Vladimir Manriquez Round LakeA bit quiet on the field, Manriquez's composure was a strength as he lets his play do the talking for Round Lake at midfield. He contributed 4 goals and 4 assists and regularly helped out on both sides of the field. "He was more of a quieter player with good vision of the field as a midfielder," Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. He's was one that pushed the other players and expected more of his play."

Jake Nunez StevensonMore than simply a leader by example, Nunez took an active role in showing the way for the younger Patriots players. He also managed to contribute 6 goals and 4 assists while playing both midfield and forward. "Jake is our quiet captain," Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. "He leads with his technical and tactical skills. He was a three-year starter who has given Stevenson soccer his total effort. He has the ability to make everyone else around him better."

Kevin Penarrieta WarrenControlling the pace of play was very important to Warren's game plan. Penarrieta, a senior, took on that role in the midfield and calmly collected 8 goals and 6 assists. "Kevin had a great feel for the game and a keen awareness on when to speed up play and when to slow it down," Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. "He was extremely composed and looked to set up his teammates all year long."

Michael Quigley LibertyvilleDefense was one of the stronger areas for Libertyville, and Quigley's veteran leadership and four years varsity experience certainly made it tough for opponents to score against the Wildcats. There wasn't many times a forward was able to get past Quigley on the run. "He was one of the quickest players I have coached," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "He's a great defender for us, and his attacks down down the left flank for us put a lot of pressure on the opposing team."

Brennan Reback Vernon HillsReback came up with a season no one would want to toss back, coming up with several single-season records at Vernon Hills - shutouts (10), most saves and best goals-against average 1.01. Considered one of the best keepers in the area and in the state, he's an all-around competitor who will play baseball in the spring. "Brennan is an unbelievable athlete and gets better every year," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "Our game vs. Glenbrook North this year was singlehandedly the best GK performance I have ever seen in my career as a coach. He has great reactions to close-range attempts and he commands the box with the best of them. Brennan is a great distributor of the ball as well, with both his hands and feet. He is the catalyst to our defense, which in turn starts our offense. He is a team leader and holds himself and everybody accountable, every day."

Rob Rao Carmel CatholicLooking for Rob Rao? He was easy to find, reliably running the for Carmel. The junior standout led the Corsairs with 20 goals and 12 assists and made good use of a dangerous finishing shot. "He was our most attacking-minded midfielder," Carmel Catholic coach Ray Kawzak said. "His touch and creativity make him stand out. Rob has unbelievable endurance and positions himself to always be involved in the play. He finds himself in the right place at the right time and then creates the next attacking chance with good passing and decision making."

Evan Rasmussen LibertyvilleAn up-and-coming talent to watch, Rasmussen played at a higher level than you usually find in a sophomore. His work ethic and skill led to 7 goals and 6 assists, and the zip he provided at forward helped greatly in Libertyville in winning the North Suburban Conference title and earning a spot in the Class 3A sectional finals. "Only a sophomore, but one of the most talented players in the area," Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. "He has great technical skills and is one of the best passers on the team. He scored some big goals for us this year."

Alejandro Sotelo Round LakePerhaps the best-known among a group of standout players at Round Lake this season, Sotelo led Round Lake with 29 goals and 5 assists (73 for his career) and helped the Panthers win the inaugural Northern Lake County championship. In addition, Sotelo earned all-state recognition. "He's one of the last true scoring forwards that learned a lot from past all-state forwards," Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. "He stepped up as a captain and a vocal leader on the team. His work came from coming in early or staying late after practice, making himself better and one of the best forwards this year."

RJ Vazquez AntiochA mainstay in the back of the Sequoits' defense, Vazquez was counted on for as the last line of defense. "RJ has been a solid force for us all season," Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. "He's a very versatile and consistent player who can play any position on the field. This year we needed him to fill a hole at center-back and he did it extremely well. RJ is typically one of the smallest players on the field, but his fearlessness and commitment allowed him to win nearly every aerial and 50/50 ball. His willingness to sacrifice himself for his team has led to the prevention of many goals, and he scored several important goals off of set pieces this season. Not only do we recognize his abilities and heart, but so did his teammates by unanimously voting him captain this season."

Trevor Veenstra Grayslake CentralOver the last three years, Veenstra took on a vareity of roles for the Rams and thrived in them all. His efforts showed this season at midfield, where he contributed with 8 goals and 6 assists. He also picked up honors on the Chicago Fire All-State All-Academic First Team member and will play for Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio next year. "Trevor's intelligence, vision, and technical ability allowed him to play a number of positions for us in his career," Grayslake Central coach Tom Hamilton said. "His passing range and ability posed a constant threat to our opponents regardless of where he played on the field, and he was deadly on set pieces. In my 13 seasons of coaching, Trevor is, without a doubt, the most intelligent player I have coached. He reads the game with ease and he has an incredible knack for making adjustments on the fly to suit the moment at hand. His exceptional character and his willingness to put the team's needs above his own made him an absolute pleasure to work with."

Nick Walker Grayslake CentralOver the last couple of years, Walker proved to be a great fit for at Grayslake Central after relocating from Germany. He was a big part of the Rams' attack, successful at both scoring and providing assists. This season, the senior had 15 goals and 6 assists, but his season ended late in the regular season with a broken collarbone. "Nick was hitting his stride as the season progressed," Grayslake Central coach Tom Hamilton said. "His collarbone injury ended his high school career early. Aside from his skill and vision on the field, Nick provided leadership for us, working hard to provide pressure in defense and encouraging his teammates when things weren't going our way. Nick has every reason to be proud of what he accomplished as a player and who he has become as a person."

Chris White Vernon HillsVernon Hills has hand plenty of success over the past four season, and White has been at the center of all of it - especially this season. His play helped the Cougars find another level, and the soccer community took note: His 21 goals and 11 assists led to all-state honors. "He has a motor that never quits and is continuously improving each day," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "His work ethic is one of the best I've ever had the opportunity to work with in my 19 years of coaching. He's a class act on and off the field and without him our program would not be where it is today. He can play anywhere on the field. He has broken the scoring record for most goals in a season at VHHS and helped his teammates become better every day."

Ryan Wittenbrink LibertyvilleA standout player who learned from others before him - including those who helped the Wildcats win a state championship last year - Wittenbrink helped spread those lessons to this year's group. He stepped seamlessly into a leadership role as a junior, becoming the Daily Herald's Lake County all-area team captain and also merited all-state recognition. His efforts led the Wildcats to the North Suburban Conference Championship and a Class 3A sectional final berth this year.

David Young Grayslake CentralReady to step up for his senior year in goal, Young proved he was more than capable in leading the Grayslake Central into the Class 2A sectional semifinals. Against Class 2A foes, he allowed just 9 goals in 14 games and had an overall goals-against average of 1.33 with 9 shutouts. "David was more than up for the task," Grayslake Central coach Tom Hamilton said. "He provided superb cover for a new center-back pairing. Whether we needed an outlet pass to in order to relieve pressure or a key save to swing momentum of a game in our favor, we could rely on him to step up for his teammates. In my seven seasons with the boys program, David's season stands out as the most consistently excellent body of work from any of our goalkeepers. Moreover, David's a good-natured young man who made everyone on the team feel welcome and valued."

All-area roster

Player School Yr. Pos.

Kenny Adiyiah Mundelein Jr. MF/F

Bryan Alba Mundelein So. MF/F

Cam Beezley Lakes Sr. MF

Ben Brandt Stevenson Sr. MF

Ethan Butler Mundelein Sr. D

Abel Campa Round Lake Sr. GK

Zane Chung-Medhi Lake Zurich Sr. MF

Raffaele Consalvo Wauconda Jr. MF

Marlon Deita Grayslake North Sr. D

Austin Ehren Carmel Catholic Jr. F

Hugo Flores Warren Sr. MF

Josh Grzesiak Carmel Catholic Sr. MF

Ryan Kim Vernon Hills Jr. D

Thomas Macheras Warren Sr. D

Vladimir Manriquez Round Lake Sr. MF

Jake Nunez Stevenson Sr. MF/F

Kevin Penarrietta Warren Sr. MF

Rob Rao Carmel Catholic Jr. MF

Brennan Reback Vernon Hills Sr. GK

Michael Quigley Libertyville Sr. D

Evan Rasmussen Libertyville So. MF/F

Alejandro Sotelo Round Lake Sr. MF/F

RJ Vazquez Antioch Jr. D

Trevor Veenstra Grayslake Central Sr. MF

Nick Walker Grayslake Central Sr. F

Chris White Vernon Hills Sr. F

* Ryan Wittenbrink Libertyville Jr. F

David Young Grayslake Central Sr. GK

* All-area captain

Honorable mentionMichael Alemu (Carmel, Jr., F), Aaron Berdenis (Round Lake, Sr., D), Randy Betancourth (Grayslake Central, Sr., MF), Connor Brannick (Wauconda, Soph., D), Matt Brickman (Stevenson, Jr., MF), Aaron Castellanos (Vernon Hills, Sr., MF), Brett Cloe (Carmel, Jr., D), Dominic Cristino (Mundelein, Sr., D), Jack Critzer (Grayslake North, Sr., D), Nick Dydo (Lakes, Sr., MF), Jordan Fleita (Lake Zurich, Sr., F), Richie Flores (Warren, Sr., MF), Danny Ford (Mundelein, Sr., D), Kenny Gallegher (Libertyville, Sr., MF), Bryan Gomez (Round Lake, Sr., MF), Christofer Gomez (Round Lake, Jr. D), Ryan Gibbs (Libertyville, Sr., D), Giovanni Gonzalez (Grant, Jr., MF), Christian Guerrero (Grayslake North, Sr., MF), Michael Harty (Vernon Hills, Jr., D), Joe Heffernan (Lake Zurich, Jr., D), Grant Herbek (Libertyville, Soph., MF), Niko Jokic (Warren, Sr., MF), Austin Jones (Lakes, Sr., D), Jorge Morales (Wauconda, Soph., F), Ethan Kalis (Stevenson, Jr., GK), Matt Kosikowski (Grayslake Central, Sr., D), Zach Kowalik (Grant, Sr. D), Bart Krumpis (Antioch, Jr., MF), Eric Muniz (Mundelein, Sr., GK), Leo Orozco (Grayslake Central, Sr., F), Andrew Pytlak (Lake Zurich, Jr., D), Matt Randall (Stevenson, Jr., D), Alex Rauno (Antioch, Sr., GK), Jason Rhodes (Grayslake North, Sr., MF), Anakin Ruiz (Vernon Hills, Sr., D/MF), Daniel Talguera (Grant, Soph., F), Gabe Tijerina (Antioch, Jr., MF/F)

selections and profiles by Rusty Silber