Soccer players making a difference

A generation of superheroes is being born. Not on Krypton or in a Norwegian cave but here in metropolitan Chicago.

During the 2016-17 school year 216 boys and girls soccer programs in Illinois have participated in the "Making a Difference On and Off the Field" campaign presented by the nonprofit Buddy's HELPERS and the PepsiCo Showdown.

This is a proactive effort by prep soccer players toward making communities better and people happier one act - or 1,000 pairs of socks - at a time.

"One percent have a chance to play professionally but all of them have the opportunity to be leaders in life," said Joe Trost, director of the PepsiCo Showdown and Buddy's HELPERS.

"It's a reminder that everyone can do something simple and everyone can be a superhero to somebody else."

Starting in January 2016 activities have averaged about one a month, ranging from surprising a student athlete with tickets to see Chance the Rapper to delivering 3,000 pairs of shoes to a homeless facility on Chicago's West Side.

Beneficiaries have included women's shelters, Chicago Public School students, senior centers and PADS. On April 8 in Schaumburg, the 14th PepsiCo Showdown girls tournament kicked off by donating some 7,500 books to low-income elementary-school children from Chicago.

"I learned that I can really make an impact," said Glenbard East junior Faith Davies, who indeed wore a cape during a Buddy's HELPERS event on Feb. 12 to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Week. The Downers Grove North, Lake Park, Metea Valley, Wheaton Academy, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South girls soccer teams were among many that participated.

Metea Valley players had the novel idea of writing uplifting messages on Post-it notes and sticking them around downtown Naperville; one woman grabbed a note and put it in her purse, said Mustangs senior forward Abby Severson. While they were creating the notes a man saw what they were doing and gave them $50, which the girls used to pay for a family's meal.

"I'm very close with my teammates and you can tell on and off the field how close we are," Severson said. "I think sharing a special moment like that is something you can't really describe."

Davies, who starts in goal for Glenbard East but when needed moves to center midfield because she's just that good, asked her teammates to each bring $5. With that they bought and handed out flowers to Lombard businesses, delivered doughnuts to firemen, made a woman cry in appreciation of a $3 ice cream.

"If everyone does something small, it adds up to something big," said Davies, who said most of her teammates do some sort of community service on their own. As they continue to aid Buddy's HELPERS, Davies said they plan to donate to a child advocacy center.

The Rams Random Acts of Kindness brigade wound up at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, where they gave children there some candy, and their capes. Their reward came in smiles and hugs.

"I felt like an actual superhero at that point," Davies said.

Grand slam

Four Willowbrook baseball players have committed as a bloc to Wisconsin-Platteville.

Just like they bat in Warriors coach Vic Wisner's lineup from leadoff to cleanup, Ben Espinoza, Jon Kelso, Kyle Ferguson and Mark "M.J." Ranieri hope to one day form the core of the Platteville Pioneers.

"Having all four of us growing up together, playing on the same team and committing to the same four-year college is amazing," said Kelso, initially recruited to play football there as a receiver.

Kelso, who last fall caught 50 Ranieri passes for 848 yards and 7 touchdowns and has been a football teammate with Ranieri since the Villa Park Warriors youth league days, decided on Platteville when he was encouraged to play both sports there. Then Ranieri and Espinoza fell in line.

Ferguson was going to play baseball at Roosevelt University until he heard about his teammates. He decommitted and joined the Pioneer party.

"We didn't all just gather around and say we should go to this college. It just kind of happened," Kelso said.

Ranieri is an infielder and designated hitter, Ferguson a second baseman and Espinoza and Kelso are outfielders. They've helped the Warriors become the first in Willowbrook history to start the season 7-0, and entered Wednesday at 8-1.

Though the "dorm lady" told Kelso freshmen didn't have the option, Platteville baseball coach Eric Frese was going to try to get the four into adjoining suites.

Housed together or separately it'll be a fun, new experience cushioned by a four-man security blanket.

"I'm excited for it. All of us are," Ranieri said. "We will meet new people, but we'll already have three guys that we know pretty well. It's a good start."

Mucha excitement

The enjoyment of seeing Branden Adkins' first announcement as incoming Neuqua Valley athletic director was doubled by reading its contents.

On Wednesday Adkins announced his first hire - former Montini three-sport star Mike Mucha will be the Wildcats' new wrestling coach, succeeding the retiring stalwart, Mick Ruettiger.

In his first year as a Neuqua guidance counselor, this season Mucha served as an assistant to Ruettiger. He has coached at Lake Park, Downers Grove North and Montini.

"I'm just very excited," said Mucha, 30, who on Monday celebrated the birth of a second child with his wife, Krissy.

Mucha said he'll attempt to get Wildcats wrestlers "believing they can compete with anybody." Examining his prep achievements will get them believing.

The 2005 Montini graduate was a four-time state qualifier who finished as the Broncos' No. 3 pins leader with 87, placing second in Class A at 189 pounds in both 2004 and 2005. Under coach Mike Bukovsky, Mucha wrestled on four straight dual meet state champions.

On the football field for now-retired coach Chris Andriano, Mucha is Montini's program leader in rushing attempts, yardage and touchdowns.

In 2004-05 he had one of the best athletic years one could want. He ran for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 44-7 win over Coal City to help the Broncos win the Class 4A football title. After wrestling season Mucha ran on winning 400- and 800-meter relays to help Montini earn its sole state trophy in track, 1 point out of first place.

"Those guys over there at Montini, Coach 'Bu' and Coach 'A,' the way they care for kids made it an easy choice to go into that field, they love what they do. That's kind of what I try to model myself after," Mucha said.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

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