Boys soccer: Libertyville's title link? Think Wittenbrink

When Ryan Wittenbrink started playing soccer for Libertyville, he was a sophomore on a talented team full of juniors and seniors.

He made his mark with a couple of postseason goals that helped the Wildcats win the Class 3A state championship at Hoffman Estates.

That was then and this is now for the senior, who's back where he was two years ago. He and his teammates compete at state this weekend after a supersectional victory Tuesday night at Barrington.

All the Indiana University-bound forward has done this season is score 38 goals and assisted on 17 others. He's led Libertyville to a share of the North Suburban Conference title and 19-0-2 record, and erupted for 5 goals in the first half of Libertyville's 8-1 win over Barringtom in the Fremd sectional final.

An all-state player for the second straight year, Wittenbrink is the captain of the Daily Herald Lake County all-area team for the second season in a row as well. He was invited to play in the All-American game on Dec. 2 in Orlando, Fla.

"I think of myself not just a goal-scorer, but a creator," Wittenbrink said. "Sometimes teams try to focus on me, so I find other guys. I believe this team is really unselfish in all aspects, and it's fun."

As a junior, Wittenbrink tallied 19 goals and 12 assists. He wasn't at the level he wanted to be, however, so he worked hard over the summer. It's paid off.

"Last year, I was a little disappointed with my (goal-scoring) output, assists and defense," Wittenbrink said. "I really worked a lot in the off-season on finishing and on all aspects of my game. I like to think that it's showing, but it's the team that's really stepping up right now."

Wittenbrink's cool demeanor seems to have rubbed off on his teammates. If the Wildcats aren't having a pasta party, they're just hanging with each other.

"We all get along really well and were a tight-knit group," Wittenbrink said. "We keep it light and keep it loose. That's the way to do it. You can't be nervous. We've seen the stage and we're back on it. ... We're all brothers, basically."

Wildcats first-year head coach Kevin Thunholm has seen his team captain perform as a leader on and off the field.

"He's a special player," Thunholm said. "He committed himself to this year, and I think he's in better shape physically and mentally. The boys just feed off his energy. Obviously, he demands a lot of defense against him. Sometimes three guys will follow him around like gnats. He finds other people and makes other people work hard. He makes other teams work harder. He finishes a ball, and his touch is unbelievable.

"All those things are obvious, but his work ethic and his love for the game are ridiculous. He doesn't quit, and he's got high energy."

As for the players whose play complements Wittenbrink, junior midfielder/forward Evan Rasmussen has scored 17 goals.

"He's just unbelievable the way he uses his body to pull people off him, while he maintains the ball and turns," Rasmussen said of his teammate. "He's just incredible. Anything he does is ridiculous."

Greg Krikorian, another senior midfielder, also has seen unbelievable play from Wittenbrink.

"He makes something out of nothing," Krikorian said. "I don't know how he does it, but when he does it, all I have is joy. When you play him the ball, he's got two to three players on him. He spins and then unselfishly lays the ball off to a teammate, or he turns and scores. It's unbelievable."

And it's not over yet for Libertyville.