St. Charles soccer celebrates 30th anniversary
Brett Wienke had the game-winning assist in 1996 to help St. Charles win back-to-back state soccer championships.
On Saturday, he scored the game-winning goal in an alumni game celebrating the
30-year anniversary of boys soccer at St. Charles East.
The game was played in chilly, wet and rainy conditions after the Saints dropped a 2-1 decision to Waubonsie Valley in an Upstate Eight Conference match.
Approximately 35 former St. Charles players were in attendance, many who participated in the 4-3 alumni game before taking it easy at The House Pub in St. Charles.
"It was a pretty good turnout for the weather," Wienke said. "We picked the teams randomly to make them as even as possible and it was good to see the younger guys as well as the older guys out there."
C.J. Morgan (Class of 2000), who tied the score at 3-3 for the losers before Wienke's game-winner, was happy to be among his friends playing a sport he loves.
"It was a blast," Morgan said. "It's always good to come back especially with they program they've had and the guys who've made this program what it is."
This event would not have happened without the efforts of an alumni board of Gary Cole (1981), Phil Krahenbuhl (1997) and Morgan and G.J. Bellaver (2000). The success of a 25-year celebration of the St. Charles East girls soccer team in 2006, the school's desire to have a 30-year celebration for the boys, and the success of the St. Charles Alumni Winter Soccer Classic helped bring this event to life.
Bellaver has been organizing the Classic since 2003 as former St. Charles players meet at the St. Charles Sportsplex during the holiday season. While playing a sport they love, they reminisce and raise funds for Lazarus House, which provides shelter, food and support services for the homeless and those at risk in the area. This alumni game was similar as it reunited players to once again take the field and compete.
"It turned out real well," Krahenbuhl said. "We were happy with all the guys coming out. Coach (Tim) Dailey and Coach (Dave) Kintz and then Coach (Paul) Keenan will be out later."
Proud history
The Saints have been playing soccer as an IHSA sport since 1979.
"We're an official sport but we're responsible for our own financing," Dailey said in 1979. "The parents have put on a couple of fundraisers that were so successful that this year is already taken care of and we're working on next year."
Dailey, who coached the Saints until 1990, proved to be a visionary regarding the growth of soccer. During the Saints first season he said, "the real future of soccer in the area is the Tri-City Soccer Association."
Established in 1977, the Association is now the largest independent youth soccer organization in Northern Illinois and has more than 4,000 participants, many which are currently on high school rosters or soon will be.
It didn't take the Saints very long to make an impact as they qualified for the state tournament in 1983. They'd continue to make strides, advancing to the state tournament on several occasions before winning a pair of state championships during undefeated seasons in 1995 and 1996.
"I knew when I came here how fortunate I was," current coach Paul Jennison said. "There's a fantastic history of soccer, and between the guys and the girls I don't think there's a better school in the state as far as recognition for soccer.
"It's very exciting to be a part of and I want my guys to recognize the history and success. It's only fair to say thank you to these guys for representing us so well for the past 30 years."
Times have been a bit tough at St. Charles East since they took third place in 1997. While they've had winning seasons and won their 500th match as a program, they haven't reached the quarterfinals since then. Keenan left after the 1999 season and Jennison is the fourth different coach in the past 10 years.
"Times have changed with the splitting of the schools and it took a few years to adjust to that," Krahenbuhl said. "It seems like North has had better success lately but East has improved in the last couple years and with Coach Jennison they're heading in the right direction."
Best of the best
Daily Herald writer Chris Walker takes a look at 10 significant moments in St. Charles boys soccer history.
No. 1: Win No. 1 - Sept. 12, 1979.
After losing 3-2 to Glenbard North in the program's first-ever match on the previous Thursday, the Saints responded by blanking Notre Dame Niles, 6-0. Dave Arrowsmith and Mike DeWilde both scored twice while Bob Fee and Bruce Rasmussen also added goals.
No. 2: The First Elite Eight - Nov. 1, 1983.
The Malta Mustangs ended the Saints season in 1982 so when they met up in the sectional finals it was payback time. "We waited 12 months for this game," coach Tim Dailey said.
Goalkeeper Keith Molenaar only had to stop 4 shots on goal and he handled all of them. Offensively, six different Saints (Mike Miller, Todd Bixby, Ken Walsh, Clint Hull, Sam Mele and Brad Drawer) scored in the 6-0 victory that propelled the team to the state finals at Norris Stadium. Malta had yielded only 11 goals in their previous 22 matches before the Saints exploded for 6.
No. 3: Starting the Hardware Collection - Nov. 3, 1984.
A last-second goal by George Wendel forced overtime with St. Joseph in the battle for third place. Wendel, Kirk Stewart, Chad Buttell and Clint Hull would all score in the shootout while Saints' goalkeeper John Punis would plug up half of the Chargers' shootout attempts in a 3-2, double overtime victory.
No. 4: A Classic Versus The Winningest Program in the State - Nov. 3, 1990.
Zak Devore, Nick Ellberg, Kory Lange and Scott Murphy just couldn't get the Saints on the scoreboard in an incredible battle against Granite City which would go on to win its 10th state title. The Saints would settle for a fourth place trophy as they were also defeated by Palatine, 3-1, and would finish the season 23-3-3.
No. 5: Greetings and Salutations in the State Final Game - Nov. 9, 1991.
The Saints finally made their first appearance in the state final game during their seventh trip downstate. They'd knock out local rival Batavia in the sectionals and beat up Maine South 4-1 in the quarterfinals, but fell to Collinsville, 1-0, for the state title.
"We're as good as Collinsville," St. Charles coach Paul Keenan said. "Obviously, Collinsville's a good team. There was little to split the two teams. It wasn't meant to be tonight."
The Saints closed at 25-2-3.
No. 6: Granite City gets 'em Again - Nov. 4, 1994.
The Saints seemingly had things under control with a 2-0 lead against Granite City in the quarterfinals, but the Warriors clawed their way back and won 3-2 on penalty kicks in overtime.
"I'm devastated," Keenan said. "We had the game by the scruff of the neck. We were the better team. You've got to give them all the credit for coming back. It was one of the all-time great games, I think. I don't think I've seen many better."
The Saints fell to 0-3 lifetime against Granite City.
No. 7: We are the Champions! - Nov. 4, 1995.
Derek Wienke, Ryan Lindgren and David Kot scored to lead the Saints to their first state championship with a 3-0 victory over Evanston. Wienke, who hadn't scored all year and said he was waiting until the finals, did exactly that.
The Saints completed the third undefeated season in Illinois soccer history, finishing at 28-0-1.
"There's no doubt they're the best team," Evanston coach Randy DeRousse said.
The Saints simply barreled over the competition during the state series, outscoring teams 39-4 en route to the title.
No. 8: Let's go Back-to-Back Home - Nov. 9, 1996.
Playing at Norris Stadium, the Saints avenged their loss to Collinsville in the state finals of 1991 and won their second consecutive state title with a 2-0 victory. Brett Wienke's corner kick over the defense to an unmarked Derek Shanahan at the 69th minute put the Saints ahead.
"We played really, really well. We played with style, played with poise, played with class, played really, really hard," Keenan said.
Before winning it all, the Saints beat Libertyville and St. Viator in a pair of instant classic 1-0 matches.
No. 9: Third Place Instead of Three Straight - Nov. 8, 1997.
Edwardsville ended the Saints' hopes for a third consecutive state championship with a 2-0 victory in the semifinals.
The team regrouped in the third place game against Rockford Boylan, a match that saw both teams empty its benches to experience the state tournament. Derek Shanahan scored twice and Mike Murphy and Kevin Brady added goals in the 4-0 victory.
No. 10: Let the Jennison Era Begin - 2008.
It's been 12 years since the Saints last advanced downstate. Looking to get them back there these days is coach Paul Jennison. The England native took over the program last year and the Saints went 9-7-7 and lost to Lake Park in the first round of the Lake Park regional. They're playing well lately, having won 4 of their previous 5 matches.