Elmhurst school celebrates state title

For the first time in its 99-year history, a boys team at Timothy Christian High School can say it's a state champion.

But this was no ordinary title run for the soccer team.

After a two-overtime win in the semifinal, the team had to endure four overtimes Saturday before a goal by junior captain and forward Corey Phillip clinched the Class 1A state crown.

"It was very tiring," Phillip said. "But going into that last game, we were pretty confident."

On Tuesday, the hard work and endurance paid off for Phillip and his teammates during a pep rally at the Elmhurst school attended by a sea of red-clad students. Cheer squads performed and coaches thanked the fans during the rally.

But Phillip took them back to the semifinal game against Peoria Christian.

"To have two Christian schools together in the semifinals was awesome," Phillip said. "That was really cool to have them down there."

After a game that was preceded by a jersey exchange among the players, the two teams knelt in prayer.

Moments such as those, as well as the adversity faced in the final game, brought the squad closer together, Phillip said.

"We just really went together well," Phillip said. "It was like a brotherhood."

The win came one year after the Trojans fell just shy of the championship, falling in the state final game.

Athletic director Jim Woudstra said he was proud of the team and happy they brought home the championship.

"Any time your kids excel, it's not always about the championships," he said. "But to see them work hard and the way it worked out for them, that's exciting."