Boys soccer: Lake County all-area team
Christian Avitia Wauconda
Wauconda needed a strong midfielder and got one in Avitia. But his biggest strength turned out on how he handled the ball. “You couldn't take the ball away from him,” Wauconda coach Terry Stevig said. “When he got the ball, he almost never gave it up. He distributed the ball well to the corners. He was one to play both defense and on offense. Just a real good leader on the team.”
Andrew Bitta Libertyville
Working hard in the off-season helped; then Bitta took another step and edned up being one of the better goalkeepers in the area, helping Libertyville to a most successful season. Bitta had an impressive .8 goals-against average before Wednesday's sectional semifinal victory, with 8 shutouts. “He grew into the position physically and mentally,” Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. “He worked hard on the fundamentals and has gone from an average keeper to a top keeper.” During the season, Bitta made 4 penalty kick stops.
Evan Borden Vernon Hills
Someone to rely on when Vernon Hills needed a goal, Borden led the Cougars with 11 goals this season. And he worked hard to get them. “He was competitive on the ball and would find a way to finish,” Vernon Hills coach Shannon Etnyre said. “He had defenders play on his ankles at times, hanging on, and still found ways to score.” Borden, a three-sport athlete, also plays basketball and volleyball.
Brandon Brown Warren
Nothing could keep Brown off the field. He battled an ankle injury and still played in 22 of 24 games. Brown scored 6 goals and added 12 assists for the Blue Devils. Over a four-year span , Brown accumulated 34 assists, a school record. “He really had a nice ability and could service balls inside the 6,” Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. “He's one that could also help out on both sides of the field.”
Ryan Crane Stevenson
Crane gave Stevenson a lift with outstanding leadership qualites for a relatively young Patriots team. He accepted that the role and it fit perfectly for him. “He matured to carry the team,” Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. “A lot was shown by his character. By far he was our most productive offensive player (9 goals and 8 assists) and led the team on and off the field. I thought he was a faster player with the ball than without it.”
Alex Grimm Antioch
Playing as the last man meant a lot for Antioch. Grimm stood tall many times between in goal and never let his guard down. He had a goals-against average of .87 and recorded 12 shutouts this season. “Without (Grimm), we lose half our games,” Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. “He put the team on his shoulders and ate up the competition. His saves could be 3 or 4 in a row, and he played much bigger than 5-foot-5.” Grimm also plays basketball and baseball.
Peter Gambino Stevenson
Stevenson lost a lot of talent from the year before, but Gambino made sure the Patriots wouldn't go into a tailspin. He picked up things up defensively in the sweeper role, one the team needed to fill. “He put the team on his back defensively,” Stevenson coach Mark Schartner said. “He led an entirely new defense.” Gambino helped the team to 11 wins, which included 7 shutouts, and also produced 7 assists off dead balls.
Zach Guthrie Mundelein
If there was one player Mundelein truly relied on, it was Guthrie. The Mustangs' defense had a strong leader in the back that led by example, game in and game out. “He did a great job directing the defense,” Mundelein coach Dake Ekstrom said. “A great player in the air, and strong on one-on-ones defensively. One player who rarely made a mistake and could always save the day.”
Marshall Hollingsworth Libertyville
Libertyville has had a successful season, as runner-up in the Pepsi Showdown and a sectional championship appearance forthcoming. One of the big reasons was the production of Hollingsworth. “He has a strong work ethic and he's very powerful,” Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. “He gives more than 100 percent at a strong pace. Teams can't keep up with him.”
Sam Kaplan Liberrtyville
Nobody worked harder than Kaplan, and sometimes he paid for that. Kaplan fought through a concussion earlier in the season, had a bloody nose after a ball to the face during the Pepsi Showdown final, and played through a painfully swollen foot. “He still goes out and plays through it all,” Libertyville coach Andy Bitta said. “He has great vision in the back, starts a lot of our offense and is a very physical player. He carries a win-win attitude, he's very competitive and he loves soccer.”
Arnaud Laroche-Bataille Grayslake North
The Knights were a young team, but one of those youngster who played more like an upperclassman was Laroche-Bataille. “An all-around player, and one who could do everything for the team,” Grayslake North coach Adam DeCaluwe said. “He led by example just a fast player. He knew how to support and shut down the opposing team's best players. A much-needed player in the back at the stopper position.”
Caleb Longenecker Grayslake Central
One of the smartest players both on the field and off, Longenecker led the Rams in scoring with 10 goals and 5 assists. In the classroom, he carries a 4.2 GPA on 4.0 scale. A four-year starter for the Rams, he's led the team in scoring the last two years. “He always had a knack for scoring goals,” Grayslake Central coach Mike McCaulou said. “He knew where to be and found ways to score. Just a well-rounded player.”
Nathan McMahon Lakes
Durability and stability are important in keeping a defense together, and McMahon was an integral part of the Lakes defense. He played in all 22 games this season and 70 over the last three years. “He did a great part of anchoring the defense,” Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. “He's great in marking, cutting off passes and winning balls in the air. Offensively, he delivered passes anywhere on the field and stretched out opposing defenses.”
Andrew Noda Grant
One of the quickest forwards for Grant over the last few years, Noda gained respect by scoring 17 goals and producing 7 assists. He was a four-year starter and was selected to be a part of the Chicago Fire Academy team. “He has very devastating speed,” Grant coach Shane Rivette said. “He goes right at the defenders and finishes with both feet. One with a great knowledge of the game. The best part is, he's very strong and has accurate finishing shots.”
Juan Perez Antioch
Over the last few years, Perez has contributed mostly on defense. He moved from sweeper last year into the stopper role this fall. Nothing changed much, except perhaps that Perez got even better. “He's the most consistent player on the team,” Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. “Just one that leads by example. Strong in the back, so smart and hard to beat one on one. He wins a lot of balls and can distribute them, so he's also an offensive threat.”
Javier Ramirez Mundelein
Ramirez made the switch from preventing goals to scoring them. He finished with 27 and dished out 10 assists, the second most productive goal-scoring season in Mustangs history behind 1981 graduate Jonathan Zetada with 31. “Outstanding and dangerous,” Mundelein coach Dave Ekstrom said of Ramirez. “A fast player that can use either foot and be a game-changer. Just as fast with the ball than without the ball.” Ramirez moved up front because keeper Matt Iwaniuk returned back to the goal after playing club ball.
Colin Rathe Lake Zurich
You may have seen Rathe either in a defensive role or at forward, depending on the game, but either way he was a great asset for the Bears. “Rathe had different speed than most players,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “We needed a player like him and he exceeded our expectations. But we needed him in the back and he ran with it. He also found himself in the box and scored off headers.”
Jordi Rubio Round Lake
Rubio couldn't survive through just one game jersey and ended up needing a second one. His competitiveness was a big part of the Panthers' third straight North Suburban Prairie Division title and two regional championships over the last three years. Rubio contributed 27 goals and 15 assists. “A workaholic,” Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. “He takes it literally like a job and pours his heart out there. He took a lot of rips and tears from defenses pulling on his jersey and saw a lot of double teams. But he would connect with other players . He knows the team comes first and assists are more important than a goal.”
Jimmy Ryan Carmel
Carmel needed a go-getter when it came to scoring. Ryan jumped at the chance numerous times, scoring 15 goals to go with 8 assists. “He was multi-talented,” Carmel coach John Halloran said. “He had a strong season. He added technical parts to his game and fell into a lot of roles for the team.”
Mauricio Salgado Round Lake
When Salgado stepped on the field, he looked like an average player. Then the game began, and he looked anything but average. Salgado secured the middle for the Panthers, scored 12 goals with 10 assists. “He looked like a laid-back type of guy,” Round Lake coach Hugo Tellez said. “When the whistle blew, he was different and worked hard for 80 minutes. Just an unselfish player and worked well in different rotations for us. He also can shoot with either foot from long range and was dangerous.”
Brenden Seeger Lake Zurich
Seeger made plenty of noise up front and opposing defenses had some problems turning down the volume. “A world of talent,” Lake Zurich coach Mike Schmitz said. “He had the ability to put pressure on the other team's defense. He could also turn the corner and created chances to score. He could pick up the tone and make other teams notice him out there.”
Oscar Segura Antioch
Antioch had one of the hardest-working players around in Segura. He not only scored, but also distributed and defended with flair. Segura contributed 15 goals and 13 assists. “A playmaker on and off the ball ,” Antioch coach Marni Polakow said. “Most players don't have the ability to assist and pass it off often. A player that would be everywhere and would never quit. He always wanted to get the ball and would find a way to get it.”
Jonathan Stanley Lakes
Playing up top for Lakes, Stanley flew to the forefront and led the team with 14 goals and 5 assists. Stanley scored against the better teams, including Libertyville, and had impressive hat trick recently over Wauconda in leading the team to a regional championship. “He is tough on the ball and he is able to hold off defenders with his adept skill and strength,” Lakes coach Kevin Kullby said. “He is humble, unassuming and is the consummate team player.”
Jack Stefanski Carmel
Carmel's dependable leader settled the Corsairs' defense and had a calming influence. “He was our leader in back,” Carmel coach John Halloran said. “He really meant a lot to the program. Read the game very well, passionate, and would never back down to the opponent's best players. He was vocal and competitive back there.”
Michal Szczepanek Warren
Michal Szczepanek stepped in toward the middle of the season when Warren needed help in the middle. The results were anything but middling as the Blue Devils produced a stellar season-ending run. “He filled in a big hole for us in the middle,” Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. “He's got great senior leadership, great ball skills and was very consistent in the midfield. He learned how to play that role.”
Brady Walsh Warren
One big save led to another for Walsh, and Warren's confidence grew with him. Walsh was one of the big reasons the Blue Dvils finished 8-1-3 over their last 12 games and captured a second straight North Suburban Conference championship. “The defense had a lot of confidence in him,” Warren coach Jason Ahonen said. “Nothing surprises me about him, but others got excited watching him make the numerous saves. He had a lot of toughness and played almost every minute this season.”
Honorable mention
Jake Changelon (Lake Zurich Sr. F), Andy Clark (Vernon Hills Sr. GK), Jeremy Cohen (Vernon Hills Fr. D/MF), Jose Corral (Lake Zurich Sr, MF), Luis Corral (Lake Zurich Sr. D), Lorenzo Cortez (Round Lake Sr. MF), Max Dexheimer (Lakes Sr. D), Esteban Diaz (Grant Sr. D), Shane Einloth (Carmel Sr. D), Jose Garcia (Round Lake Sr. MF), Justin Gibbons (Carmel Jr. MF), Asa Goldsmith (Grayslake Central Jr. D), Joe Istavanek (Lakes Sr. D), Matt Iwaniuk (Mundelein Sr. GK), Richard Klarck (Grayslake North Sr. GK), Todd Kovin (Stevenson Sr. MF), Jeff Kreutz (Lake Zurich Jr. GK), Taylor Krumpos (Antioch Sr. D), Tom Langbein (Lakes Jr. F), Gerard Ledvora (Wauconda Sr. D), Ricky Lekakh (Stevenson Jr. MF/F), Phillip Longenecker (Grayslake Central So. MF), Quentin Low (Stevenson So. GK), Daniel Marcos (Mundelein Sr. D), Gabriel Marcos (Mundelein Sr. MF), Miles McNeir (Libertyville Sr. F), Sintayehu Meyer (Grayslake North So. MF/F), Dave Mrnak (Antioch Sr. MF), Chris Myers (Grayslake North Sr. MF), Aaron Ogunro (Carmel Sr. MF), Anthony Pecorini (Grant Sr. GK), Andrew Piotrowski (Warren Sr. D), TJ Poll (Carmel So. D), Luis Rodarte (Wauconda Sr. MF), Edgar Rodruguez (Round Lake So. F), Joey Ruppert (Libertyville Jr. D), Emilio Salinas (Grant Sr. MF), Patrick Schulz (Warren Jr. D), Daniel Szczepanek (Warren So. MF), Matt Tomback (Vernon Hills Sr. D/MF), Abraham Valadez (Round Lake Jr. D), Brian Werchek (Lakes Fr. F)