Jaeschke: The obvious pick

The “distinguished panel of experts” that selects the all-area team and its captain would like to express its gratitude to outside hitter extraordinaire Thomas Jaeschke of Wheaton Warrenville South for making the task a little easier this year.

For the first time in the past decade, there is a unanimous selection for Daily Herald All-Area boys volleyball captain. When area coaches, players, writers and everyone on the panel were asked to name the best player in DuPage County this year, the enthusiastic answer was, “Why Thomas Jaeschke, of course.”

He led his team in kills with 360, put away 97 aces, had 60 blocks and came up with 180 digs.

The 6-foot-6 senior who led the Tigers to an undefeated 42-0 season and their seventh state title of the century, is generally regarded as the best player in Illinois and one of the best in the country, and he even draws comparisons to the great Sean Rooney, an Olympian and the Tigers’ star of a decade ago.

“Thomas is definitely one of the best players in the state in recent years,” said Wheaton Warrenville South coach Bill Schreier. “His all-around game is what separates him from the rest. He’s one of the best at serving, he can hit front and back row and he’s one of our best blockers and defensive players. He does a great job of impacting the overall match.”

Schreier claims that Jaeschke can play and excel at any position on the court.

“He has that good of an understanding of the game,” Schreier said. “He does a good job of reading what’s going on and processing the play very quickly. And he works hard to make the team better wherever he plays. He logs more hours watching films of our matches than everyone else.”

Jaeschke accepts all the accolades he receives with great humility and emphasizes how important chemistry is to the team’s success and how great his teammates have been in the quest for the Tigers first championship since 2009.

“We have a group of guys who brought it every day in practice,” Jaeschki said. “We have 12 seniors who came up together and we know each other and we get along so well. We’re close both on and off the court, the seniors and the underclassmen. Our chemistry is off the charts.”

He noted that the reserves played a big part in this championship season.

“There were days when the non-starters tore our first team apart,” he said. “They pushed us every day. They never let us settle. “

And he praised Schreier for his leadership and for his job of making the state title a team obsession after the disappointing 2011 exit from the playoffs when the Tigers lost to Naperville North in the sectional finals.

“Coach Schreier makes us what we are,” Jaeschke said. “His love of the game is unquestionable. He won’t let you let up and he brings out the best in everyone. He never let us forget that sectional final, especially in the last weeks of the season, when he kept reminding us that we haven’t won anything unless we go all the way. We were all dedicated to this team leaving its own legacy.”

In discussing the Jaeschke-Rooney comparisons, Schreier says he’s noticed some mannerisms shared by the two superstars, that they were both true captains who were the hardest workers and demanded excellence out of everyone.

“Thomas is not shy about confronting people,” Schreier said. “He and our other captains help keep everyone on task, and Thomas will call teammates out in practice if they’re not putting in their best effort.”

Jaeschke said the confrontations among teammates, whether he’s on the giving or receive end, are “no big deal” because everyone knows it’s not personal.

“Everybody accepts criticism,” Jaeschke said. “As a team everyone realizes that nothing is given to us and that we’ll be getting every team’s best shot. The open communications on the team is another example of our chemistry and our shared vision, especially this season.”

Jaeschke, who will be continuing his volleyball career at Loyola in the fall, has been named as an alternate for the Junior National Team that will be training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in August. His goal is to make the junior national team next year.

And by the way, Jaeschke is a five handicap golfer who shoots under 80 consistently. In his junior year he was a member of the Wheaton Warrenville South golf team.