Boys soccer: Konrad proved dominant at Naperville North

Ty Konrad thought he knew what to expect when he arrived at Naperville North four years ago.

But despite having a brother who recently played for the Huskies, an uncle who is also his coach and a former player/father who starred 30 years ago, he didn't truly know until he experienced it himself.

"I've been surprised with how much I've enjoyed this," he said. "This has been a lot more fun than I could have ever imagined, but it's flown by. I can't believe how fast these four years have gone by."

The only thing to go by faster is Konrad sprinting past opponents on the pitch. His blazing speed and what he does with it truly set him apart.

"He has unbelievable speed," Huskies senior Cesar Recendez said. "If he gets a chance to turn the defender, then that defender has no chance to catch him. He's got to be the faster player in the state with and without the ball."

Konrad, who will take his game to Ohio State next year, is the 2019 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area Boys Soccer Team Captain.

A special player

"From watching Ty play with his club team, I knew he was going to be special due to his athleticism, willingness to work and ability to get behind defenses," Huskies coach Jim Konrad said. "His growth in his first touch and ability to beat defenders off the dribble has been exceptional. He has developed into one of the most dominant players in Illinois history."

In the past four years the Huskies posted a 93-8-6 record, captured three state titles and four DuPage Valley Conference championships while Ty Konrad earned too many personal achievements to mention here, including all-state recognition again this fall.

"It feels like just yesterday I was a freshman," he said. "I got to play with a lot of older guys when I first started and what really stood out for me was they were never mean but were willing to get on each other to keep a good positive energy. We've been able to do the same thing this year."

He's the most decorated player in program history in terms of local and national awards, embracing the team motto of "nothing without work" while playing in 26 playoff games.

With 17 goals and 15 assists this fall, his four-year totals have been bumped up to 45 goals and 48 assists with the all-time assists breaking Jay Rensink's record that had lasted for over 30 years.

"What makes Ty a great player is his ability to read the game and how he can analyze the defense and break them down with either his dribbling ability or passing ability," Recendez said. "Since he has a lot of knowledge about the game he's able to talk to some of the guys and give them tips on how they can be a better player."

Always giving his best

One way is through hard work.

"He's a relentless worker," Huskies senior Zach Smith said. "I've never played a game where he was not giving 100% every single play, every second. You know when you're playing alongside him that you're going to be giving 100%."

It's the only way he knows how to play.

"I just work as hard as I can every minute I'm on the field," he said. "Good things seem to happen when I do that."

A sport can consume an individual to the point that it defines their entire life. While that can prove overwhelming, the greatest high school student-athletes find and maintain a nice balance so they can enjoy their teenage years. Konrad has found such a balance, and as a leader, his teammates have learned that from him as well.

"The thing that really makes him unique would have to be his personality and him always being himself," Recendez said. "Every day at practice he's just making everyone around him laugh and brings smiles to his teammates' faces. Outside of soccer he's the same person. He loves to play video games and hang with his friends, but when it's time to focus and lead by example, he's locked in."

After last year's perfect season the Huskies had to figure out how to respond to adversity this year. They lost to Morton on Aug. 31 and saw their 47-game unbeaten streak end. Several days later and they lost to Geneva at home.

Suddenly, the Huskies were no longer invincible. But they responded by winning 16 of 18 while capturing regional and sectional trophies.

"It was alarming but nice to come back," Ty Konrad said. "You want to come together and be at your best at the end of the season. We had some individual and team reflection and figured out what we were doing wrong, fixed it and got back on track. We found a way to do that and bounced back and made another run in the playoffs."

The team's bid for a fourth straight Class 3A championship ended in a PK shootout against Morton in a supersectional.

It wasn't the ending the Huskies were hoping for, but nothing great lasts forever.