Boys soccer: Lake County All-Area captain Sereno finishes record-setting four years with 98 goals
The hardest — but most important — part of soccer is to put the ball into the back of the net.
This makes strikers the most valuable assets in the sport.
Some teams find ways to spread their goals around the team, but others tend to have the most prolific men leading the way.
Ivan Sereno is one of those young men.
The goal-hungry and the amazing assist Grayslake Central senior has netted an astounding 98 goals, while adding another 82 helpers during a brilliant four-year career on his way to being named the 2025 captain of the Daily Herald’s Lake County All-Area boys soccer team.
"The first thing I thought after finding out that I would be the Daily Herald All-Area captain (was) it could never had happened if not for my teammates," said Sereno.
"I'll take a lot of great memories with me, but the one that stands out most is my freshman year (2022) when we went to state, finished third, scored two goals in that third-place game, and had the chance to play with my brother (Raymond) and cousin Damian that year."
Damian Sereno would join his cousin as an all-state player this season.
“The decision that my cousin Damian and I made to come back for one more season at Central (instead) of playing club was the best decision both of us made," said Ivan Sereno, who is still sifting through his college destination next fall.
Sereno can score, drop deep to defend, create, move out wide, run the channels, all with a blend of pace, poise, control and so much more that allows him to be utterly undependable.
As evidenced by his 98 goal haul in just 78 games during his extraordinary four years, it's no wonder he has a resume of postseason honors longer than his arm.
"Ivan stands out as the most gifted goal scorer I've even been around,“ said Grayslake Central coach Keith Andersson. ”Plus it’s his technical control, creative genius with the ball, touch, and vision that can be nothing short of magical at times."
Sereno, among his many accolades, has been named all-state twice, four times all-NLCC, the 2025 NLCC Player of the Year, and just recently, IHSA All-Regional, just missing out on All-American honors
His six game-winners this season gives him 20 for his career, while a six-goal game against North Chicago was among his career highlights.
"Ivan has meant everything to our program, from day one he's been a leader, who shows up, works hard, and makes everyone around him better,“ Andersson said. ”What truly has set him apart as a leader, is his work ethic, and terrific balance between athletics and his academics.
"He applies that same focus, discipline and drive in the classroom that he demonstrates on the pitch, making him an outstanding representative of our program, and leader of this team. Personally, it will be difficult to say goodbye to Ivan, because of the impact he's made on all of us, plus the community."