Dylan Healy steps forward as leader for defending state champion Naperville North

Naperville North senior midfielder Dylan Healy cherishes the memory of winning the Class 3A state championship last season.

Few of his current teammates can relate to the feeling. Healy, a Kenyon commit, is the lone returning starter for the Huskies and one of several with significant varsity minutes.

“The experience was awesome,” Healy said. “The whole school got involved with the different events we had to celebrate our win.”

The state title was the Huskies’ fourth in the past decade and fifth overall. Healy, a third-year starter and second-year co-captain, is laser-focused on the reload.

“The idea that we won state is amazing, but now obviously I’m passing it down to the younger kids,” he said. “I tell them it’s not easy because we worked our (rears) off to get there.

“I tell them you have to work hard and you have to go day by day because even though the season is super short, each day feels long, and they need to keep putting in the work to get there.”

Healy has worked hard ever since he joined the Huskies as a sophomore. After playing academy as a freshman, he was the understated but not underappreciated understudy on the most talented roster in the state for two seasons.

Healy is the lone headliner this time around.

“He’s always led by example,” Konrad said. “But last year into this year you see him blossoming into a true leader in every way.”

Healy’s maturation will be vital for the Huskies.

“We need it this year,” Konrad said. “It’s the youngest we’ve ever been in my career, so it’s going to take a lot to match what we’ve done over the last 20 years.”

Healy is up to the challenge. He contributed one goal and nine assists as a defensive-minded midfielder last season but is looking to attack more.

“I’m going to be a goal scorer, at least the one creating the chances,” Healy said. “I’ll probably be combining a lot with Will Boniface. He’s a good goal scorer.”

Boniface, a senior forward, had four goals and two assists off the bench in 2025. He’s looking forward to connecting with Healy.

“It’s going to be awesome because we already have team chemistry,” Boniface said. “I know I’m going to be seeing a lot of balls from him, and he’s going to have a lot of assists, I hope.”

Boniface is close with Healy off the field as well.

“He’s a great guy,” Boniface said. “He’s not only a great player, but he’s a great leader. He’s one of my best friends.

“We’re playing pickup on weekends to get everyone practicing, so it’s really nice. I think we all benefited from it.”

That’s just one example of how Healy has become the straw that stirs the drink for the Huskies. Konrad said Healy is a lower-key version of 2026 graduate Sam Hess, who plays at Indiana.

“Dylan is a little different style but kind of the same mindset of doing the right thing all the time,” Konrad said. “Just like Sammy did, he’s going to work harder than everybody else on the field.

“If he makes mistakes, he’ll be the first one to say he made a mistake.”

Healy will continue a family tradition when he suits up for Kenyon. His parents, Jay and Joanna, played at West Florida.

Healy, who has a 4.19 weighted GPA, aspires to become an investment banker. He found Kenyon’s campus attractive and likes the fact that several players and assistant Billy Castro have ties to the Chicago area.

“I’m proud of Dylan for making the choice to play soccer as he pursues a great academic situation,” Konrad said. “And as a huge Harry Potter fan, I think Kenyon looks like Hogwarts.”

Before matriculating, Healy wants to add one more memorable chapter to a magical high school career.

“It went by in a blink, but it is pretty exciting because I’ve been to state,” Healy said. “This is my third year, so I have a lot of knowledge with the team and the league that we play in.

“We have a bunch of new guys, so hopefully I can help them have the same experience that I did.”