Timothy Christian's Gesch likes state title this way better

Timothy Christian boys soccer coach Rudi Gesch has a unique perspective on championship moments.

On Saturday he directed Timothy's first boys state championship in history, won on Corey Phillip's fourth-overtime goal to beat Gibault Catholic 2-1 for the 1A title.

Gesch also won a state title as a player, in 1998 at Sheboygan County Christian High School in Wisconsin.

Gesch, who also played on an elite eight college soccer team at Trinity Christian, said it's more satisfying to coach a title team than to play on one.

"As a player you don't necessarily appreciate all the work that goes into it," said Gesch, whose Trojans will be honored at Saturday's Chicago Fire game. "You kind of show up, do your individual work and listen to what the coach says. That's kind of your role. But as a coach I was in charge of 24 guys by the end of the year, with the expanded roster. To finish this way is extremely rewarding. It's much more nerve-wracking, by the way.

"As a player you get to be out there and make a difference. As a coach you're on the sidelines and you hope that the decisions you've made in practice and the formations, the players you put on the field, you hope you put them in the right place at the right time."

Strike the pose

Illinois' 20 finalists have been announced for the Wendy's High School Heisman, which since 1994 has celebrated the best in prep academics, athletics, community service and school leadership.

The finalists - 10 girls, 10 boys - include Hinsdale Central's Toni Kokenis, captain of the 2008-09 DuPage County Daily Herald All-Area Girls Basketball Team; Downers Grove South's Kyle Freischlag; and Immaculate Conception's Will Cronin, quarterback of the Knights' 2008 Class 2A state championship football team.

Fast ascension

Neuqua Valley served as host for the Upstate Eight Conference girls swimming and diving championships. The Wildcats enjoyed the familiar scene and won the meet.

With that victory Neuqua Valley earned its 100th conference championship, pretty amazing for a school that is just now entering its 12th academic year competing in varsity team events.

What's up...

Tyler Jermann

Pictured is the Tyler Jermann whose locks once flowed shoulder-length. Now more aerodynamic, the Naperville North senior won the Class 3A St. Charles East boys cross country sectional on Saturday. In 2008 Jermann helped the Huskies win the 3A championship with his 16th-place overall finish, a leap from his 31st-place finish as a sophomore. Throw in Jermann's sixth-place finish in the 3,200-meter run at the Class 3A state track meet in May, and that's the reason why the son of Jerry and Linda Jermann will decide between Penn State, Iowa State and North Carolina State to compete at college.

Q. Tyler, you stand 5-foot-6 and weigh 125 pounds. Yet you said you played football in junior high, playing in the lower of two weight classes. Glad you switched to track and cross country?

A. Yes, very much.

Q. What changed your mind?

A. It was the end of eighth grade, the end of track season, and I got third at the conference meet (in the mile, at 5 minutes, 8 seconds).

Q. You played nose tackle in football?

A. I was just about 105 pounds, I was on the heavier side for the lightweight (class). I was pretty good. I could just about plow kids over.

Q. What's your fastest mile?

A. 4:24 as a junior.

Q. Is there a different mentality required from football to track or cross country?

A. There is a difference. I think I actually work a lot harder in cross country than I did in football, it may have been just because it was in junior high. I think in cross country it's less of a team kind of sport and more individual because you just run by yourself, rather than in football where everybody works as a team.

Q. What do you think of when you're out there on the course?

A. Mostly I'm focused on the race. But sometimes when I win races and when I'm out there by myself (ahead of the pack) my mind will wander - maybe thinking about what happened that day, what I'll do after the race.

Q. You could wear those neon orange Huskies track jerseys on hunting trips. You like the neon orange?

A. Oh yeah, I love it. It's just different from anyone else's and it sticks out.

Q. You said you're a captain on your cross country team. What's your disciplinary technique with the underclassmen?

A. I don't know, I yell at them. I've got to make sure they don't start walking on their runs, make sure they're not goofing off too much.

Q. What's the atmosphere like at the start of the state cross country meet, on that line with everyone else?

A. It's really tense, everyone's nervous. With the team, we try to stay loose, like crack a joke in the starting line to make sure everyone's not too worked up. Sometimes we try to plan something ahead of time to make sure it's good. But usually it's at the moment.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com