Barrington pulls out stops for champion soccer team

Barrington High School will hold a celebration today that's been more than two decades in the making.

The school's boys soccer team will get a tribute fit for a king during a parade through downtown Barrington and a pep rally to celebrate the team's first state title.

"It is going to be pretty neat," said Mike Obsuszt, Barrington's athletic director.

The celebration will start about 1:30 p.m. at the Barrington fire station, 400 N. Northwest Hwy.

Obsuszt said the team, with its state trophy in hand, will be loaded on a fire truck for a trip down Main Street to the high school.

"They will drive them through town with the sirens blaring," Obsuszt said.

Following the short parade, Obsuszt said, a schoolwide pep rally will be held to honor the team.

Such a celebration is not an everyday occurrence at the school, Obsuszt said.

"This is only the sixth state title (in any sport) in school history," he said.

Under the direction of head coach Scott Steib, the team earned its first state soccer title by winning three games during this weekend's state tournament at North Central College in Naperville.

The team knocked off Collinsville High 3-0 in the quarterfinals Friday night, then beat Hinsdale Central High 2-0 in the state semifinals Saturday morning.

On Saturday night, the team prevailed 2-1 in the championship match over Naperville's Neuqua Valley during a triple overtime thriller that lasted 106 minutes.

The soccer team ended the season with a 25-2 record.

For more information on the soccer team, visit www.barringtonsoccer.org/boys/default.htm.