April 2009 Archives

Sorry I haven't written to you in awhile, I know you've missed hearing from me. You know how much I love you.

I just wanted to say hi and keep this short and sweet. I know you are busy watching YouTube videos or whatever you do in the Bloomington Ivy Tower. I was thinking the other day - yes, I know a scary thought. But the common sense fairy dropped by my brain and this thought appeared...

There are three easy ways to give a player - win or lose - some positive pub:
312-321-2247
312-321-0122 (fax)
preps@chicagosuntimes.com/joetrost@hotmail.com

But we have a number of coaches out there who continue not to do it. They're either:
A. Lazy and don't care
B. Haven't thought about allowing a parent or player to phone in results
C. Don't have a clue
D. Just forgot one time

When I first started covering high school soccer as a college freshman, I always wondered why a high school coach couldn't take a few minutes to give a player or two some positive pub - win or lose. Even when a team loses, there is always a player or two a coach can plug. Coaches would complain soccer wasn't covered as much as football and basketball, but yet they weren't helping their own cause by making sure results and highlights got in.

What I started to learn was that after I listed coaches who weren't reporting results, coaches were ticked off I was calling them out.

But I'll never forget taking a call from John Burke, former boys and girls soccer coach at Richards. Richards was known more for its football, basketball and softball teams, and many thought Burke was just going through the motions collecting a paycheck. I called him out in a column for being lazy, along with a number of other coaches throughout the South Suburbs.

Marx Succes - yes, that's with one 's' - is bringing success back to Evanston. After a few quiet years from the colorful coach, the Wildkits have a chance to take another step in the right direction Wednesday with a win at Maine South.

For one reason or another, Succes always felt I picked on his team during its 2002 state title run - even after I picked Marisa Brown as Player of the Year over Oswego's Julianne Sitch, who went on to star at DePaul, with the National Team and is now in the WPS. Lord only knows what he would've thought of me if I didn't pick Brown, who was a very, very good high school player who continued her career at Wisconsin.

Sadly, Succes didn't know at the time that I'm hard on the best - every year. Just ask New Trier coach Jim Burnside or Lincoln-Way East coach Brian Papa. Those are just two coaches that can tell you first hand I'm hard on the best. I expect more - I expect superstar status. Is it unfair? Maybe. But when you are expected to be the best, I expect you to be that much better.

Along with his colorful confidence, I've always respected Succes. He expects the best, wants to be the best and is willing to do anything for his kids to be the best.

Weather + tournaments can equal a bad thing in the spring. But despite the challenges of rescheduling two games, Naperville Invitational officials did just that in order to give players an equal opportunity to advance to the prestigious Final Four this weekend at Naperville Central.

It's never easy and it creates extra work, but it was the right thing to do for everyone involved.

Hats off to everyone for going the extra step for all the kids involved.

Additional information regarding the tournament may be found at http://sites.google.com/site/napervillecentralgirlssoccer/naperville-invitational.

Maine South's Jenna Shemky (left) was kept overnight at Lutheran General after being taken off on a stretch during the first half of Monday's loss to New Trier.

"They kept her overnight for observations," Maine South coach JJ Crawford said. "She's still there, however nothing is broken. So that's the great news. I have no idea how long she'll be out."

Shemky is the latest area player to be hurt this season. Why is it happening so much this spring?

Poor field conditions or are injuries just more common in girls soccer compared to boys? While some are freak accidents, a number of injuries I believe are caused by fatigue. And whether that's because teams are playing too many games in a short span or club doesn't give players enough time off throughout the year, that's up for debate.

As of April 26
1. Lake Forest 9-0-1 (1)
• First true test comes against Loyola today
2. Neuqua Valley 12-2 (2)
• Eileen Dyle helps beat L-Way East
3. St. Charles North 4-0-2 (3)
Alecia Natale follows rebound and scores
4. Carmel 11-1 (5)
• Janssen, Hauser are two players people need to see
5. Huntley 13-1-1 (7)
Bre Burry handing out the helpers
6. Naperville North 9-1-2 (8)
•Beat Waubonsie, lost to Neuqua, tied Nap. Central
7. Waubonsie Valley 8-3 (10)
• Kiki McClellan's hustle sparks Warriors
8. Wheaton Warrenville S. 9-1-1 (9)
• Neuqua Valley knocks Tigers from unbeatens
9. Loyola 12-1-1 (6)
• Can Suhey and Co. slay another powerhouse?
10. Glenbrook South 9-1-3 (4)
• Evanston hands Titans first loss
Others: Hinsdale Central, Plainfield North, Naperville Central, Barrington, H-F, Maine South, New Trier, Cary-Grove.

You may think the image to the left is missing, but it's not.

The image tells the story of what the Naperville Invitational made countless players feel like with a ridiculous decision on Saturday. A tournament that refers to itself as the premier tournament in Illinois each spring once again showed how unprepared it is.

Instead of using common sense and putting players first, it made a number of players feel like they're nonexistent.

Avi Stopper, former coach at the University of Chicago and founder of www.CaptainU.com - a Chicago-based company that makes recruiting software for high school athletes, their parents, and club and high school coaches - will be providing recruiting insight for coaches and players throughout the spring season.

All it takes is a second to give some kids positive pub - win or loss. Three different and easy ways to report results:

312-321-2247
312-321-0122 (fax)
preps@chicagosuntimes.com

If a coach can't do it, let an assistant, parent or player phone it in.

List of coaches who don't report scores - win or lose - will begin running Tuesday.

Stay tuned.

I'm happy for the Naperville Invitational today.

Want to know why? Because the weather is going to be perfect for some great soccer Saturday. There have been countless years I've covered the Naperville Invite and froze or dodged a massive rain storm. (Make sure to check out Thursday's blog for tournament web site information.) Good teams, great players and they all deserve your support.

But if you can't get out to Naperville, at least get out somewhere. Go see Mother McAuley's Jessica Martinez (left) play at Downers North or head to St. Ignatius to see the Wolfpack battle Loyola. Support the sport, support the kids. You can't use the weather as an excuse this time.

I'll be in St. Louis supporting the Cubs. Enjoy the weekend.

This is a big week for Loyola. Actually, a huge week for the Ramblers.

Despite winning the Pepsi Showdown, knocking off the top three seeds, there are still some who are wondering just how good Loyola really is. On the first weekend of the Pepsi Showdown, New Trier coach Jim Burnside told me how impressed he was after watching them play Glenbrook South.

"They're solid in the back," said Burnside, who wasn't the only coach praising Loyola.

Through 12 games this season, Loyola has allowed a mere three goals playing good competition. Sophomore goalie Carly Stevens has nine shutouts and a .27 goals-against average. In front of Stevens, Joeclyn Festl, Kathleen Carroll, Grace Smith, Emily Blabolil and Ashley Wickey have been rock solid. Wickey is the lone senior in that group.

If you still doubt coach Craig Snower's crew, pay attention to its next three games - Thursday vs. Maine South, Saturday vs. St. Ignatius and Monday vs. Lake Forest.

If they do well and you still doubt them after that, well....find a lake and jump in it.

Here is an email I received. Please take a moment to read and help:

"Hi, My name's Kasia Szymanska, and I'm a senior at Elmwood Park High School. I got your email address from Mr. Ryan Kearns, the girls soccer coach. I'm writing to you because the Social Studies Club I'm in charge of is planning on conducting a collection for the kids of Afghanistan, and we might need your assistance. The club sponsor's brother is currently serving in Afghanistan, and he mentioned to the club sponsor multiple times that the Afghani kids always ask the soldiers for soccer balls, which is what we want to collect and send over to Afghanistan. Since you were partly in charge of the Pepsi Showdown that took place at my school, we thought you might be able to help us somehow? We're trying to look for some donors, and thought that maybe the Pepsi Showdown would be able to help. Hope you'll be able to help us out. Thank you for your time, Kasia Szymanska"

Please send any donations by May 30 - one, two or 10, used or new soccer balls - to: Elmwood Park High School, attn: Ryan Kearns, 8201 W. Fullerton Ave., Elmwood Park, IL 60707.

To learn about the sport and appreciate how far high school girls soccer has come, you have to learn from the past.

Think about it - it wasn't until 1988 that the IHSA had a tournament for the sport.

Look at this photo to the above of the 1997 St. Charles state championship team. Back row far left you have coach Joe Moreau, who is now coaching at Neuqua Valley. Now look at that same row and move five players to the right - there's Anne Poulin, who is now an assistant coach at St. Charles North.

So who else was coaching the IHSA Final Four that spring - New Trier's Jim Burnside (third) and Palatine's Willie Filian. And guess what - they're still around, as is Moreau's assistant coach, Sue Soderberg (back row far right).

Coaches and players complain all the time about having too many games in a short span during a week in the spring. It's not a matter of playing too many games in a season - kids want to play.

It's a matter of scheduling, and It's time for schools to allow teams to use Sundays for rescheduled matches. The health and safety of players is more important than anything. It's not going to be every Sunday, it might only be one each season. But athletic directors who keep squeezing five games in six days or four games in five days need to be taken in an alley and beaten. I'll provide the common sense bat.

If the folks in the Bloomington Ivy Tower are going to continue to have soccer starting and finishing earlier than what it should, athletic directors and/or coaches need to think of the health and safety of players. Professional soccer doesn't play three games a week, so why is high school?

It's time to get over this not playing on Sunday issue, too. There are seven days a week, and schools host other events on Sundays - so why not athletic events? Travel would be easier, buses would be cheaper and more sites would be open.

But why high school educators continue to do this to kids - forcing too many games in a week - is beyond belief. And the first person who says Sunday family time to me, I'm going to pull the common sense bat out on you. Here's the common sense disclaimer, too - I didn't say every Sunday and family time can be spent watching your favorite player or coach.

If you are looking for stories and results from Sunday's event at Concordia University in River Forest, here are a couple links:

Stories:
http://www.mchenrycountysports.com/articles/2009/04/20/r_hiu6oph3sxyxurhbqufm1q/index.xml

http://www.mchenrycountysports.com/articles/2009/04/20/r_lcteyrsrr3azwdq1udna/index.xml

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/girls_soccer/1534659,041909-girls-soccer-pepsi-college-showcase.article

Photos:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/cs-prepsoccergallery,0,5559709.photogallery

Broadcast highlights:
Highlights will air on Sports Weekly on Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:30pm. For additional air dates and times you can visit www.CN100.tv

Loyola soccer star Allison Suhey (left) talks about her famous father, her college choice, winning the MVP award at the Pepsi Showdown and her dislike for New Trier in this week's Q & A spotlight.

Ckicks notes will be posted on Friday, but I wanted throw this out for early discussion because I know it will create some...I mean a lot.

Now remember, there are some bad coaches, bad parents and some bad reporters - so let's not use this to rip on officials. It's the toughest position on any field at any given moment.

Here's the debate:
1. Should officials be paid more?
2. Should every soccer game in the state have three officials for every game?
3. How often should officials be retested?
4. What do you like most about some of the best officials?

For years, high school soccer has been buried and beaten down at times. It's time for the sport and the thousands of players to be in the spotlight.

This Sunday kicks off the first-ever Pepsi College Showcase at Concordia University in River Forest. From college coaches and all major media including ComcastSports, they'll all be in attendance to see eight of the area's best teams at one site. These events will continue in the fall and next spring, allowing different teams to play one another on an invite-only basis at local colleges.

Here is Sunday's Pepsi College Showcase schedule:
Glenbrook South vs. H-F, 9:30
Cary-Grove vs. Loyola, 11:15
Fenwick vs. Jacobs, 1
Huntley vs. St. Charles North, 2:45

The email responses I received Wednesday were actually very interesting in regards to coaches and schedules. It was amazing to see some of the stories, and then to see some of the responses from coaches who say they'll play anyone. Some of the stuff surprised me, while other information I've heard numerous times before. Past and present parents also had some insight, too.

What I thought was most interesting is that no one wanted to post their responses. I respect their wishes, but I think it shows what I'm talking about a little.

Nevertheless, I'm walking into a fire storm with this next issue, but I think this is really interesting and something that has changed a lot over the past decade.

Let's start easy: Should teams play on religious holidays?

Then I want you to ask yourself: At the end of the day, do the kids, who the sports are there for, really care if they play on a religious holiday or is this just another case of adults being too involved?

And finally is this a correct or incorrect statement: Jewish holidays have become more important than Catholic holidays when it comes to whether sports are played or not played?

For years, I've listened to some high school coaches preach how high school soccer is more than just soccer, more than just wins and losses on the field.

They'll tell you it's about playing for the community, having kids walk down the hallway and say something about the game last night. It's about bonding and creating life-long memories.

You know something - they are 110 percent correct.

But I've also watched some of these same coaches hold grudges, not play some kids on the team the entire year and refuse to look at the entire picture to help girls soccer. The kicker is when some of these same coaches nail club coaches, saying they are doing it for the money, I always want to say to some, "You are making $10,000 plus to coach this season aren't you?"

(Not true in all cases, but a lot of high school coaches are making a nice buck through the season and with camps.)

So what's the point, Trost? A lot of coaches give lip service, but it's time for them to back it up and help the sport.

The "Haves" and "Have-Nots."

Or maybe I should say the coaches who think they are with the "cool" programs and then the coaches who are trying to hang with the "cool" programs.

For years, high school soccer in the Chicago area has hurt itself with teams refusing to play different teams. The way the IHSA seeds its tournament only encourages it more and more, and on Monday I was once again reminded of who is cool and who is not.

So here's my question for you - why do the cool programs have such a problem with playing up-and-coming programs?

I know, and I'll tell you why. But first, I want to hear your thoughts.

On my flight back from St. Louis on Saturday evening I thought, "Why is every girls soccer team having so many issues this season?" From 1,001 different Spring Breaks, weather, ODP commitments, suspensions and other things, I don't know if I've seen one team in person that's had a complete squad.

For example, Neuqua Valley was without Alexa Gaul (groin strain, left) and Megan Oyster (U.S. National Camp, right) during its 2-1 loss to Nerinx Hall Saturday at the College Showcase in St. Louis. I've always thought the IHSA needs to push the start of the girls soccer season back, but instead it moved it up to late February. The first girls soccer game should be no sooner than April.

Push the season back a week or two to start and it would be April 1. I know it makes the folks in the Bloomington Ivy Tower work an extra week in June, but it's time to do what's best for the sport and the kids. The IHSA vacation plans can wait a week.

But that would be common sense.

As I sit here and write this from New Trier, where the Trevians are moments from taking on upstart Glenbrook South, I just thought about why I love coming to New Trier.

It's all about the Diary Queen right off the Edens Expressway on Lake St. There's nothing like a large chocolate blizzard before watching a game on the premier grass field in Illinois. (Well, it is a little rough in spots this spring I must admit.)

But the trip also reminds me to how messed up things are in Illinois. Here are this week's Ckicks...

A new policy is now in place for blogs. Following in the footsteps of what Taylor Bell put in place last year, names and email addresses are now required for responses. While some people have been blocked by the system already, because of language and responses, many people have no problem putting their name on responses.

I've always thought that's the way it should be anyways. And now, it's policy. Pretty basic, common sense stuff.

As you sit here reading today's blog, I want you to look at the front-page photo to the left. When you look at that picturue, it reminds you there is a community everywhere that is ready to make a difference.

Now I want you to ask yourself - what have you done to help improve soccer coverage?

Have you ever picked up the phone and called a newspaper or any media outlet and basically told them their coverage stunk? It's easy to hide behind emails or just moan about how bad high school soccer coverage is. But have you ever tried to help the situation?

Joe Moreau - President of the Illinois High School Soccer Association (IHSSCA) - have you ever called? Brian Papa - Vice President of the IHSSCA - have you ever called? Barry Jacobson - all-time winningest girls soccer coach in Illinois - have you ever called?

Parents? Players? Where are the leaders, where are the people saying, "I've had enough of this garbage." You call about everything else, why not call and say, "Hello, I just wanted to tell you your coverage stinks - step it up." I'm sure some have, including those listed above. But it's time to help the kids of today and those coming up the pipeline to have better coverage and long-last memories.

We all know nothing is ever done unless someone pushes and pushes and pushes. The overall coverage of soccer is brutal, and it just continues to get worse each year. Less games covered, less space given to soccer - even on the Internet. Why do you continue to let the media treat you as second-class citizens?

For years, I've listen to them moan and say it's unfair. And until Sunday, I agreed and went to bat for them.

But it hit me at 9:15 a.m. Sunday morning as I was doing this week's Top 10 that some schools in the Naperville Sectional of the IHSA Tournament need to stop complaining that they're stuck playing one another every year.

Have you ever looked at their regular season schedules?

They play the same teams every year. Same tournaments with the same teams from their own backyard, and basically the same nonconference teams from their area, too. Don't give me that garbage about travel and school nights. There are these things called Saturdays and different tournaments.

This isn't just a girls issue, either. In the fall, I told you the Naperville Central boys didn't go east of I-294 with its schedule. That's just one example.

Now you tell me is it just pure arrogance or lazy scheduling? I'll knock on the members-only door to see if a butler will give me some insight.

Make sure to check out a few of the shots from Sunday's Pepsi Showdown title game at Toyota Park. Loyola knocked off St. Ignatius 2-0.

Allison Suhey was named tournament MVP, while Carly Stevens came up big once again in goal for the Ramblers. Loyola, whose boys advanced to the Pepsi Showdown title game last fall, knocked off the top three seeds en route to its first Pepsi Showdown crown.

Here's the link to the photos: http://yourseason.suntimes.com/girls_soccer/-1,040609-loyola-gal.photogallery?index=2

Cornerkicks will return in full strength later today with a must-see blog.

Leah Fortune (left), senior at Wheaton Academy and 2009 Sun-Times Preseason Player of the Year, will blog each Monday right here throughout the spring season. Here is her third entry:

Avi Stopper, former coach at the University of Chicago and founder of www.CaptainU.com - a Chicago-based company that makes recruiting software for high school athletes, their parents, and club and high school coaches - will be providing recruiting insight for coaches and players throughout the spring season.

Sorry it took me two days to respond - I decided to go on Spring Break.

I know you look to me for a daily blog during the soccer season, but I figured if others are just skipping out - why can't I? Why should I be dedicated? I mean, 10 weeks is a long, long time to be dedicated.

I need to find some time to tan this ultra white body of mine. Honestly, I didn't have enough time the rest of the year to find time to go on vacation. I just decided to do it in the middle of the season.

Sounds pretty ridiculous, hu? I thought so. That's the same thing I thought when I read some of the responses. Some people need to be taken into a room and have their heads examined. I might have my dumb moments - and I can admit it - but do you really believe what you wrote regarding Spring Break?

Want to know what I think? Let me tell you...