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There is no blog today, because I'm at the repair shop fixing the Waubonsie Valley state-title bus that broke down. Seriously, I was worried about the bus ride when I read a quote from a player saying they were on their revenge tour. I shook my head on Friday morning after reading that and said to someone, "The ride is going to come to a bumpy end."
While I thought lightning was (actually) going to strike the Warriors' bus last Tuesday when their game versus Neuqua Valley was halted by weather, Naperville North ended Waubonsie Valley's chance to three-peat as champions of the IHSA tournament with a 2-1 win on Friday.
This is just another prime example for any player who thinks they can't beat someone, because a team is loaded...on paper.
So after showing the love with feel good Friday, here's my Monday rant...
First, kudos to the MSL. There are three teams in Tuesday's supersectionals - Barrington, Conant and Fremd.
But how in the hell does the IHSA sit down there in the Bloomington Ivy Tower and tell everyone year after year after year after year after year after year (you get the same rambling point) that it can't adjust the way it lays out its so-called "state" tournament? (As you've noticed, I refuse to refer to it as a "state" tournament in blogs, features, previews or game stories any longer. It's a tournament.)
You are telling me they couldn't have adjusted the overloaded Naperville-area Sectional by now? Maybe send some of those schools south to Lincoln-Way North or somewhere? I'm sure coaches will be told the same old rubberband story, how each section is stretched a little this way or that way, and it just happened that three teams from the same conference were placed in three different sectionals.
The point is the member schools and Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) have asked year after year after year after year (you get the same rambling point) to adjust the sectionals. We all know by now it's about geographical representation, so the "best" teams won't always make it to the IHSA finals.
OK, that's fine but adjust the sectionals maybe once every 10 years. And no, I'm not just talking about moving one or two teams here and there like Downers South and Hinsdale Central or moving another team here. I watched how Lincoln-Way East coach Brian Papa complained year after year after year after year in the mid-1990s to get Sandburg, where he previously coached, out of the Naperville Sectional.
And guess what? The Eagles were finally moved.
As much as I pound on them, I love the IHSA - I really do...no seriously, I do. I don't believe there is anyone trying to screw things up, and yes, it is an easy organization to pick on and second guess.
But what about the folks in the Bloomington Ivy Tower sitting down with the leadership of the IHSSCA and adjusting things? If they can watch YouTube videos and make adjustments, then I know they can put the rubberbands and frozen peas aside to improve their tournament.
If you can have Sandburg traveling all the way down to Normal on a school night to play a supersectional game tomorrow, then there's no reason adjustments can't be made. Honestly, if the IHSSCA and the member schools continue to accept the same response from the Bloomington Ivy Tower year after year after year after year after year (see a pattern here), then here's my response - stop calling, writing and moaning to me about it.
I've heard it for 14 years.
You are the ones that have the power to fix it - not me. So fix it.
- Joe Trost
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Hey Joe,
Thank you The MSL showed up . Three teams in the final eight. Not bad for the Northwest Suburbs.Conant,Barrington,and Fremd played some very good teams this year.Maybe it luck ,maybe it's club. I do know that alot of the girls have been togather since 3rd grade. Thanks
Maybe it's the fact that they divided up the MSL into 3 different sectionals so the teams that already play each other in a very difficult conference, and in this case division, would not have to see each other until down the row. However, in other areas of the state, the IHSA decided to lump every team from the same conference into the same Sectional (NV, WV, etc)...or even regionals for that matter if one went so far to look at the Rockford or Crystal Lake regionals.
Not taking anything away from those 3 teams, all well deserving, but the IHSA should follow that idea with ALL teams giving them the opportunity to play teams other than their on conference opponents again in the playoffs...will it sometimes be impossible to avoid, sure...but at least let the seeding take control and not geography!!!
Wait, so your point is that we should scatter the Naperville-area schools throughout the brackets so they are better represented at state? If you are going to argue in favor of that set up, why not split the north shore schools too? Lake Forest, New Trier and St. Ignatius are all strong soccer schools but only one of them is going to be at Supersectionals. I understand your point but your proposal would be almost impossible to implement.
In response to Matt, a lot of the girls playing for Barrington and Fremd are currently playing for FCX out of Barrington.
I use Naperville as the strongest example, as it has been over time. I've always said, they could have one large Chicago Supersectional and break it up. The distance from Oswego to Warren might be shorter than what Sandburg is to Normal tomorrow.
Just a comment, not related to the above story. Thanks for your coverage of Loyola Academy. We had 6 sophomores that started, they were the " little team that could."
Allison Suhey (Sr.) is a superstar on offense and Ashley Wickey (Sr.)is a superstar at defense. Their leadership along with Craig Snower, led this team to breaking school records, winning regionals and almost...winning seciontals. Love reading your comments and thanks for covering girls sports, they don't always get the attention that they deserve!!
Joe,
Barrington and New Tier lost. Did you see any of the games? Maybe it's the year for MSL
Thanks
Joe:
Not ONE of your June 1 top 10 teams are in the state final four . Gosh.... How did that happen?
When the final rankings come out, they probably won't change much from this week outside of adding a team or two. Why? Rankings are not based off one tournament, one game. Anyone who thinks Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley, St. Charles North, Huntley, Glenbrook South, the Napervilles shouldn't be ranked are nuts. One game, one tournament doesn't make a season. Nor does it make the rankings. If we were trying to rank teams left in the IHSA's tournament, don't you think we would've done that?
Then your rankings are just to appease the losers. And then there are teams that don't believe the rankings and don't care about them and just come to play.
Appease? Rankings rank the best teams figuring in talent and schedule.
Joe:
Look, the best four 3A teams in the state right now are Conant, Hinsedale Central, Sandburg, and Fremd. Everyone else is an "also ran". ( And my daughters team is in the "also ran" category.) Those teams should just deal with it. And more than a few of those "also ran" teams out there have beaten those four top teams and they should ponder , for a moment, the reasons that their team didn't make the cut. Because that's the only way to get better.
Yes , we all know Joe, when your final rankings come out you probably will have Naperville North or WB on top and a lot of other teams from the " soccer holy land " Naperville area . But that and a dollar won't buy you coffee at Starbucks.
As two coaches called me and said this morning about your posts, you don't have a clue - and one of those coaches is in the IHSA's Tournament Final Four. Take care.
I saw about 35 games this season including Lake Forest - New Trier (1 -0) which was probably the best game I saw all season, Glenbrook South - Naperville North (0 - 0 first game of the year), and Fremd - New Trier Game 1. Of all the teams I saw, I thought Lake Forest looked the best of the bunch (I don't really get too far south of I-90 so I can't comment on the southern and western teams).
That being said, the best team doesn't always win but that's what makes the game interesting. Sometimes a little bit of luck goes a long way and sometimes a team comes together at the right time. The rankings reflect an opinion of the overall strength and quality of the teams.
The rankings don't take anything away from the what the State final teams have accomplished. It's great to get recognized but when all is said and done, more people will remember who won the championship game than will remember who was ranked #1.
“ They ( the coaches) protest too much, methinks. “ ( Quoted loosely from Shakespeare ) As do you Joe.