Facebook App
Neuqua Valley is hands down the area's No. 1 team on paper, but we saw how much paper meant last spring with the Waubonsie Valley girls. Tons of talents at Neuqua this fall, and Tony Kees returns to the high school sidelines after spending time with the Chicago Fire Academy.
If that isn't enough, there's also a very interesting transfer at Neuqua Valley - Keegan Balle.
The 5-11 defender played for Lincoln-Way Central and the Chicago Magic. He left the Magic when the ship (of what was once the premier soccer club in the area and nation) started to go down and moved to the Chicago Fire Academy.
According to Lincoln-Way Central principal Steve Provis, Balle withdrew from the New Lenox school this summer, which also was the same time his club coach Kees was named the new head coach at Neuqua Valley. Kees left Conant High School two years ago to join the Chicago Fire Academy as a staff coach and is now back coaching high school.
Whether the timing was ironic or not, it's odd to see a senior, who owns a 4.0 GPA, transfer before his senior year. He informed Lincoln-Way Central coach Dan Radz of his move via email a day before practice began.
According to IHSA assistant executive director Beth Sauser, she has yet to see any paperwork regarding the transfer. She is out of the office today, but has made a call inquiring to see if anything has come in.
Neuqua Valley principal Robert McBride said in an email: "I can tell you that Keegan Balle is enrolled at Neuqua Valley High School. He has met all the residency requirements of Indian Prairie School District 204 and the protocols of the IHSA for such transfers. The principal at Lincoln Way High School signed an IHSA 'principal's concurrence' on his transfer."
Balle is the son of former Sandburg football coach Marty Balle, who is now the offensive coordinator at Providence in New Lenox. He still teaches at Sandburg in Orland Park.
Cell Phone Alerts
So Keegan Balle jumped ship from the Magic just as it started sinking? What was this summer's 3rd place finish at the Academy Finals by the Magic U-16 team? How about the 5th place finish the year before?
One could argue that he left once he realized he had no chance of playing on the Magic Academy team in 2008. What will he do this coming Academy season now that the new coach for the U-18 Fire Academy has brought his own midfield and defense? Maybe back to the Magic, who are the victims of a mass defection.
Moves like this can come back and haunt a team, particularly a tight knit program like NV. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Stirring the pre-season pot a bit?
Let's see....Did the family of the player involved move their primary residence to District 204?
If so then the move is legit. I can't see anyone going to all that bother solely for one year of HS soccer.
The kid has a 4.0 and it's Senior Year.Those are powerful incentives to stay at LWC.
Did anyone talk to the family of the transfer player to ask why they moved? I doubt it and therefore this is all idle pre-season gossip and interpretation of tea-leaves type speculation.
Neuqua is a lot more than a good soccer school,we have an excellent academic and fire arts program,All student athletes at NV know that the administation places a heavy emphasis on student before athlete.Example Ian Krol's suspension for his senior year of baseball last year.
Actually if I was TK I'd be upset as the tone of the article (and use of the word "Fishy) implies that there may be club related undercurrents attached to this move.The temptation to use the line "Where there's smoke,there's Fire" must be overwhelming.
Good luck to the young man in question and I hope he enjoys his senior year at NV.I know my boy did last year.
As to O'Really - O'Reilly calling the Magic "victims"--- I really got a chuckle out of that.Good one...Very Monty Python.
Looks as if NV wants their state title at any cost.
I think this begs the question of what NV has that is so far and away better than what LWC has , that forces a family to uproot their home and move to a new HS in senior year losing friends , acquaintances , classmates etc etc.
Interesting , no doubt.....................
"FISHY" is right!!! They supposedly moved to be closer to "Mom's work" in Naperville (yet with I-355 it is only a 25 minute commute)... YET DAD (most likely the MAIN bread winner of the household) STILL works in New Lenox & Orland Park.... HHMMMMMMM.... AND his CLUB coach is the NEW COACH at Nequa Valley.... Makes you WONDER!!!!!!
Very sensational story! How about the rest of it?
Were any IHSA rules broken? If not, then this high school student deserves an apology for the irresponsible and unfounded attack on his character.
This family has a right to live wherever they choose, for reasons they don't have to explain. This boy lives with his parents. All transfer paperwork was filed completely and on-time. That should begin and end the "story".
Not reporting all the facts: Fishy or ironic?
Tony Kees is a fabulous coach. Keegan Balle is a very talented player. I dont think anyone will argue that. Did Neuqua's team really need Keegan, to do well? Not really. Neuqua already has many club players and some are even Academy. They have a very deep bench filled with talented club players. So maybe Keegan just wanted to be a part of a winning team. I feel bad for LWCentral and their loss.
This is just high school soccer, but h.s. isnt what it used to be. Parents arent what they used to be. Maybe indulging their children a little too much these days? It can backfire on you.
I would just like to see the kids who were originally at Neuqua to get some playing time too.