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2009 Preview: Wheaton Academy By Gary Larsen
After topping local rival West Chicago 2-1, the picture became clearer more quickly than anticipated. “I was amazed. I had no idea we were capable of doing what we did,” said Warriors senior Brandon VanderVeen. “We came together as a team, we had speed I didn’t know we had, and skill that kept the ball in our possession. We controlled the pace of the game.” The Warriors have another stable of highly-skilled players in 2009, ready to fill the big shoes left behind by last year’s players. Big shoes in both the literal and figurative sense. “We had more size on last year’s team than any team I’ve coached. Those guys were enormous,” said Warriors coach Jeff Brooke. “We don’t have that kind of size this year but we have a great group of guys that can play at a high level.” The Warriors have started the year at 3-0, cruising to a wins over Kaneland and Guerin in addition to the win over West Chicago. “We played very good against West Chicago,” said Warriors’ keeper Philip Oster. “We felt comfortable and played pretty good soccer. The back four has been great. They’ve been one of the strongest parts of the team so far.” The Warriors are counting on the defensive foursome of Josh Urban, Stephen Fernandes, Quinn Gorski, and Brian McLean. Fernandes and McLean will take on central defensive roles with Gorski and Urban on the outside. “We graduated our entire back line from last year, but these guys have really looked good thus far,” Brooke said. “We’ll rely on them to set the tone for our season.” If you know anything about Wheaton Academy’s program, you know that the Warriors have never been a team willing to keep numbers back at the expense of the attack. This season will be no different. As always, winning the midfield will be primary to that philosophy. Alex Varga, Josh Kremers and Tim Daniels headline the midfield, with a bevy of other players chipping in. Finishing duties in 2009 will fall on Babel Daniel, Devin Moore, and VanderVeen, any one of which may slide back to midfield as Brooke tinkers with his attack to start the year. Thus far, in essentially a 4-5-1 formation that features two holding midfielders and three attacking mids, Moore, VanderVeen, and Daniels have filled the attacking triangle of that formation, with Ethiopian transfer student Daniel as the lone forward. “We have a lot of guys who can play major roles in the attack. There’s a few guys we’re really looking to but we’re not sure who is going to respond yet,” Brooke said. “We’re looking for guys to step up and either be set-up men or goal scorers.” Seniors Travis Guerra and Nathanael Nupanga will contribute in 2009, along with juniors Trevor Adams, Blake McNamara, and William West. Sophomores Frank Della Torre, Jess Carmody, and Grant Terrill round out Brooke’s 19-man roster. “I think we still have a lot of physical players, and we didn’t lose much speed from last year,” Oster said. “The skill on the ball has improved and I think that and our speed will be our two big things to work with.” “We have a good group of guys who really care about each other, and keeping the program on the track that it’s been,” Brooke said. VanderVeen confirms Brooke’s assessment. “Our team chemistry is better than any team I’ve been on and it came immediately,” he said. “There’s a group of us that are truly best friends. It translates to the field beautifully.” The Warriors will compete again in this year’s 32-team Pepsi Showdown, and they’re looking forward to their maiden season in the new Suburban Christian Conference. “Entering the new conference will be a big step for us and we want to continue to play those Class 3A schools and compete with them.” “(Marmion coach) Kevin O’Connor is a great guy and an excellent coach, Marian Catholic should have a solid team, and St. Francis has another great guy and a coach in Tim Dailey,” Brooke said. “We’re really looking forward to the conference and the chance to establish ourselves.” “We know we’ll have to really compete to get the top spot in that conference.”
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2009 Schedule
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