Soccer coaches often mention the importance of movement without the ball. If that is the case, Waubonsie Valley’s 4-0-1 start can be traced to Tennessee.
Every season, the Warriors take a team trip that doesn’t involve touching a soccer ball even once. Players have to turn over their cell phones to the coaching staff.
“It is a shock to the freshmen and incoming sophomores,” senior Emily Dickens said. “Our generation is so linked in, but not having a cell phone leaves room for your mind to focus on your teammates and the activities. In the end, it’s kind of nice to be disconnected.”
Although many teams promote team bonding, the annual four-day trip south is another example of what makes “The Waubonsie Way” unique.
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“Our team success truly is fueled by how close we are as a team,” junior Grace Anderson said. “Spending a spring break without your phone, not on a beach but stuck some place in the wild engaging in outdoor activities that emphasize teamwork requires a commitment. And that commitment then carries over into every practice, every game, every season and everything we do.”
This year’s trek was to Doe River Gorge in Hampton, Tenn., where Waubonsie Valley players rode in four-wheel-drive trucks, cooked own meals, explored caves, engaged in skeet shooting and archery, and navigated a rope course and an adventure race that incorporated rappelling, a zip line, tree climbing and a leap of faith.
“Having to work as a team is part of how we become closer to each other and then we continue that experience on to the field,” sophomore Callie Vitro said. “The program always has amazing seniors who take leadership seriously, so we look up to them. They show the kind of work ethic for every drill, every practice, and every game to motivate that motivates you and makes you want to emulate them.
“Plus our school spirit is special. We have a support system that goes beyond your teammates and includes not just the coaches, but teachers and fellow classmates.”
Another trademark of Julie Bergstrom’s program is community participation, be it fitness activities with elementary school students, supporting Special Olympics and fund-raising for causes ranging from pediatric to breast cancer to the Madala Village Project, which makes books out of recycled T-shirts for African preschool children.
“How much we work together becomes our foundation for success,” Anderson said. “It’s never about one person; ball work, passing, defending, scoring, it happens best when it’s done as a team.”
While Anderson believes a future in a medical field may not allow for anything more than intramurals for her in college, Waubonsie boasts a lineage of college players that is remarkable.
The current roster includes seven seniors signed to play at Division I programs ranging from Iowa to Toledo to Belmont, plus two juniors already verbally committed to Illinois and Purdue.
Dickens is one of latest additions, having signed for Case Western Reserve, where she hopes to follow in her father’s engineering footsteps.
“Our program prides itself on developing everyone as a player and also developing the players as individuals,” Dickens said.
Last year, that approach showed with a third-place finish in Class 3A after a narrow 1-0 loss to state champion New Trier. The Warriors are aiming for a fourth state title.
Still unbeaten
Metea Valley did what Batavia’s previous five opponents couldn’t: find the back of the Bulldogs’ net. Jade Eriksen-Russo’s goal put an end to Batavia’s shutout string of 495 minutes. The Bulldogs responded with three straight goals before Metea battled back for a 3-3 deadlock. However, Batavia remains unbeaten at 3-0-3.
Early returns
Two area 1A squads are mixing staunch defenses with potent offenses. Aurora Central Catholic hasn’t allowed a goal while scoring 11 through three games. Indian Creek has done the same defensively while scoring 13 goals in three games.
Nemeth is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.