Even though Rigoberto Rojas and Louis St. John didn’t play for Hinsdale Central the past two seasons, Red Devils boys soccer coach Mike Wiggins always considered them a part of the program.
Wiggins, a physical education teacher at Hinsdale Central, would check on Rojas and St. John if he ever saw them around the hallways at school. Rojas and St. John played for the Devils as freshmen, but left after the 2012 season when they made the Chicago Fire Academy team.
Two years later, Rojas and St. John have become important contributors in Hinsdale Central’s bid to repeat as Class 3A champion.
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The Devils (10-1-1, 3-0) took a major step toward repeating as West Suburban Silver champions with a 2-0 victory at Lyons Friday, Sept. 27, behind Rojas’ two goals.
After the game, Wiggins predicted the two conferences rivals will meet again in the Riverside-Brookfield Sectional.
Rojas and St. John weren’t suited up last season when Will McGowen scored the game’s only goal and current Penn State freshman Wes Bergevin earned the shutout in the Devils’ 1-0 state final victory against Normal. But they certainly supported their once and future teammates.
“I was so happy for them,”said Rojas, a Hinsdale resident. “I wanted to come back and be surrounded by them.”
Rojas’ experience with Fire Academy was productive. He was a member of the U-17/18 team that won the U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship with a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake-Arizona July 19 in Carson, Calif. Rojas played in seven games and scored one goal during the season.
St. John played for the Fire Academy’s U-15/16 team, which finished fifth in its division with a 12-10-8 record. St. John played in 28 games and scored two goals.
For Hinsdale Central, Rojas is playing forward and the 6-foot St. John is a midfielder. Both are on the watch list for the High School Soccer All-American Game Dec. 5 in North Carolina and Wiggins has been named to coach the West team. Neither has made a college commitment.
For St. John, it didn’t take him long to consider returning to the high school team.
“I’m playing with guys that I have been participating with since I was (young). They are my buddies. It’s my senior year. I thought, Why not?'” said the Clarendon Hills resident.
Rojas and St. John last played for the Devils in 2012. They were the only freshmen on that team and came off the bench as Hinsdale Central finished 18-4-3 and lost to Fenwick in penalty kicks in the Argo Sectional final.
“After their freshman year, they had a tough decision to make,” Wiggins said. “I told them, ‘I’m your biggest fan and I always will be.’ I was there for them as a resource (while with Fire Academy).”
Rojas scored a season-high three goals in Hinsdale Central’s 7-0 victory over Glenbard West Sept. 15.
“Without question, in Rigo and Louis we added two more skilled athletes,” Wiggins said. “They are just like the guys we have. They’re hard-working and committed. They are all the things you hope for in a Red Devils athlete.”
Twitter @geomwilcox