Ben Lodewyk likes to stay busy while high school is in session, but the success of the Timothy Christian soccer team last fall made life a little too hectic for the senior.
Lodewyk now is trying to do his part for the Trojans basketball team (6-7, 3-2). He ranks second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) behind junior forward Joey Davidson (15.7 ppg). He also is second for 3-pointers made (14), assists (2.2 ave.) and steals (2.1 ave.).
“Ben has to do a little bit of everything for us,” Timothy coach Jack LeGrand said. “He has to rebound, score, defend. He has very good ball-handling skills and although he is one of our top scorers, he helps us get into our rhythm offensively.”
Lodewyk, a Villa Park resident, loves to compete, but his 6-foot-3 frame doesn’t always keep up with the three-sport standout. Lodewyk suffered a left hip flexor injury last fall that kept him away from soccer for a month, but the midfielder-defender returned to the lineup in time for Timothy’s postseason run.
Lodewyk scored the first goal during Timothy’s 4-1 victory over Anna-Jonesboro in the Class 1A state championship game on Oct. 31, and had three assists in the Trojans’ 4-1 semifinal win over Urbana.
While the hip injury has not affected his basketball playing, Lodewyk needed time to adjust from soccer to the start of basketball and said this season didn’t feel the same.
“It was a lot different because I was used to having a few more weeks (after soccer) to prepare,” Lodewyk, a three-year varsity basketball player, said. “This year, with soccer going so far, I didn’t have much time.”
Lodewyk sprained his left ankle in the final game of York’s Tosh Holiday Classic on Dec. 30, and said earlier this week that it was yet to be determined if he’d be able to play when the Trojans return to action in the Metro Suburban East at Ridgewood (7-7, 3-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15.
The Trojans won their last game at York against Lane, 41-37, to finish 1-3 in the tournament.
Lodewyk said the basketball team showed during the offseason that the Trojans would be fine despite some players having a long run in soccer.
“Our summer (league) was good,” he said. “We all shared the ball. Because we’re a good team, that helped the transition a lot.”
Year-round teammates
Lodewyk is a basketball team co-captain with Mitch Evenhouse, his soccer teammate and tennis doubles partner the past three years.
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Evenhouse, a 6-foot starting guard, is Timothy’s leader in assists (2.6) and steals (2.3). The Lisle resident was a starting midfielder for the soccer team and began playing tennis with Lodewyk their freshman year when Lodewyk decided not to go out for baseball.
They’ve been classmates the past 13 years.
“We’ve known each other since kindergarten,” Lodewyk said.
Twitter @geomwilcox