Owen Hallas’ voice cracked with emotion.
After flourishing for two seasons as Chesterton’s left midfielder, the senior has a new jersey number to go with a new position as a forward.
Each season, the Trojans will designate a player to wear No. 17 in memory of Mitch Winey, a cadet at West Point. The 2014 Chesterton graduate who was a team captain and class president died in June during a military training accident at Fort Hood.
Hallas, formerly No. 8, was the inaugural selection.
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“I’m honored the coaches chose me,” Hallas said. “It was really humbling. The number on your back reminds you you’re not playing for you, you’re playing for the team. Mitch was a very special person.”
Chesterton coach James Sensibaugh, a Gulf War veteran, considers Hallas, a two-year team captain, an exemplary leader.
“He comes to practice and works extremely hard, and he’s extremely positive with his teammates,” Sensibaugh said of Hallas. “He has an unrelenting desire to get the most out of not only himself, but everyone around him. That’s an attribute you don’t find much in young people anymore.
“But he has that maturity. He does the little things, the nuances that make players and teams successful.”
With speed, strength and a powerful left foot, the 6-foot-1 Hallas has been successful throughout his career.
As a sophomore, he scored the game-winning goal in Chesterton’s 2-1 win against Munster in the Merrillville Regional championship game. That team, ranked No. 1 in the state and reaching No. 12 nationally, won the Trojans’ first regional title since 2007.
Last season, Hallas had eight goals and three assists as Chesterton won its second straight undefeated Duneland Athletic Conference title and third straight sectional.
He already has seven goals through four games this season, including two hat tricks.
“It’s really nice to look at the stat sheet, but my teammates have been giving me great assists,” he said. “My job is to finish.”
Hallas hasn’t missed a beat despite not playing club soccer this year, instead playing travel baseball. He’s been the Trojans’ leadoff hitter and center fielder the last two seasons. They’ve won back-to-back sectionals, last season proceeding to win their first regional since 1994.
“High school sports mean a lot to him, he revels in the experience,” Sensibaugh said. “He appreciates how fast it goes by.
“He’s been more fortunate than most because the teams have done so well, and he’s been an integral part. He hasn’t faced a lot of adversity. But something tells me he’s the type of player and person who would handle that well too.”
On the mend: Lake Central goalkeeper Noah Osearo is nearing his season debut, perhaps as soon as Monday when the No. 1 Indians played No. 15 Munster. Both are ranked in Class 2A.
The junior suffered a knee injury during his club season, requiring surgery to repair torn meniscus.
Osearo was instrumental last season in the Indians winning their first regional title since 2010. He split time for much of the season before securing the job, excelling in the playoffs.
“The jump between sophomore and junior year is a big deal,” LC coach Jereme Rainwater said.
Tough break: Crown Point goalkeeper Jack Mumaugh is out for the season with a knee injury, aggravated in the Bulldogs’ season opener Aug. 17. against Lake Central. The promising sophomore is scheduled to have surgery in late September.
Mumaugh hurt his knee in May, when it was discovered he likely was playing with a partially torn ligament for several years. Doctors said he couldn’t do significant further damage if he played with a brace.
But after tweaking his knee against the Indians, plans were changed to push up his surgery.
“It’s been a tough decision process that we’ve talked about all summer long,” Crown Point coach Mike Bazin said. “Ultimately, we decided it was best for Jack’s health to do this.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
Top 10
With last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. Lake Central (1)
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2. Chesterton (2)
3. Munster (3)
4. Valparaiso (5)
5. LaPorte (7)
6. Crown Point (4)
7. Portage (8)
8. Bishop Noll (NR)
9. Andrean (NR)
10. Highland (6)
Player of the Week: Crown Point’s Nick Zubi, a sophomore, scored in overtime Wednesday to lift the Bulldogs to a 4-3 win against Portage.