When Rudy Moravec was in seventh grade, he began serious conversations with his father about the possibility of immigrating to the United States from the Czech Republic.
They discussed the ramifications, and decided Moravec would make the move for high school, joining his father in Portage.
Moravec doesn’t regret it.
“I like it here,” he said. “I like the people, my team, my school.
“It was a big chance for me. It was a new language, new culture, meeting new people. I wouldn’t see my family in Czech, so it was a tough decision, but here I am.”
Moravec arrived three years ago, and has been a welcome addition at Portage.
The only disappointment for the community? The Indians will have the senior one less year than they initially thought.
Instead of beginning at Portage as a freshman, he had accumulated so many credits in his homeland and was old enough to be classified as a sophomore.
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“He’s a really good kid, he gets along well with everyone at school,” Portage coach Will Fortenberry said. “He’s a hard worker. He goes extra days in the weight room — our weightlifting coach loves him.”
Moravec was a part-time starter his first season, leading to increased expectations heading into his junior season.
But after spending the summer in the Czech Republic visiting his mother and virtually all of his extended family, he returned to Portage admittedly in less-than-optimal condition. He struggled to seize a role as either a forward or outside midfielder.
Moravec again went to Europe this summer, but was more mindful. He has regained a starting spot at forward this season, and already matched his totals from last season with three goals and one assist.
“The beginning of the season was tough,” Moravec said. “It takes me time to get in shape. Taking a break, I don’t watch what I’m eating, what I’m doing. But I was better.”
Moravec’s father came to the U.S. 10 years ago when he accepted a job transfer with ArcelorMittal. Rudy visited several times over the years, enjoying traveling to such places as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Florida, Colorado and Yellowstone Park.
“It was awesome,” Moravec said.
After moving from his hometown of 15,000 people, Moravec has adjusted to different educational and athletics systems, with clubs in Europe instead of school teams.
He has established roots with his father, stepmother and 8-year-old brother. He wants to attend Ball State to study sport administration.
“Everything here is bigger — schools, buildings, meals, a little more people,” Moravec said. “But I got used to it. I feel comfortable.”
On the rise: Jereme Rainwater is in his 18th season as Lake Central’s coach. After his team topped Portage 4-1, the 40-year-old referred to himself as an “elder statesman” and praised several up-and-coming Region coaches.
Among them, Rainwater mentioned Fortenberry, Andrean’s Tony Pagorek, Highland’s Pere Dorsuleski and Wheeler’s David Bock.
“Will is a fantastic coach,” Rainwater said. “Those other guys, fantastic. The organization and what they’re doing soccer-wise is unbelievable.
“Those young guys are fun to watch at the tail end of my tenure. They’re doing wonders for Northwest Indiana. I’d want my kid to play for any of those guys.”
Into the fire: Valparaiso opened its Duneland Athletic Conference schedule with a win in penalty kicks against LaPorte. The Vikings edged Michigan City on Aug. 31 in overtime by a 3-2 margin. In between, they dropped a 2-0 Aug. 24 game to Chesterton.
Valparaiso coach Danny Jeftich believes his team has continued to grow with these tight games, including against Chesterton.
“One loss doesn’t define our season even if it’s a big competition, a rivalry between two towns,” he said. “Our kids learned a lot, we learned what we could do against a very good team — that is one of the top teams in the Region. We’re right there.”
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TOP 10
With last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. Lake Central (1)
2. Chesterton (2)
3. Munster (3)
4. Valparaiso (4)
5. Crown Point (6)
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6. LaPorte (5)
7. Portage (7)
8. Andrean (9)
9. Highland (10)
10. Bishop Noll (8)
Player of the Week: Wheeler’s Brenden Melvin, a senior, had three goals on Aug. 30 in the Bearcats’ 4-2 win against Marquette.