Warren senior forward Miguel Garcia Jr. has mapped out his long-term future.
It doesn’t include college or soccer.
Garcia, a third-year starter who has a team-high 10 goals and two assists this season, plans to work with his father, Miguel Sr.
“I grew up in the trades, and I want to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” Garcia said. “He does plumbing. I like what I do, and I want to get into that.”
Garcia, the focal point of Libertyville’s back line throughout a scoreless draw in a North Suburban Conference game on Thursday, started playing soccer before he was 3 years old at his father’s urging. He used to watch his older sister Julie play the sport, including at Roosevelt University.
“My dad got me into soccer, and ever since it’s been soccer, soccer and soccer for my whole life,” Garcia said. “My sister was better than me. I looked up to her and what she did.”
Warren coach Jason Ahonen said he respects Garcia’s decision.
“What’s the most impressive thing he does is that he’s chosen to go a different route than most people,” Ahonen said. “He’s chosen to go into the union and do plumbing and electric. A lot of kids with his skill set are looking to play in college. Schools are interested in him.
“I tip my cap to that mindset. It’s easy to go the college route. He’s going the unconventional way, at least in today’s society.”
When he was a sophomore, Garcia was the only underclassman pulled up to the Blue Devils’ senior-laden varsity team. Warren went 15-0 during that spring season and looked like the best team in the state, but the Illinois High School Association didn’t hold a postseason due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Garcia, now a captain who wears the coveted No. 9 jersey, said he’s well versed in the responsibilities of a leader.
“I’ve had to work for everything I have, so I’m always training and training,” he said. “I knew if I wanted to get better, I had to train a lot.
“I have to keep up being a role model and pushing our players. We have a special team. I have a lot of confidence in them. I have to keep pushing them so we can keep moving forward and winning games.”
The Blue Devils (5-1-1, 0-0-1) avoided a loss to Libertyville (2-3-2, 0-0-1) on Thursday when Wisconsin-Whitewater recruit Andrew Phillips sailed a penalty kick over the crossbar in the 63rd minute.
Neither team has scored for two games.
“This was the best game we’ve played all around, but we just can’t finish,” Libertyville coach Kevin Thunholm said. “We’ve been falling apart due to injuries. We’re still piecing things together. We’re young.”
Thunholm said Garcia is a difficult player to slow down.
“We tried not to let (Garcia) get the ball,” Thunholm said. “He got a little dangerous a few times with the ball.”
Warren senior midfielder Tommy DeSanto said Garcia is an elite player with rare skills.
“He’s a fantastic finisher,” DeSanto said. “At first, it was a bit confusing playing with him. I would look up, he would be somewhere, then I’d look down, and he would be on the other side of the field.
More Top Picks Ironing Boards
“Once I learned where he was going, I could find those critical passes, and he does a good job moving around and finding that right space.”
Garcia is unique, according to Ahonen.
“Miguel is a pure finisher, a true No. 9,” Ahonen said. “He brings a different dynamic.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.