Naperville North senior defender Cam Brown took the field for his first varsity start with more than an enhanced role.
Brown also had a great appreciation for the opportunity to play for coach Jim Konrad’s Huskies.
“To wear this jersey and to be on this field where all these great players played, to have coach Konrad as my coach, is really just an honor,” Brown said. “We talk about legacy all the time and how we have to honor the jersey, wear it with pride knowing all the greats that wore this jersey and played on this field.
“It’s what I’ve been looking for, and it’s really helped me grow as a player.”
Brown is helping a bunch of younger teammates grow as the Huskies attempt to defend their Class 3A state championship with a nearly all-new group. The Wisconsin-Platteville commit was voted a captain by his teammates, only three of whom have previous varsity playing experience.
“Obviously, it’s cool that the boys chose him as a captain,” Konrad said. “You saw that today the way he leads from the back — super vocal, a positive leader. But also we ask the boys to hold each other accountable. Cam does that in the right way.
“He’s a super classy kid, and his work ethic allows him to get on his teammates because he does the work too.”
Brown worked hard during the Huskies’ 1-1 draw with visiting West Chicago. He anchored a back line that included three seniors — Liam McKenna and twin brothers Luc and Alec Schwanebeck — who were making their varsity debuts, as were junior goalkeeper Ziden Elganzouri and sophomore defensive midfielders Carter Joseph and Barrett Yeaman.
Junior goalkeeper Misael Gonzalez, who played in the second half against the Wildcats, said Brown could be one of the Huskies’ top players by the end of the season.
“He’s a very good teammate, a very good captain,” Gonzalez said. “He helps me a lot in the back getting the defense organized.
“Even off the field, he’s such a good person. I could speak on and on about him.”
What does Gonzalez like most about Brown’s play?
“I like the way he communicates with our back line, the way how he plays really hard,” Gonzalez said. “It feels like he wants to kill every single ball he goes through.”
The Huskies went through a lot while edging St. Laurence 3-2 on penalty kicks in the 2025 state championship game, which was played in extremely cold and wet conditions that drove several starters from the game. Brown got a few minutes of action in overtime and converted Naperville North’s penultimate penalty kick in the shootout.
“It was unreal — the weather, the atmosphere, just knowing all of our guys were tired,” he said. “Making those memories for my team was like a dream come true.”
Repeating that feat won’t be easy, but Brown is relishing his chance to try. He did his due diligence while preparing for his leadership role.
“I was reaching out to my old captains from last year like Colin McMahon and Sam Hess,” Brown said. “They were great leaders for me, so if I was able to learn from them and put that into my team, it’s not much work on my end. It’s just translating it to this team and all these new players.”
More Top Picks Best Massage Gun
Brown might have been understating his efforts. The Huskies’ motto is “Nothing without work,” and it has led to four state titles in the past decade.
“We talk about sweeping the shed, the All Blacks’ ‘Legacy’ book,” Konrad said, referring to New Zealand’s legendary rugby team. “The first chapter is about doing the little things that no one else wants to do.
“Cam is that kid that does all the little things the right way. When you do those things, your teammates notice, and it allows you to lead.”
Brown leads from the front while playing in the back. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Being a captain is good for me because I like that leadership role, especially as a center back,” he said. “It’s just an honor.”
That’s also why Brown, someone who had to wait until his final season to make a lasting first impression, is grateful to be the next in line to uphold the program’s proud tradition.
“It’s a legacy,” he said. “We have a bunch of great guys come through this program — especially last year, we had a couple of Division I players — and to be able to step up and fill those places is an honor.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.