Wauconda midfielder Aiden Werner’s freshman season was unlike most.
Werner scored eight goals as a starter for a senior-dominated team that advanced to the 2024 Class 2A Grayslake Central Sectional championship game.
“We had a loaded team during Aiden’s freshman year,” Wauconda coach Tim Miller said. “But he was too good to keep off the field. He was small and slight for his age, but he played the center mid attacking position — the most important position — by the end of the season.”
But Werner’s lack of maturity posed other problems.
“He was kind of a complainer,” Miller said. “He got a ton of yellow cards. I would even receive emails from his teachers about his behavior.”
Werner said he eventually understood that he was hurting the team.
“I definitely got into trouble my freshman year,” he said. “I would do dumb things that would impact the team in general. I got six or seven yellow cards.
“I realized that getting yellow cards and going off the field would impact not just me but the team in general. I realized it was not just about me but about the team. I couldn’t keep coming off the field for dumb things, like talking to the refs. I matured over time, including in the classroom.”
Werner’s growth has been essential for the third-seeded Bulldogs (11-6-1, 5-2), who will play sixth-seeded Woodstock in the Class 2A Wauconda Regional semifinals on Wednesday after tying for second place in the Northern Lake County Conference. The 5-foot-8 junior has scored a team-best 23 goals and also has seven assists.
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Werner has been particularly good in close games, scoring six game-winning goals. He also has scored multiple goals in six games. Overall, he has recorded 38 goals and 87 points in his three-year varsity career despite missing 10 games with a knee injury during his sophomore season.
“He’s a special player,” Miller said. “He can score in the air — can jump out of the gym and win head balls and finish in the air. He can go by people with his right foot or left foot, and he’s amazing on free kicks.”
Werner has impressed senior forward Brandon Palestina, who is one of the team’s captains.
“His confidence lets him attempt things others wouldn’t,” Palestina said. “I think also Aiden has focused less on the results and more on enjoying playing. His attitude going into games has improved from his freshman year to now, and it’s helped the team improve and to win.”
Werner’s intelligence is one of the keys to his success.
“Aiden is a very intelligent kid in the classroom, a gifted student, and a coach on the field,” Miller said. “He’s grown at helping his teammates come along to his level and what he sees on the field. The game is slowed down for him.”
Werner credits former Wauconda standouts Freddy Barnshaw, Mario Torres and Sam Jurczyk for helping mold him into a leader.
“I had people helping me and teaching me to lead,” Werner said. “I learned to play for my team and to give everything for my team, not to play for myself.
“I want our team to do well. I realized if I want to be in those shoes of a leader, I have to be an older teammate and big brother to help the younger teammates.”
Werner said his main goal is leading the Bulldogs on a long run in the postseason.
“I can’t wait for the playoffs,” he said. “We are hosting regionals, and we have the tools to make it far. We’ve had some injuries, but I believe the team is getting healthy and able to get it done.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.