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Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Quiet at first, Baylee Geni begins to speak up — and open up — for West Aurora on defense. ‘Hear me a lot more.'
The voice of West Aurora's Baylee Geni is cool and authoritative, with perfect pitch and volume. From her position, the senior outside defender also has an ideal perspective to see and feel every aspect of the game. 'I've definitely become more of a leader in using my voice,' Geni said afterward. 'My freshman year, I was so quiet and scared — I don't think I said a single word. 'Now, I'm the one who's talking and you hear me a lot more.' Geni made her presence felt Tuesday night against junior midfielder Ximena Magana to key the host Blackhawks to a 4-1 Upstate Eight West victory over Elgin in Aurora. Sophomore forward Giselle Perez scored three goals and junior midfielder McKenzie Pearch added a goal for West Aurora (11-2-1, 5-0). Sophomore midfielder Michelle Ayala scored Elgin (15-3-1, 2-3). However, the strong defensive play of Geni helped neutralize Magana, who entered the game with 19 goals and 10 assists. West Aurora's defense has recorded more shutouts with nine than goals allowed with eight. Geni, a Waubonsee recruit, has started every game and played almost every minute this season. 'It was fun to watch Magana play,' Geni said. 'She's a very talented player and it was fun to battle against her. I always think of myself as a very clean player. I just wait for their mistakes and honestly look to break them down. 'You want to stop the other team from scoring and give everyone up the field an opportunity. Any goals we have come from the defensive line on the field.' Defenders in soccer are tasked with preventing goals but also start the offensive attack. West Aurora coach Jorge Espana said Geni has made dramatic strides in that part of her game. 'One of the conversations we had last year was that we really struggled connecting the attack from the outside,' he said. 'Seeing her from last year to this year, Baylee has really improved her technical skills to read the game and know how to anticipate plays. 'She is a big part of our ability to connect with the outside midfielders.' Geni's ability to blend the physical and technical have marked her value to the team, according to James Madison-bound senior midfielder Olivia Del Toro. 'Baylee has that great mentality of not letting anything by her,' said Del Toro, who chipped in with an assist Tuesday. 'She understands the mentality of attacking players who are trying to get defenders off guard and score. 'She's a very fun and highly energized person. She's always positive, very encouraging and supportive.' After running cross country her first three years, Geni took a leap of faith and tried flag football in the fall. Her defensive instincts in her preferred sport carried over. 'I played safety, so the farthest back defender, which is a lot like my position here,' she said. 'I was able to use my hands, but it was the same style of play, just getting your body in there and intercepting the ball. 'I've got long legs and I'm very good at getting my body in between all of the other players.' Before the game, Geni and Del Toro were part of six players who celebrated senior night in a special ceremony. It gave her a moment to reflect upon her career with the Blackhawks. 'It felt a little bittersweet, honestly,' she said. 'A good win felt very nice, but I'm also sad that the season is coming to an end. The four years have gone by super fast. 'I've grown so much more comfortable with the other girls, knowing they'll welcome me and hear what I have to say and listen to me rather than attacking me for what I'm saying.'
Chicago Tribune
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
West Aurora's Gracie Del Toro, who comes from soccer family, carves out niche. Like her mom. ‘We have a connection.'
Soccer is big in her family, but for West Aurora sophomore Gracie Del Toro, it doesn't top the list. That doesn't make her an outlier, however. After trying both sports at a young age, Gracie simply became bullish on softball. 'I was a goalie,' Del Toro said. 'I liked making diving saves and was always rolling around, getting dirty. Then I tried softball and found out there was a lot of sliding and diving in the dirt, too.' That said, the 5-foot-2 Toro has settled in on the outfield grass for the Blackhawks. She plays left field in her second year on varsity and then center field for the Wasco Diamonds in travel. Del Toro and senior center fielder Keira Hayton provided speedy blanket coverage Saturday for host West Aurora but it wasn't enough in a 3-1 nonconference loss to Plainfield Central. Hayton ran down five fly balls and Del Toro three, but the Blackhawks (9-1) were checked on two hits — a single and a double by Hayton. Kaylynn Howe struck out nine for the Wildcats (8-9-1). Two walks, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Alyssa Falcone accounted for the only run by West Aurora (9-10). 'It definitely wasn't my day,' said Del Toro, held hitless in two at-bats with a sacrifice bunt. 'She wasn't coming with a lot of speed or a lot of spin. A high fastball was giving a lot of us trouble.' Gracie's dad, Ricky, and her uncle, Joel, got their kicks playing soccer at Marmion before going Division I in college. Ricky graduated in 2002, then played at IUPUI. Joel graduated in 2004, then played at Eastern Illinois. Olivia, Gracie's older sister, has followed in their father's footsteps. The James Madison-bound senior midfielder/forward is an outstanding soccer player for West Aurora (8-2-1). 'We have a connection with softball, too,' Gracie said. 'Our mom, Whitnie, is from Sacramento, California. She played softball at IUPUI — shortstop. That's where she met my dad.' Olivia, a team captain, missed the early part of the season but is still second in scoring for West Aurora with four goals and three assists in just three games. She led the Blackhawks last year with 15 goals and seven assists. Their dad, Ricky, teaches in the foreign languages department at West Aurora and also serves as an assistant coach for the Aurora University men's soccer team. He previously coached high school in Indianapolis and at Marmion. Like her mom, Gracie also hopes to play softball in college. West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett recently flipped Del Toro from batting second to third in the order, exchanging places with Hayton. 'She's fast and pretty quick,' Hayslett said of Del Toro. 'Gracie's getting stronger. She's small, but she packs a punch and she's stronger than people think. 'She's a captain of this team, and everybody thinks the world of her. She's one of our leaders.' Del Toro is hitting .380 with four doubles, a triple and 15 RBIs. She also has 10 stolen bases on 11 attempts. 'Individually, I'm doing better this season,' she said. 'Last year, I struggled some with the quicker pitching at the varsity level. This year, I've gotten used to it. 'As far as flipping me to third in the order, Keira does a lot more soft slapping and bunting for a hit. I'm more of a hard slapper, and it has helped my RBI total.' Del Toro also gave another sport a try this past fall, playing for West Aurora's inaugural girls flag football team, which won a regional title and advanced to the sectional final. 'I had several friends on the softball team who were going to try out,' she said. 'They convinced me to try it.' She was joined on the team by sophomore infielder Bella Marzullo and sophomore catcher Macie Spenny, who split time at quarterback for the surprising Blackhawks. 'I ended up playing wide receiver,' Del Toro said. 'It turned out to be a lot of fun, and I'll play again this fall. A lot of the drills involving footwork were similar to some things in softball. 'After our run last year, there seems to be even more interest. I've had a lot of people asking me about it, and I think in a few years, flag football is going to be pretty big.'
Chicago Tribune
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Giselle Perez keeps piling up the goals and assists for West Aurora in breakout season. ‘So calm and collected.'
To sophomore forward Giselle Perez, every soccer game for West Aurora is like a movie. Perez is known as 'Gigi' — think of the Oscar-winning French musical — and she has very distinctive characteristics when she's in or out of character for the Blackhawks. 'I'm like two very different people,' she said. 'Off the field, I'm very shy. Once I'm playing, I become very aggressive and bold in everything I do out there. 'I try to always be in control. I'm very calm on the ball.' Perez maintained her torrid start to the season Tuesday night, scoring two goals and adding two assists for the Blackhawks in a 9-0 victory over Illinois Math & Science Academy. In her first significant playing time since returning from an injury, James Madison-bound senior midfielder Olivia Del Toro scored two goals and had an assist for West Aurora (5-0). In her breakout second season, Perez already has tallied a team-high six goals with five assists. 'I like scoring and creating for others,' she said. 'Obviously, I get to celebrate my own goals, but I also love the enjoyment of my teammates and helping them do well.' It has definitely shown up on the field. 'She has made great improvements this season,' West Aurora coach Jorge Espana said. 'She has really improved her first touch, and her movement off the ball. 'Her growth and work ethic have been impressive, and she's becoming a real asset to the team.' At 5-foot-2, Perez is quick, explosive to the ball and uses her speed to gain the upper hand. She has also become more familiar and instinctual in her playing style while existing in the moment. 'I think the biggest difference from my freshman season is that I just trained, practiced and tried my best to become a better player,' she said. 'Last year, I think I was in my head a lot. 'That made my confidence go down and made me not as good a player as I am. I've improved my speed and touch. Now, my coach says whenever I get the ball at my feet, I'm dangerous.' Perez was one of several sophomores who scored goals against IMSA. Lizbeth Salinas, the other starting forward, had a goal and two assist and midfielder Makayla Parra also had a goal. The combined youth, energy and spirit of the sophomore class is a crucial reason the Blackhawks have posted a 33-1 scoring differential through five games. 'We're all close,' Parra said. 'Gigi is a very determined and passionate person. When she sets a goal for herself, she won't stop until she reaches it. She just shines. 'It's amazing to watch her play because she is so calm and collected. She is also very quick and fast-paced. By the time the defenders are trying to stop her, she is already about to score.' Perez has also developed a vital rapport with Salinas in their first year playing together. Salinas has five goals and five assists, and the two attacking players have played off each other brilliantly. 'From the start we just clicked,' Perez said. 'In the game, we both assisted each other, showing how well we played together. I feel like having her there just makes me feel more comfortable.' Perez started playing the sport organizationally in fifth grade. The game just suits her personality and desire to stand out on her own terms. 'I'm very competitive in everything and I always want to win games,' she said. 'I think I was just born that way. When I think about it, the thing I love the most about playing is just making friends. 'It feels like home, because whenever I play, it just makes me feel good.'
