Latest news with #NapervilleCentral
Chicago Tribune
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Neuqua Valley freshman Asha Kikama ensures ‘no one's going to get past her.' Not even Naperville Central.
Neuqua Valley's Asha Kikama was given a difficult assignment on Tuesday. The freshman defender had to mark Naperville Central star senior forward Callie Tumilty and had to move slightly out of position to do it. 'There's always nerves, but you gotta remember she's just a girl,' Kikama said. 'She goes to school like everyone else. So I have to bring the same intensity to her, keep her in front of me. 'As long as she doesn't shoot it, she's not going to score.' The Ohio State-bound Tumilty didn't score, mustering only two off-target shots, and neither did Naperville Central, which was shut out for the only time this season. The efforts by Kikama and other defenders like senior Chloe Orlow, plus a great goal by junior forward Alexis May, allowed the third-seeded Wildcats to upset the second-seeded Redhawks 1-0 in the Class 3A Naperville North Sectional semifinals. Neuqua Valley (16-3), which is in the sectional championship game for the first time since 2018, will play fourth-seeded Naperville North (14-5-3) at 5 p.m. Friday. 'I want to work as hard as I can for my whole team,' Kikama said. 'I have a good feeling, given that I gave everything I could have out there for my team and left everything on the field.' It's been that way all season for Kikama, who plays center back alongside Orlow. On Tuesday, though, Neuqua Valley coach Arnoldo Gonzalez had Kikama play defensive midfielder, slightly in front of Orlow. 'It was almost going back to my days and that stopper-sweeper position,' Gonzalez said. 'We just wanted that extra body in the middle playing a little bit high up. But if she needs that help, she can still tuck in.' The Redhawks (20-2-1), who had won 14 straight games since losing 2-1 to the Wildcats on April 8, nearly tucked away a goal 10 minutes after kickoff when senior midfielder Rebecca Ruggiero's header hit the crossbar. But they had few chances after that as Neuqua Valley defended vigorously all over the field, starting up top with Yale-bound senior forward Selma Larbi. 'Defensively, our plan was to just be extremely aggressive, to just go to every ball,' Larbi said. 'Then offensively, I knew I might have been outnumbered, so I just had to continue to run at them and try to force like a bad ball or like a bad kick.' The tactic disrupted Naperville Central's rhythm, and the Wildcats' confidence soared when May received a pass from freshman midfielder Caitlin King and ripped a 20-yard shot inside the right post with 37:32 left in the second half. Kikama and her teammates then held off every rush by the Redhawks. 'She was playing out of position tonight,' Orlow said. 'She stepped into the midfield, and she showed that she could play anywhere on the field. 'She's going to work her heart out out there so that we can keep the ball. Callie got nothing on her.' Larbi was impressed but not stunned. 'Asha is extremely consistent,' Larbi said. 'She's a very good player. It's not just this game. She's done well in almost every single game that we played this season. She's extremely, extremely aggressive, and it's really, really hard to get past her. 'As you can see tonight, a lot of the central attackers had a really hard time getting past her. She's just a wall, and she has the mindset that no one's going to get past her.' This mindset was even more prevalent down the stretch, when Kikama made two clean slide tackles in her box. That's a tactic rarely used at the high school level due to the risk, and Gonzalez sometimes warns her to be careful. 'But she's very confident,' Gonzalez said. 'She really reads the game well, so she's anticipating for the most part. She is never really getting stuck committing fouls. 'She plays on the edge, keeps you on the edge of the seat. But she's really good at what she does, which is anticipating and recovery.' Soccer talent runs in Kikama's family. Her father, Kividi, played at SIU-Edwardsville. Her brother Ayel, 20, played for Neuqua Valley, and her brother Aton, 16, plays club soccer. But playing great defense also requires confidence. Kikama said that comes from experience and supportive teammates. 'The bench is always cheering on everyone, and especially Chloe was telling me, 'You got it,'' Kikama said. 'Everyone is building you up together. That gives you a lot.'
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville Central shortstop Natalie Lau's links to baseball include ‘A League of Their Own,' history behind it
Naperville Central junior shortstop Natalie Lau has a family connection to baseball history, and that person wrote a book. She isn't related to the late Charley Lau, the former Chicago White Sox hitting coach who authored 'The Art of Hitting. 300.' Natalie Lau is the great-granddaughter of Dolly Niemiec Konwinski, who was born in Chicago in 1931 and was an infielder for several teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1948 until a car crash ended her playing career in 1952. Baseball and softball have been a family staple ever since. 'Softball's pretty much been through my lineage through the years,' Lau said. 'I think my grandma played a couple of years. My aunt maybe played like a year. My mom played in high school. She was an all-state first baseman in Michigan for her high school team. My brother used to play baseball, and now I'm playing softball.' Lau, a three-year varsity player, is doing it well. She's hitting .348 with six doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 23 runs scored and a team-high seven stolen bases for the Redhawks (20-12, 12-3), who won a share of their first DuPage Valley Conference championship since 2015 and will play West Aurora in the Class 4A Naperville Central Regional semifinals on Wednesday. 'She's done a real nice job defensively and is hitting the ball well, runs well,' Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. 'She really has a lot of energy in the dugout. She is one of the leaders in the dugout making noise and getting people going.' Lau said she gets that from Konwinski, who died at the age of 87 in 2018. Lau was in fifth grade at the time. 'I did get to meet her,' Lau said. 'She lived in Michigan, so when I was younger, we would go up there a lot, and we would get to see her quite often. 'But it's always been kind of hard for her and my great-grandpa to come watch me play because they have their own schedule. My travel team did get to play in Michigan last year. My great-grandma had passed, so she wasn't able to see, but my great-grandpa did.' Konwinski, who became a professional bowler, coached her son's Little League teams and umpired high school games, gave Lau valuable advice. 'She always told me to keep my head up and just try my best and always be loud, be confident and have fun with your teammates,' Lau said. 'I feel like I've taken that advice to heart a lot.' Lau's teammates agree. 'I love Natalie so much,' Naperville Central sophomore pitcher Avery Miller said. 'She's done so much for me. On the field, when something bad has happened, she always has my back. 'We love joking around together. She'll always make me laugh if I'm down. She's just a great person to be around, and I just think everyone should have their own person like that.' While the 1940s might seem like ancient history to today's teenagers, the Redhawks enjoy hearing stories about Konwinski's exploits. The AAGPBL, which was founded by former Chicago Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley in 1943 and existed until 1954, was immortalized in the 1992 movie 'A League of Their Own.' Konwinski, who wrote the book 'Summertime Dreams: Yes! Girls Can Play Baseball,' appeared as an extra and was a consultant for the film, which starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna. 'I think it's so cool having a teammate that's had someone that experienced that,' Miller said. 'It's just a real blast of the past. 'We usually have our conversations on the bus or in the dugout. Sometimes it'll come up, and she'll explain really cool things.' Even Nussbaum, who is in his 41st season as coach, enjoys hearing the history. He also has a family connection to the AAGPBL. 'My brother's father-in-law grew up in South Bend, and his dad used to take him to games when he was little,' Nussbaum said. 'It's a cool part of history.' For Lau, who aspires to play softball in college and study business or law, her family history is something to be treasured. 'It's a really cool, fun fact because it's something that a lot of people wouldn't know,' she said. 'It's really cool to trace the sport back through generations and generations.'
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chasing greatness, NIU recruit Jamie Saran becomes more complete player for Naperville Central
Naperville Central senior first baseman Jamie Saran is a fearsome slugger in the eyes of opposing pitchers. There's a legitimate reason for that. The Northern Illinois recruit's 35 home runs and 204 RBIs are the program's career records. But Saran has other, often overlooked qualities, which she demonstrated when she scored from second base on a single to right field by senior Avery Hayward on Friday. 'Jamie's a really smart base runner,' Naperville Central junior Natalie Lau said. 'I know she can get the job done when we need her to.' Saran slid into home plate in a cloud of dust to give the Redhawks a 3-1 lead over DeKalb in the third inning of a DuPage Valley Conference game at Aurora University. Three innings later, Saran tried to score from first base on Lau's double to center field but was tagged out at the plate. Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said after the game he shouldn't have sent her that time. The Redhawks still won 15-5 in six innings. 'I knew there were two outs on both,' Saran said. ''Nuss' was telling me to go, and I was cutting those corners and I was just going as fast as I can to try to score.' Saran, a four-year starter who is hitting .413 with eight doubles, five home runs, 36 RBIs and 25 runs scored for conference co-leader Naperville Central (18-12, 10-3), has been emphasizing movement as she expands her repertoire of skills. 'I got more fast over the summer because I did a lot of agility training and I worked on turning fast,' she said. 'I love running drills. I do them quite often, and I'm definitely going to be doing them a lot more getting ready for college. I'm still working on it.' Those agility drills came in handy against the Barbs. In the first inning, Saran snagged a line drive and stepped on first base to double off a runner. It was the first of five putouts for Saran, who also successfully navigated a fierce wind to make a lunging catch of a pop-up in the fourth inning. Saran made another nifty play in the sixth. DeKalb's Izzy Aranda was on first after a leadoff single when she got caught off the base by Naperville Central senior catcher Meredith Cann. Saran caught Cann's pickoff throw and chased Aranda nearly all the way to second base before flipping the ball to Lau, who tagged out Aranda. 'I love making great plays and helping out my teammates,' Saran said. 'They made a lot of great plays as well today.' Saran went 1-for-3 with a walk but had two hard-hit balls turned into outs, one of which got to the right fielder so quickly that Naperville Central senior Shea Meech was forced out at second. Saran's presence in the lineup and her ability to make adjustments boosts all of the Redhawks. 'What's difficult for Jamie is not the really good pitches, it's the variance in speed,' Nussbaum said. 'You'll get somebody like (Neuqua Valley ace Ava) Drehs, who is as fast as we see, and then you'll get some people that aren't as fast, depend more on junk and get the ball over the plate. 'It's hard for high school hitters to adjust to that, and I think she's done a good job of that. She hits with power, hits the ball the other way and knows the game.' Saran also knows how to encourage her teammates. 'Jamie is one of the best teammates you could ask for,' Lau said. 'She brings a lot of positivity into the dugout. 'You know whenever you're upset about making an error or messing up, you can always go talk to Jamie, and Jamie will make you feel better about it. I aspire to be like her. So I'm definitely going to miss having Jamie in the dugout and on the field with me next year.'
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville's Payton Thorne, named after Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, gets his first shot in the NFL
Former Naperville Central quarterback Payton Thorne stopped by his alma mater one day last week to toss the football around with Jayden Reed, Cade McDonald and Reggie Fleurima. The practice session with the former Redhawks receivers took place during school hours at Memorial Stadium and within view of several classrooms. It's not hard to imagine what a distraction that must have been for students. One member of the quartet, Reed, who is entering his third season with the Green Bay Packers, is already playing in the NFL. The other three are hoping to join him one day. Thorne is the closest, having signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on April 26. 'It was great,' Thorne said of signing the contract. 'Obviously, you've dreamed your whole life to play in the NFL. The next step of that journey was just getting an opportunity. So I'm thankful for the opportunity that has presented itself, and now it's about doing everything I can to stick around as long as I can in the league.' Those who know Thorne best are optimistic he has a good chance to do that. 'I absolutely think he does,' retired Naperville Central football coach Mike Stine said. 'The game now becomes a business, and to be successful now, you have to treat it like a business. 'There is nobody that will ever outwork Payton when it comes to that. So I think his chances of being successful at this level becomes possibly greater just because of his contributions that he can add.' Thorne, who left Thursday for rookie minicamp in Cincinnati, gained a wealth of college experience during four years at Michigan State and two at Auburn. In 53 games, including 48 starts, he passed for 10,961 yards and 86 touchdowns with 43 interceptions. He added 1,068 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. That didn't come as a surprise to Stine, who was Thorne's coach during his two seasons with the Redhawks. 'You got to be talented first, and you got to be lucky, and you got to be at the right place at the right time when you get your opportunity to take advantage of it,' Stine said. 'I know Payton will be there for that, and he's been preparing for this his whole life. 'He and I have talked about that. He's the son and grandson of a coach.' Thorne's father, Jeff, was a four-year starting quarterback at Eastern Illinois who later coached North Central College to its first NCAA Division III national championship in 2019. Jeff Thorne, who named Payton after Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, took two years off to be able to watch his son play at Auburn and now works in sales for GoRout. 'My dad has been there every step of the way,' Payton Thorne said. 'He's been the most vital person in my athletic journey, so being able to share that with him was really cool. 'His dream was to play in the NFL, and I think that he would have if he was taller. He's only 5-10, but he was a really talented guy. So for me to get this opportunity is pretty cool.' The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Thorne feels he is as prepared as anyone after playing in the Big Ten and the SEC. 'I don't think many guys out there have played against the collection of schools that I have and been able to play on,' Thorne said. 'That I got to play the best of the best and on some pretty big stages is definitely something that I know will be of use going forward. 'I've played against a lot of guys that are doing a lot of great things in the NFL. Obviously, the NFL is different, but I've played the highest level of college football, the closest thing to the NFL that you can get, so I definitely have confidence with that.' Naperville Central football coach Mike Ulreich, who was the defensive coordinator during Thorne's time with the Redhawks, is equally confident in him. 'I can't image many quarterbacks in college that have started more games than Payton Thorne,' Ulreich said. 'He is a pro in every sense of the term. 'He gets it, every single piece of it — the preparation, the offseason work — and he's probably one of the most competitive people I've ever been around.' Thorne will face his fiercest competition yet to earn a roster spot with the Bengals, who have veteran quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Jake Browning and Logan Woodside on their roster. But Thorne is eager to learn from Burrow while getting the chance to throw to stars like Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. 'It's a chance to learn from Joe, learning what his thought processes are on certain things, but even more so just watching him and observing the way that he works and goes about his business,' Thorne said. 'Then it's a great coaching staff as well, so I'm looking to be a sponge and absorb as much of the coaching points that they have and learn the offense as quickly as possible, and then just get to know my teammates and get to work.' As an undrafted free agent, Thorne will have his work cut out for him. But he wouldn't be the first former Redhawks player to reach the NFL that way. Tight end Cameron Brate, a 2010 Naperville Central grad, won a Super Bowl during a nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 'Cam Brate signed a contract with the Buccaneers right after the draft, just won those guys over,' Ulreich said. 'Just hoping the same thing for Payton, that he gets his foot in the door. 'That type of character that Payton Thorne is, if he's successful, then it's no surprise. He's just a wonderful human being.' Stine will continue to cheer for him. 'Growing up, we all have dreams, and a few select get to reach those dreams,' Stine said. 'I know Payton has worked extremely hard to get where he's at. It will be exciting to watch this journey continue for him.'
Chicago Tribune
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
With Green Bay recruit Bella Brozek, Naperville Central makes ‘good things happen.' A lot of goals. A lot of wins.
Naperville Central senior forward Bella Brozek has proved throughout her three-year varsity career that she can roll with the changes. Now the Green Bay recruit and the Redhawks are just plain rolling. With senior forward Callie Tumilty on the team for the first time, Brozek isn't its leading scorer anymore, but the goals and wins are piling up. 'I definitely think she's adapting,' Naperville Central senior midfielder Rebecca Ruggiero said. 'Being able to play with Callie is a huge help.' As a sophomore, Brozek was a varsity rookie trying to find her place. She was known mostly for her speed and also for running track during the soccer season. Then Brozek was the area's breakout star as a junior, recording a team-high 14 goals and a team-high 10 assists as Naperville Central won its first sectional title in 29 years. Brozek is still producing at a high rate this season, contributing seven goals and seven assists. But she's no longer the top scoring threat. Tumilty, an Ohio State recruit, has taken over that role and the spotlight that goes with it. She leads the Redhawks (13-1-1), who have won seven games in a row, with 15 goals and 12 assists. Brozek, who no longer runs track, doesn't mind. She and Tumilty give Naperville Central perhaps the best pair of wingers in the state, with senior forward Emma Russell operating in between them. 'It's a help because it's both of us, and then we have a strong center forward, Emma, and our subs can fill in without missing a beat,' Brozek said. 'So I think being able to bump it off of each other is really helpful because when forwards find forwards, that's when good things happen.' Plenty of good things are happening for the Redhawks, who are averaging four goals per game and have outscored their opponents 61-5. Brozek, whose play has been key, has multiple strengths. 'Definitely her speed is probably the main one and also her work ethic,' Ruggiero said. 'She does a really good job of recovering balls if she loses it and just working hard to track back her mark. She does a really good job of that.' Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said that latter trait stood out during a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Barrington in the Naperville Invitational semifinals at Memorial Stadium on Friday. 'The thing that I've been most impressed with is her defensive work rate as far as learning when to come back and double to win balls,' Adams said. 'Today was especially important. She understood that hey, come back, win the ball and now we can go forward. 'That's in addition to the fact that she is the most unselfish player, to the point that sometimes you're like, 'Bella, you're a forward. You're allowed to shoot too.'' Brozek displayed her unselfishness against Barrington when she beat a defender into the box on a counterattack. Instead of shooting, she passed to sophomore midfielder Nicole Sacek, who scored on a 15-yard shot. 'I think for both of us, it just shows our hard work — Bella fighting to keep the ball, especially when she had a defender on her,' Sacek said. 'It led to me, and that's how the goals happen on our team, because everyone works. That's just how it is.' Adams said Brozek is optimally exploiting defenses better than she did in the past. With so many attack-minded players in the lineup, the Redhawks are creating scoring chances at a high rate. That sometimes leads to situations akin to a basketball player passing up a good shot to give a teammate a great shot. 'We use the term balance a lot,' Adams said. 'There's a balance between when do I play a ball across and when do I shoot it myself. Bella's done a really good job of balancing when do I shoot and when do I pass.' Brozek just wants to win. The Redhawks do that a lot, and she thinks she knows why. 'We just have a lot to offer,' Brozek said. 'We're very diverse. Pretty much everyone on our team can play a different position. Everyone is willing to work hard, everyone is willing to fight for each other, and that's how people win.'
