Senior captains Diego Villegas, Liam Hickey and Tomas Kunickas helped the Riverside Brookfield High School boys soccer team win the Upstate Eight Conference East Division in its debut season. All three were honored by the conference and the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Midfielders Villegas and Kunickas were named all-sectional. Central defender Hickey was honorable mention all-sectional. For the UEC East, Villegas was named Most Valuable Player and Hickey was co-Defensive Player of the Year.
“I think it is an outstanding honor to have players representing RBHS soccer being named UEC Defensive Player of the Year and UEC MVP, especially in this difficult conference with so many great programs being represented,” RBHS coach Ivek Halic said. “It is a great testament to the hard work these players have put into their game throughout the years. I could not be more happy for Liam and Diego.”
Villegas (9 goals, 8 assists) and Kunickas (13 goals, 8 assists) were the Bulldogs’ top two scorers this season. Hickey contributed to six shutouts as well as conversions in the Bulldogs’ four games decided by penalty kicks.
“I’m beyond thankful to receive recognition for this award. This achievement would not have been possible without the support from my teammates and coaches throughout the season, and although winning this individual accolade is special, the wins and success that I was able to share and celebrate with my team was an even greater feeling,” Hickey said. “I’d like to congratulate Diego Villegas on his UEC MVP award. He completely deserves it and was instrumental to our success in conference.”
Senior midfielder Diego Castillo and senior defender Brandon Elizondo also were named all-conference.Senior Noah Berndt received IHSSCA academic all-sectional honors. Senior Dominic Bastedo received IHSSCA sportsmanship all-sectional honors.
Class 3A regional champion Lyons Township had senior midfielder/forwards Mason Burda (team-high 5 goals and 7 assists) and Kellin Bourjaily (3 goals, 6 assists) and senior defender Devin Wong (2 goals, 3 assists) as all-sectional representatives. Senior defender Fred Chen (1 assist) was academic all-sectional. Senior defender Sean Dunne (2 goals, 2 assists) was sportsmanship all-sectional.
The Lions’ All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division players were senior defender Johnny Rocha (goal), senior goalie Matt Peterson (4.75 shutouts), sophomore midfielder Hayden McTigue (2 assists), Wong and Chen.
Nazareth Academy senior midfielder Arigael Hernandez was named all-sectional and senior defender Dean Faust was honorable mention all-sectional. They also were the Roadrunners’ two All-East Suburban Catholic Conference selections. Julian DeLaTorre was academic all-sectional and senior David Patton was sportsmanship all-sectional.
Football
Riverside Brookfield senior and Class 6A all-state inside linebacker Max Strong was named the UEC East Defensive Player of the Year. The Bulldogs had five players named all-conference – senior lineman Carter Shelby, Strong, junior receiver Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus, junior defensive back Warren Mason and sophomore quarterback Giancarlo Garcia. Honorable mention honors went to seniors Julian Espinoza, Kaleb McCottry and Issac Olivares and juniors Oscar Aguirre and Damian Nieves.
Class 8A quarterfinalist Lyons Township (11-1) had senior receiver/cornerback Travis Stamm and senior receiver/safety Mack Long named all-state and senior lineman Tyler Chambers Honorable mention all-state.
WSC Silver awards went to Stamm (co-MVP), Long (co-Defensive Player of the Year), Chambers (co-Offensive Lineman of the Year) and senior Danny Carroll (co-Offensive Player of the Year).
The Lions’ all-conference players were Stamm, Long, Chambers, Carroll, seniors Shane Harris, Cooper Komsthoeft, JD Mahoney and Dom Pisciotti and juniors Pat Cheney, Brady Rusk and Roman Sosnovyy.
Class 5A state champion Nazareth Academy had senior linebacker Gabe Kaminski of Riverside and quarterback Logan Malachuk named all-state and senior lineman Sam Stec honorable mention all-state. Kaminski and Malachuk were named the respective Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference Green Division Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year. Kaminski, Malachuk and Stec were joined on the all-conference team by senior receiver/defensive back James Penley and junior receivers Jake Cestone and Trenton Walker.
The Roadrunners’ Tim Racki was named CCL/ESCC Green Coach of the Year.
Fenwick senior linebacker Aiden Burns of Riverside was named all-conference for the CCL/ESCC White Division champions and 7A second-round playoff team.
Girls volleyball
Undefeated UEC East champion Riverside Brookfield had senior middle hitter Sofia Owens, senior libero Aimee DiBattista, junior setter Claire Cameron and junior outside hitter Lucy Boyle named all-conference.
Senior outside hitter Maddie Richard and junior libero Kate Heatherly were Lyons Township’s All-WSC Silver selections.
Nazareth junior outside hitter Beth Surowiec was named to the All-ESCC team. Junior right-side hitter/middle blocker Jane Manecke received honorable mention.