Maddie Johnson defies logic.
Is she the New Trier soccer player who helped the Trevians reach the championship game of the girls Class AA state basketball playoffs this month?
Or is Johnson the basketball player, a defensive nuisance on the court who last season helped her high school soccer team go undefeated at 28-0-2, win a state title–and was named to the Tribune’s all-state team to boot?
She is headed for Boston College on a soccer scholarship, but it doesn’t really seem to matter to the senior how she’s defined, as long as she can play sports with friends like Anne Stanley.
“She’s my best friend and I’ve been playing both sports with her since kindergarten,” Johnson said in the midst of preparing to help the Trevians defend their state soccer title. “I don’t know about other kids, but I would get so burned out if I just did one sport.”
The mold Johnson does fit is shared by several teammates on New Trier’s soccer team. In this era of the specialist, they specialize in finding success no matter what the sport.
– Crysti Howser, the soccer team’s leading scorer last season with 26 goals, also scores goals on the ice. And talk about travel hockey. For the last five months she’s been in Boston each weekend to play for the reigning national under-16 champions, Assabet Valley. Next week the junior will be with the team, competing for another title.
– Sophomore goalkeeper Lili Ferguson grew up in Winnetka but was at a prep school in Connecticut last year. She recently left for Japan to compete in the world full-contact karate championships. Two years ago she finished third in the world in her age group, and she’s on the junior national karate team.
– Sophomore defender Jenny Stone has been fencing for only two years, but she’s already one of the best preps in the nation. A member of New Trier’s fencing team, she’s the highest-ranking sophomore in the Midwest and has qualified for the Junior Olympics.
– Johnson and Stanley are not the only players from New Trier’s Downstate run in basketball to join her on the soccer field. Marissa Akason and freshman Jenny Samuelson were on that team, and Kayanne Gummersall played for the Trevians’ sophomore team.
“They’re all good athletes,” said New Trier coach Jim Burnside, who has an understanding of other sports as well–his father pitched in the major leagues in the late ’50s. “I’m lucky enough to have them and train them. They understand athletics.”
– Iowa signee Jamie Maltman is back too.
“Jamie is a two-sport athlete,” Burnside said. “Soccer and soccer. She is a machine.”
There are multiple threats to New Trier’s No. 1 ranking and its chances of adding another state title to the school’s list of 86, best among all Illinois high schools according to the IHSA.
Lake Zurich and All-Stater Elizabeth Eng were 27-0-2 last season until falling to the Trevians in the title game. But these teams can’t meet until state finals weekend–if both advance. And defending Class A champion St. Viator is not on New Trier’s schedule. So it will be up to teams like Neuqua Valley, Evanston, Naperville Central, Naperville North and Sandburg to try to end New Trier’s unbeaten run.
Top teams
(Last year’s record in parentheses)
1. New Trier (28-0-2): Johanna Johnson, coach Jim Burnside said, “was pretty quiet last year.” But now, he said, the junior “has improved more than anybody. She’s grown, is better out of the air, just a smart player.” With a healthy Marissa Akason, all-stater Maddie Johnson, Iowa recruit Jamie Maltman, Crysti Howser and Anne Stanley returning, a repeat for the Trevians is not out of the question.
2. Lake Zurich (27-1-2): Coach Pete Ternes said cutting some of the 101 girls who tried out was “the hardest part of the job.” Opponents will find it hard to beat this team, whose lone loss was to New Trier in the 2003 Class AA final. Elizabeth Eng, whose 35 assists as a soph were one shy of the state record, returns with Molly Uyenishi (31 goals), Heather Lau, Amy Lomas, Jessica Schuett and goalkeeper Jenny Schoen.
3. St. Viator (26-1): The two-time defending Class A champs have talented seniors like Natalia Walters (Dayton), Lauren Griebel (Navy), goalkeeper Lauren Moser (Rockhurst), relentless 4-foot-10-inch defender Heather Crawford (St. Louis) and junior Elise Weber (13 goals). Danielle Griebel’s OT goal gave the Lions their ’03 title. Coach Rory Dames calls Cory Stiegerwald “probably the best freshman in the state.”
4. Neuqua Valley (21-4-3): All-stater and national team captain Brittany Bock is skipping this season to play boys club soccer. But the Wildcats still have keeper Gianna Logston, Jen Avila, Michelle Weissenhofer, McKenzie Milazzo and Mary Sherman returning for the quarterfinalists (21-4-3). And, coach Dawn Maramba points out, Neuqua Valley will have a Bock on the roster–Brittany’s older sister Jenny (Eastern Illinois).
5. Wheaton Warrenville South (19-5-3): The Tigers won’t have Indiana recruit Kristin Radcliffe (torn ACL), who took 217 shots in 27 games and scored 20 goals last season, available until late in the season, if then. But junior Lauren Holcomb (12 assists), Beth Barton and Katie Vivoda are back from the state’s third-place team. Coach Guy Calipari said Jaclyn Hardek “is beyond our expectations.”
6. St. Charles North (19-5-2): “No excuses” are the newest words in the North Stars’ vocabulary. “We’ve had excuses in the past–we’re young, we’re a new school, we’ve got no seniors,” said coach Ruth Poulin-Vostal. “We aren’t any of those anymore.” National player Lauren Switzer was one of the Chicago area’s best sweepers as a freshman.
7. Benet (12-7-3): DePaul recruit Stefanie Foley is just one player. Too bad for coach Henry Wind, who said, “If I had 11 of her, I’d win state.” He and the Redwings, a 2-1 quarterfinal loser to champ St. Viator last season, will still have a shot. Benet figures to be strong in the back with defenders Patty Brosnan, Justine Higgins and Katie Matteson. With leading scorer Carrie Kostelny having graduated, Foley will move to forward.
8. Lyons (17-11-1): The Lions were the surprise team of the Class AA Elite Eight last season (fourth) and Brook Pearsall returns in goal. She had 10 saves in a 1-0 loss to New Trier in the semifinals. Ashley Ervin and Megan Murphy should figure in the scoring, Allison Christian and Courtney Curby are in the middle and Katie Rehor leads the defense. “Our challenge is staying level headed,” coach Alex Hernandez said.
9. Evanston (18-4-4): No reason, as 2002 state championship coach Marx Succes said, to tear down this house. “We’re just rehabbing.” Crew chiefs will be all-stater Franny Iacuzzi (20 goals, 46 the past two seasons) and defender Kathleen Head, both headed for Colgate. Add Akilah Moore, goalkeeper Carrie Sear (both Colgate), versatile Amanda Steele and sophomore Raquel Rattray who, Succes said, “probably played every minute last year.”
10. Naperville Central (16-3-4): Surprisingly, the Redhawks haven’t reached the state quarterfinals since 1995. They have a shot this season despite a tough section that includes Neuqua Valley. Offense should be no problem for a team that includes Marquette recruit Shaina Mango, Region II standout Jessica Levitt and Christine Sahly.
Best of the rest: Naperville North, Waubonsie Valley, Downers Grove South, Sandburg, Lincoln-Way East.
Top players
Forwards
Kendall Brown, jr., Carmel; Megan Christiansen, so., St. Charles North; Elizabeth Eng, jr., Lake Zurich; Ashley Ervin, sr., Lyons; Franny Iacuzzi, sr., Evanston; KayAnne Gummersall, so., New Trier; Lauren Holcomb, jr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Jessica Levitt, jr., Naperville Central; Lauren Lindner, so., Wheaton Academy; Dominique Locascio, jr., Fremd; Shawn Magrum, jr., Lincoln-Way East; Cynthia Morote, so., Latin; Michaela Pawlewicz, sr., Naperville North; Cory Stiegerwald, fr., St. Viator; Berenice Torres, so., Lane Tech; Michele Weissenhoffer, so., Neuqua Valley; Christi Zwolski, sr., Carmel.
Midfielders
Andrea Apa, sr., Downers Grove South; Jen Avila, sr., Neuqua Valley; Jen Dyer, sr., Naperville North; Sarah Fack, sr., Jacobs; Stefanie Foley, sr., Benet; Lauren Griebel, sr., St. Viator; Kelly Hannon, sr., Fenwick; Crysti Howser, jr., New Trier; Maddie Johnson, sr, New Trier; Jamie Maltman, sr., New Trier; Shaina Mango, sr., Naperville Central; Emily Maynard, so., Latin; Chelsea Potts, so., Waubonsie Valley; Kristin Radcliffe, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Jackie Santacaterina, so., Geneva; Molly Uyenishi, jr., Lake Zurich; Natalia Walters, sr., St. Viator; Elise Weber, jr., St. Viator; Stephanie Zare, jr., Lake Forest.
Defenders
Heather Crawford, sr., St. Viator; Shannon Durocher, sr., Lincoln-Way East; Kathleen Head, sr., Evanston; Mary Therese McDonnell, sr., Sandburg; Jessica Schuett, jr., Lake Zurich; Anne Stanley, sr., New Trier; Lauren Switzer, so., St. Charles North.
Goalkeepers
Dari Brooks, so., Lake Forest Academy; Kali Feiereisel, fr., Libertyville; Lauren Moser, sr., St. Viator; Gianna Logston, sr. Neuqua Valley; Brook Pearsall, sr., Lyons; Emily Smith, sr., Fenwick; Danielle Wagner, jr., Stagg.
