The goals and the assists. The hard work, the sacrifice, the accolades.
None of that stuff matters to St. Charles East’s Sebastian Carranza.
“I would give it all up,” he said, “for a state championship.”
Carranza came oh-so-close this season for the Saints, who lost an epic 9-8 penalty-kick shootout to York in the Class 3A Addison Trail Sectional championship game.
The final game of his high school career, on a field soaked by rain and stymied by wind, stood out to Carranza when the Dukes took the state title with a 4-0 win over Fremd.
“I am still hurt about that game,” he said. “But I think we are probably one of the two best teams in the state based on how our game with York went.
“Anyone could have won that game.”
Not everyone can have the type of senior season produced by Carranza, the 2021 Beacon-News/Courier-News Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
The four-year starter at forward showed elite ability to make shots combined with a ferocious drive and intensely competitive nature. He continually separated himself from the pack.
Senior defender Connor King praised Carranza’s consistency.
“No matter what he does, Sebastian always gives 100%,” King said. “That sets the foundation for him as a person. On the field, you can see how much he wants it more than anyone else.
“He pushes himself and others to get better.”
Carranza entered St. Charles East’s program as the third member of an accomplished family. His older sisters, Chantel and Alondra, earned all-state honors playing for the girls program.
“My sisters pushed me from the beginning, but I also had a drive to separate myself from their accomplishments,” he said. “I wanted to be known for what I did out there.”
All that Sebastian did as a senior was score 35 goals to go with 14 assists in a dominant all-around performance for St. Charles East (18-5).
He stood above the fray for Saints, who played the last two seasons during the same calendar year against the unprecedented backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
During the 2021 calendar year, Carranza came up with an astounding 55 goals and 27 assists in 42 games.
He’s the only Illinois player selected to the prestigious All-American Game scheduled for Dec. 11 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
His ambition, however, was there from the start.
“When I came here as a freshman, I thought about it and how I always had those goals internally,” Carranza said. “I always thought I was modest and humble.
“I didn’t want to brag about what my accomplishments were. I was never overconfident or cocky about my approach to the game.”
During his four varsity seasons, Carranza sought out different, subtle changes to his game.
“I always improved,” he said. “I was never the same player as the year before. Each year, I have taken steps to improve my game.”
That desire manifested itself in different ways, either in a mental grasp of his place on the field or how he could better leverage his physicality to optimize his talent.
Now, he hopes the visibility of the All-American game will open up his recruiting options. He’s looking to become the third member of his family to play in college.
Chantel is a junior forward at defending NCAA Division II national champion Grand Valley State. Alondra is a sophomore defender/midfielder at St. Cloud State.
Sebastian ended his high school career with 89 goals and 46 assists.
“I always wanted to adapt to whatever the coaches asked me to do,” he said. “Or whatever I had to do to make the team perform better — not just in how I play.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
