Rudi Gesch still recalls the first time he instructed senior midfielder Jake Schemper.

Now the head coach for Timothy Christian’s boys team, Gesch was the eighth-grade skipper for TC in 2004. He said Schemper had the ability level at every position — even goalkeeper.

“Jake (Schemper) was an all-around talent,” said Gesch, whose team captured the Class 1A state runner-up trophy this season. “It was a good challenge for him to develop leadership and there were hints of that in eighth grade.”

Four years later, Schemper has lived up to and maybe even surpassed Gesch’s expectations, to earn the 2008 Press Publications Player of the Year.

“We were a dominant middle school team,” Schemper said. “I think we only lost one game. It was a fun season and Rudi (Gesch) coaching me then, he really left a good imprint on me. So, I had a good taste in my mouth when he came back.”

A four-year varsity contributor, Schemper had his most productive season in 2008. He notched 13 goals and 20 assists. He was the first TC player to be named to the elite Pepsi Showdown All-Tournament Team. One of just 12 players out of 900 to earn the honor this fall,  Schemper was recognized in a ceremony during a Chicago Fire game at Toyota Park.

That was just a stepping stone to the state tournament stage. Schemper and the Trojans’ confidence began to grow just in time for the playoffs.

“We were a pretty loose team, especially in the big games,” Schemper said. “We didn’t get uptight about things. We really didn’t get anxiety in our systems, especially after we won that regional championship game against Lisle. After that, it seemed like there was no pressure on us.”

In a 2-1 win regional championship win over Lisle, Schemper played his typical midfielder position, but also was asked to perform the difficult task of marking Lisle midfielder Konrad Raclawski. The senior entered the game with 80-plus goals in his career. Schemper held him scoreless.

The playoff run even brought out Schemper’s communication skills.

“I didn’t want what happened in the previous three years to happen again,” Schemper said of falling short of the state tournament. “So, I just kind of came out and I guess it worked. I really feel like I started being a vocal leader more in the postseason. During the regular season, I was more the leader with my play. There was a realization that we could do some damage.”

TC carried the momentum of its regional championship all the way to the state championship game, which ended in a 2-0 loss to Winnebago.

“I really think it was having the experience as a varsity player,” Schemper said. “Knowing what you can do and what you can’t do.”

Now Schemper is considering college offers from the likes of Hope College, University of Kentucky and Grinnell College. Wherever his decision leads him, he plans on studying international business.

“He takes everything in stride and adapts to the necessary level of play,” Gesch said of Schemper.
“He got better every year. He was an extension of the coaching staff. We’re going to miss that.”

Alex Aranda
Senior
Streamwood
POSITION Midfielder
STATS 1 goal, 15 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS Of the eight Sabre seniors graduating, this two-time all-sectional and all-area selection is the biggest loss for head coach Matt Polovin. A first-team all-Upstate Eight Conference pick for the third year in a row, ‘Speedy’ Aranda started every varsity game for four years at center midfield, amassing 15 goals and 45 assists for his career while confounding opponents with his agile 5-foot-6, 140-pound frame.

Rodrigo Cobos
Senior
Addison Trail
POSITION Forward
ACHIEVEMENTS A resurgence to the Blazer boys soccer program was due in part to the play of Cobos, a senior captain. Cobos helped the Blazers to their first winning season since 2001 (6-5-7) and also to a pair of shocking West Suburban Gold victories over eventual champion Morton and Downers Grove South. The Blazers also tied Hinsdale Central, a Class 3A sectional champion, during the season.

Dan Messina
Senior
Lake Park
POSITION Forward
STATS 19 goals, 3 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS With three career goals coming into the season, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Messina stepped up his game to earn team-high scoring honors. The all-Upstate Eight Conference, all-sectional and Lancer Classic All-Tournament team selections was a big, strong, fast striker who came up big in big games. With starter Ken Miller out, Messina scored the game’s first goal in a 2-1 overtime win over UEC rival St. Charles East in the Class 3A regional semifinals.

Ken Miller
Senior
Lake Park
POSITION Midfielder
STATS 11 goals, 9 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS The list of reasons why the Lancers have posted back-to-back 14-win seasons after winning just five games two years ago has to include this all-UEC and all-sectional pick. Miller, Lake Park’s MVP and captain and member of the Lancer Classic’s all-tournament team, is an exceptionally quick left-footed threat whose speed could change the game. In a UEC showdown at Toyota Park against Neuqua Valley, Miller tore it up against the Wildcats in a 4-3 win.

Jeb Nash
Senior
Timothy Christian
POSITION Midfielder
STATS 14 goals, 17 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS The senior complimented Player of the Year Jake Schemper on a routine basis and provided a vital role in the Trojans’ second place finish at the IHSA state tournament in Class 1A. Nash was an all-Private School League selection as well as an all-sectional honorable mention selection. He is currently entertaining offers from Trinity Christian and Covenant College.

Bryan Noval
Senior
Glenbard North
POSITION Forward
STATS 18 goals, 5 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS A two-time All-DuPage Valley Conference pick (unanimous this year), Noval led another program rebirth. The Panthers were 21-13-8 the past two seasons after a two-win campaign in 2006. Noval, an all-sectional selection, led the team in scoring each year. He also helped the Lancers to co-champion honors at the St. Charles East tournament and runner-up at Addison Trail. He ends his career with 32 goals and 12 assists.

Alex Perez
Junior
Streamwood
POSITION Forward/goalkeeper
STATS 17 goals, 10 assists, 2 shutouts
ACHIEVEMENTS Perez was a big reason why the Sabres went from sub-.500 to 17-5-4. In net, he shut out St. Charles North three weeks before the North Stars made the supersectionals and Leyden, and earned three other wins, including a 2-1 win over Schaumburg (sectional’s No. 3 seed). Up top, he posted a double-double despite playing goalkeeper for the final six games. The all-state and all-UEC Perez made the all-tournament teams at both the Lancer Classic and Pepsi Showdown.

Ryan Roberts
Senior
York
POSITION Forward
STATS 16 goals, 12 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS A two-year starter for the Dukes, Roberts had the speed to work toward the ball up top and great ability to score in a one-on-one situation. He was tops on the team in goals, he had seven game-winning goals, and registered a two-year total of 20 goals and 16 assists. Roberts was an Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association all-state selection and an all-West Suburban Silver selection.

Nick Roth
Senior
Glenbard East
POSITION Defender
ACHIEVEMENTS There were not many players in the back who did more for a team than Roth. Although the Rams struggled, he was the anchor in the back and helped the team win three more games than a year ago. Roth also came up big in a three overtime loss to Downers South in the regionals. He was a two-year starter and team captain with strong ball skills and top knowledge on the field. Roth was an All-DuPage Valley Conference selection and honorable mention all-sectional pick.

Jake Schemper
Senior
Timothy Christian
POSITION Midfielder
STATS 13 goals, 20 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS The Player of the Year had arguably the best season of his four-year varsity career after aiding the Trojans to a second place finish at the IHSA state tournament in Class 1A. Schemper, who is currently entertaining offers from the University of Kentucky, Hope College and Grinnell College, was an all-Private School League selection, an all-sectional selection, an all-Pepsi Showdown selection and was also named as TC’s Most Valuable Player.

Anthony Selvaggi
Senior
York
POSITION Foward/midfield
STATS 8 goals, 15 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS After playing club the first three years of high school, Selvaggi joined the Dukes this fall. His addition was a huge boost as he and Ryan Roberts were one of the more dangerous 1-2 punches in the area. Selvaggi had great ball skills and speed. He led the team in assists and was second in goals. Selvaggi was an IHSSCA honorable mention all-state and all-conference selection.

Jordan Werner
Montini
Senior
POSITION Forward
STATS 33 goals, 8 assists
ACHIEVEMENTS A Suburban Catholic all-conference selection and all-sectional honorable mention nominee, this senior had a breakout season for the Broncos. Werner led the team with 33 goals, five of which came in the Broncos’ playoff opening victory that advanced the team to the program’s first-ever regional final. “He was an unbelievable player,” said Montini head coach Sue Brown. “His true soccer skills came out this season.”