The Chicago Fire today announced its Fifth Annual Boys High School Soccer All-State All-Academic Team, sponsored by Calamos Investments. This year's top team of 22 student-athletes will be honored at the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-State Banquet this Thursday, Nov. 18 at the Diplomat West in Elmhurst, IL. This fall, the Fire and Calamos Investments recognized 128 players on its All-Academic, Special Mention and Honorable Mention Teams, with representatives from a record 86 schools across the state earning distinction for their work on the soccer field, in the classroom and in their respective communities. Eleven senior class valedictorians were included in this year's squads, and 24 schools had multiple players represent their institutions, with Marian Catholic High School and (Chicago) Northside College Prep School leading the way with five students each between the three teams. Rockford Boylan High School and Glenbard North High School both had two students make the All-State All-Academic First Team.
The Chicago Fire and Calamos Investments will recognize the Boys 2004 All-State All-Academic Team on the Soldier Field pitch at halftime of a Fire match during June or July in the 2005 MLS season. Each of the 22 recognized First-Team student-athletes will receive a complimentary ticket to the Major League Soccer contest and will have the chance to purchase additional tickets for family and friends at a discounted price. Special Mention and Honorable Mention Team members will also be recognized and will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for family and friends at the discounted price.
"The Chicago Fire is once again excited to join Calamos Investments and the IHSSCA in honoring these amazing student-athletes for their contributions on and off the soccer field," said Fire Director of Community Relations Donald Ortale. "The popularity of making the All-State All-Academic Team continues to increase among the students and coaches every year, as shown by the tremendous response this fall. The Fire is honored to have the opportunity to reward these students for the hard work and determination they have shown throughout their high school careers."
Since the spring of 2003, Calamos Investments has partnered with the Chicago Fire to recognize outstanding soccer players throughout the State of Illinois, with the Boys 2004 squad marking the fourth time the organizations have come together to honor these special student-athletes. Located in Naperville, Illinois, Calamos provides professional money management services to corporations, public and private institutions, pension funds, insurance companies and individuals. Offering equity, convertible growth, convertible, high yield, global/international, and alternative investment strategies, the firm is also an investment advisor to a family of mutual funds.
"Calamos Investments is honored to join the Fire in recognizing these young and talented individuals for their accomplishments both in the classroom and on the field," said John Calamos, CEO of the firm. "We are proud to once again sponsor the team to help recognize the important and impressive achievements of student-athletes across the state of Illinois."
High School soccer coaches from throughout the state of Illinois were asked to nominate senior student athletes with at least a "B" grade point average that have contributed to their high school soccer program for at least three years and must be involved in at least two other school or community activities or sports.
2004 Boys All-Academic Team
Mike Binz (Oswego H.S.), Brian Bush (Morris H.S.), Nathan Chase (West Aurora H.S.), Patrick Dahlen (Carbondale H.S.), Jack Eisenberg (Downers Grove North H.S.), Ryan Greene (Wheaton Warrenville South H.S.), Arsenis Hadjiagapiou (Stagg H.S.), Jeff Hinchman (Geneva H.S.), Tyler Jensen (DeKalb H.S.), Zachary Johnson (Rockford Boylan H.S.), John Lindner (Glenbard North H.S.), Joseph Lindner (Glenbard North H.S.), David Pica (Champaign Centennial H.S.), Ryan Reed (Hersey H.S.), Francisco Robles (Lincoln-Way Central H.S.), Brian Schaefer (Rockford Boylan H.S.), Gordon Scharf (Vernon Hills H.S.), Ryan Stegink (Maine South H.S.), Keith Swaback (Stevenson H.S.), Edward Visel (Winnebago H.S.), Carl Westerby (Dunlap H.S.), Brian Williams (Glenbard West H.S.).
2004 Boys Special Mention
Eric Ahonen (Zion-Benton H.S.), Jared Bohland (Orion H.S.), Craig Bucy (Jacksonville H.S.), Lukasz Bukowski (Reavis H.S.), Eric Burke (Lockport H.S.), Brian Cain (Oregon H.S.), Erminio Caporale (Maine South H.S.), Nath Chonhsonat (Rich East H.S), Kyle Cooke (St. Joseph's H.S.), Horacio Coronel (Sullivan H.S.), Jason Curry (Downers Grove South H.S.), Matas Cyvas (Benet Academy), Gerardo Espana (Foreman H.S.), Kevin Gaffney (Marian Central Catholic H.S.), Ben Gira (Hersey H.S.), Drew Griffiths (Port Byron Riverdale H.S.), Tony Grilo (Rantoul Township H.S.), William Hahm (Illinois Math & Science Academy), Andrew Held (Alton H.S.), Eric Hermosillo (Marmion Academy), Agustin Herrera (Bloom H.S.), David Jaffee (New Trier H.S.), Konrad Karasek (St. Viator H.S.), Daniel Killian (North Shore Country Day School), Walt Kinney (Vandalia H.S.), Ryan Kruse (Rockford Guilford), Josh Leach (East Alton-Wood River H.S.), Hunter Long (Wheaton Academy), Chris Manna (Elk Grove H.S.), Chris Marti (Freeport H.S.), Ryan Maxey (Payton College Prep H.S.), Christian Mendoza (Lane Tech H.S.), Steven Montague (Elk Grove H.S.), Pedro Ocampo (North Chicago H.S.), Yared Ogunro (Carmel H.S.), Billy Ouska (Buffalo Grove H.S.), Mike Piazza (Carl Sandburg H.S.), James Pikul (Maine South H.S.), Patrick Richel (Marian Catholic H.S.), Jim Riley (Glenbrook South H.S.), Michael Rosenburg (Buffalo Grove H.S.), James T. Scheffers (Sycamore H.S.), Jacob Schlemper (Greenville H.S.), Roger Straz (Maine West H.S.), Paul Torres (Marian Catholic H.S.), Stephen Wait (Greenville H.S.), Spencer White (Taylorville H.S.), Joe Wienman (Dixon H.S.), Ryan Yarzak (Freeport H.S.), Kelyn Young (Mascoutah H.S.).
2004 Boys Honorable Mention
Mark Baruch (Hersey H.S.), Nick Bell (Morris H.S.), Brad Benhart (Lake Park H.S.), Shaun Burke (Glenbard West H.S.), Mike Burress (Rantoul Township H.S.), Alex Campos (St. Ignatius College Prep H.S.), Thomas Cassady (Wheaton Warrenville South H.S.), Carlos Castro (Von Steuben H.S.), Eric Clough (Marian Catholic H.S.), Joseph Costello (Metamora H.S.), Andy Costello (Northside College Prep H.S.), Bradley Dent (Glenbard North H.S.), Eric Doxstader (Orion H.S.), Jeff Fishbain (New Trier H.S.), Alejandro Flores (Bloom H.S.), Ricardo Gallegos (Prosser H.S.), Bryan Grueneberg (Elk Grove H.S.), Evan Grzelak (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S.), Luke Hallar (St. Ignatius College Prep H.S.), Kevin Harrigan (Downers Grove South H.S.), Jack Heston (Northside College Prep H.S.) Chris Keenan (Northside College Prep H.S.), Moustafa Kharouta (Northside College Prep H.S.), Matthew Kilday (St. Charles East H.S.), Jared King (Lutheran School Association), Matt Kochanowski (Fremd H.S.), Matthew Krager (Chatham Glenwood H.S.), Jonathan Liechty (St. Charles East H.S.), Andy Miller (Barrington H.S.), Jason Mongillo (Buffalo Grove H.S.), Alex Motsinger (Bartonville Limestone H.S.), Shaun Mueller (Stillman Valley H.S.), Andrew Olson (Moline H.S.), Matt Partain (Libertyville H.S.), Paul Pedtke (Evanston H.S.), Taig Rajpal (New Trier H.S.), Matthew Reeb (Metro-East Lutheran H.S.), Stephen Rensa (St. Francis H.S.), Mitchell Rhoads (Geneva H.S.), Justin Rivera (Northside College Prep H.S.), Teddy Schrishuhn (Minooka H.S.), Matias Sich (Glenbard West H.S.), Matt Smith (Lutheran School Association), Juan Carlos Soundara (Rantoul Township H.S.), Cody Todt (Raymond Lincolnwood H.S.), Mike Welton (Marian Catholic H.S.), Adam Wiebe (Glenbard West H.S.), Bryant Williams (Downers Grove South H.S.), Kyle Wilson (Cary-Grove H.S.), Nick Wisniewski (Glenbard North H.S.), Kyle Woseley (Plainfield South H.S.), Jesse Wolter (Glenbrook South H.S.), Gregory Yao (Neuqua Valley H.S.), Brian York (Greenville H.S.), Cesar Zambrano (Marian Catholic H.S.), Joseph Zearing (Illinois Math & Science Academy)
