Copyright Chicago Tribune
Even though Jack Schmidtke plays three sports for South Elgin, soccer has always been the one that consumes the most time and holds the most sway for the senior central defender. It goes beyond the goals and the assists and even the shutouts. “Honestly, for as long as I can remember, soccer has been my identity,” he said. “I’ve lived through it, cried more than I ever have on this field. I’ve put in more hours than I have for anything else.” That’s why Schmidtke wore his heart on his sleeve Tuesday night for the Storm during a 2-0 loss to Glenbrook North in the Class 3A Barrington Supersectional. It was a bittersweet conclusion of a four-year varsity career for Schmidtke as South Elgin (22-4-1) saw a nine-game winning streak snapped. The Spartans (20-2-3) scored twice in the second half. The Storm, who were on a quest for their first-ever trip to state, relied upon Schmidtke as a defensive anchor. His career odyssey wasn’t linear, particularly in locating the perfect spot. “Trying to find the right position for him was the bane of my existence as a coach,” South Elgin’s Jerzy Skowron said of Schmidtke. “We tried him at forward and midfielder. “On a whim last year, I said, ‘Let’s put Jack at central defender against Streamwood.’ He shut them down. From that night on, we saw his versatility. We wouldn’t be here without him.” Schmidtke, who finished the season with three goals and three assists, keyed a defense that posted 10 shutouts this fall. Junior forward Matthew Lipp was the first to offer up his praise. “What a season he had,” Lipp said of Schmidtke. “Our whole back line proved that we deserved to be here. The way he reads the game, he’s always two or three steps ahead of everyone. “As soon as he sees the ball, he’s right on it.” The nearly 6-foot-3 Schmidtke alternates soccer with football as the team’s kicker. He played Friday night for the Storm in a Class 8A first-round playoff game against Hinsdale Central. The soccer sectional final was Saturday morning against St. Charles North. He’s also a two-year starter forward in basketball. “When he came here as a freshman, I told him he had the tools to be the best center back in the state,” Skowron said. “His tools were otherworldly.” The Storm’s magical run in soccer, however, almost happened without him. After his sophomore season, Schmidtke felt increasingly disengaged and unhappy with his performance. “I really struggled with my confidence out on the field and I wasn’t having the success I wanted,” he said. “I didn’t play club and I actually quit soccer for about a year. “I didn’t think I was going to come back for my junior year. Then I realized I just loved it too much.” His father, Karl, also his biggest fan, was a standout for Palatine who played in a state championship game. The bonds and connection with soccer proved to hard to leave behind. “I don’t think I would have been the player I was this season without my team,” he said. “Playing central defender and not having the season I wanted last year changed because of how close our team was and the support I got.” As a leader in back, he brought stability and focus. Wins piled up and he never looked back. “Using my body and my strength gave me great success,” Schmidtke said. “We started out 6-0 and I knew we’d have a great chance to go far in the playoffs. We played, I think, four all-state forwards, and I honestly think I got the respect I deserve. “We put the rest of the state on notice.” Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
