New leaders take the pitch

Philip Nawrocki and Greg Springman knew they would face a challenge in taking over high school soccer teams in the tough North Shore Conference.

While it may take time for the win-loss records to turn around, they both are pleased with their teams early in their first seasons.

Nawrocki, a former assistant coach for powerhouse Nicolet and with club programs, took over for Sean O’Brien, the head coach the last six years at Port Washington High.

Practices run by captains Dagan Daniels and Carson and Mavrick Roller before coaches could contact their players were a big help, Nawrocki said.

“The boys were already on the same page. I just needed to catch up and see what I had,” he said.

Camaraderie is off the charts.

“In 16 years of coaching I have never experienced a varsity soccer team get along so well,” he said.

Before the game against Grafton last Thursday, Nawrocki said, nearly all the team members went on their own to soak their legs in Lake Michigan. On Monday, eight players stayed after practice with goalkeeper Jack Schanen to take shots.

Nawrock heaped praise on the work ethic and values of the teens, and said it’s a tribute to their parents as well.

On the field, Nawrocki said, he expects Masud Zulfakar, Evan Huber, Daniels and Carson Roller to lead the offensive attack, with sophomore Porter Bostwick a sleeper who will someday be an all-conference player.

On defense, junior Sean Bongiorno, “a ridiculous athlete,” Nawrocki said, is a leader, along with junior Logan Bares, who was a center midfielder and “graciously” accepted a center back role.

Nawrocki said the pair will run down attackers to the point “I have no anxiety in those situations.”

In goal is Schanen, who has saved more than two-thirds of the shots taken on him this season.

“There is not one forward who has scored two-thirds of the shots they’ve taken on goal,” Nawrocki said.

He credits goalkeeper coach Megan Otto, a Grafton High aluma, for helping Schanen improve his game, as well as those of  backup keepers Shamir Garcia Pineiro and Spencer Struckman.

Nawrocki, who took over Port’s girls’ program in spring, isn’t a teacher and said he is thankful for assistant coach Matt Esselmann, who teaches at Port High and already knew many of the players.

At Grafton, Greg Springman succeeded legend Don Arnold, who stepped down after 28 years but is in his 27th year as the Black Hawks girls’ coach.

Springman said he hopes to garner higher numbers. The program has 25 players, with five playing on the varsity and junior varsity teams.

“We need some more,” he said.

Scorers are expected to be seniors Evan and Bryce Jobe and sophomore Tanner Marien.

Springman said he wants to work on possessing the ball and “try to build the attack from the back all the way to the front.”

On defense, junior Kolton Micoliczyk and sophomore Lukas Hensel are leading the way. Both are playing center back in Springman’s system with a flat four defenders in back.

Of four players interested in playing goal keeper, Springman finally settled on sophomore Charlie Rose.

The Hawks started the season “playing all the big dogs” in the top NSC programs of Homestead and Whitefish Bay.

But Springman has noticed something about his team so far.

“The strength of our team is they continue to work hard. They never give up on the game,” he said. “It has been a joy getting to know the team and building that team chemistry.

“The kids are starting to buy into the system we want to play. Some upperclassmen have become leaders on and off the field,” he said, mentioning senior midfielder Nathan Gentz.

The coronavirus already hit the Hawks. Springman said he expects to get two players back this week and return to full strength.