Heitkemper’s dedication to soccer leads to success

HUNTLEY — Huntley senior boys soccer player and team captain Zach Heitkemper concluded his final preseason playing as a midfielder for the Red Raiders, who finished 14-8-2. Heitkemper totaled eight goals and three assists. He earned All-Fox Valley Conference honors, all-state and all-sectional as well.

All-FVC selections for HHS were also sophomore midfielder Hudson Nielsen; junior forward Isaac Jacobo; senior defender Micah Overly and junior midfielder-defender Gavin Eagen.

Heitkemper, the son of Nicholas and Katerina Tsoukalas Heitkemper,  plays off-season soccer at Chicago Soccer Academy. He answered a survey of soccer questions.

What was your start like in soccer, mentors who showed you the way?

Zach Heitkemper: “I have been around soccer my whole life. My uncle (Dimlin Tsoukalas)was only 13 years old when I was born. I would go to his games, especially his games once he entered Huntley High School. I have been around the program ever since I was 2-years-old and this would lead me to start playing soccer at age two and one-half. From starting that young, I believe I have had the opportunity to have a head start on mastery of the fundamentals and basics of playing soccer. The people who would teach me  all of those things would be my grandfather along with my uncle as I grew up. We would always be training for soccer, or watching soccer as it was what my grandfather (Bill Toukelas) did when he lived in Greece. He would teach me everything I would need to become the person I am today through him.”

Biggest skill development you have worked on at HHS, prior Red Raiders who helped?

Heitkemper: “The ability to get a bunch of kids to come together and become one team. This was essential my senior season as we only had seven varsity players and we wanted to keep the level as high as possible along with all coming together to make one team. The people I learned the most from would be Ethan Koras, Thomas Rodriquez and Austin Killen. I was with them for two years. I learned many different lessons from them along with teaching me how to bring a bunch of kids from different levels come together and make the best team out of it.”

Other sports interests outside of soccer?

Heitkemper: “I would play baseball and basketball and play those sports in my two off-seasons from soccer, winter and summer.”

Teammates who lighten the mood?

Heitkemper: “Every single teammate would bring that positivity that was needed for the team to come together. But the person who would lighten everyone’s mood is Elias Romon. He would always be smiling and cracking jokes in the tines we needed to keep the enjoyment there. The teammates who was especially close to were Hudson Nielsen, Jack Bruenig and Micah Overly. This carried over from last season as we became even tighter and would help carry the mood of the team in a positive direction.”