MARCHAPRIL2014 THEFARP ST NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM HEAT UNITED SOCCER CLUB UNION SPECIAL OPEN HOUSE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL! ver 300 club and The doors opened at 4:00, and festivities began around 4:30 with O community members remarks from Club President John gathered on Saturday, O’Donnell, members of the Huntley Chamber, and Huntley Village Manager February 15 to celebrate After the ribbon cutting and introductions, Dave Johnson. After the ribbon cutting, players and their guests were invited to the grand opening and President O’Donnell and Director participate in speed & agility sessions ribbon cutting of our new of Coaching George Mihalopoulos with club sponsor Going Vertical, open recognized the multitude of awards and gym time that included dodgeball, soccer indoor playing field at accomplishments the club has enjoyed skills drills, and short scrimmage sessions Union Special. since its formation in 2004. on the new playing field. Introduced were members of the U18 Attendees enjoyed lots of good food Girls MRL (Midwest Regional League) and fun throughout the day, including Championship team, club players who delicious chicken, pizza, chips, pasta, have been named to the ODP (Olympic and wings catered by Heat United Development Player) team, Northwest sponsor Taylor Street Pizza and a Heat Herald 2013 Boys Soccer Player of United Soccer-themed cake from Cheryl the Year, among others. (Plaques and & Vince Killen, proud grandparents of trophies for many Heat United awards Austin (U10) and Riley (Academy). are currently on display on the shelves on the east wall of Union Special right next to our training field.) www.heatunited.com MARCHAPRIL2014 | PAGE 2 PLANNING ON PLAYING SOCCER IN COLLEGE? UPCOMING EVENTS IT’S COMPLICATED! HUSC Red Robin Fund Raiser Wednesday, May 7 NCAA… D1… D2… D3… NAIA… that sometimes get overlooked when Red Robin Restaurant, Algonquin it comes to finding the right fit for a Most high school athletes recognize Board Meeting college athlete: How often should the acronyms and know what Friday, May 9 you contact a coach? When can you they mean. What’s complicated Huntley Park District REC Center contact a coach? When can a coach is knowing the ins and outs of the 6:30PM contact you? How important is input rules and regulations of the college HS Girls Tryouts from a club or high school coach? recruiting process, and what to Sunday, May 11 & 18 Do you want to have a social life in expect once you’ve signed. Tomaso Sports Park college, or do you want soccer to Heat United high school players were be your social life? Is your preferred Fall Season Tryouts fortunate to find out more about how college on semesters, quarters or Week of May 27 the college recruiting process works trimesters? How important is climate? Tomaso Sports Park on Monday, March 3, when Northern Is there academic help readily HUSC Chicago Fire Game Illinois University Men’s Head Soccer available for student athletes who Saturday, June 7 Coach Eric Luzzi and Women’s Head might need it? Are student athletes Toyota Park, Bridgeview Soccer Coach John Ross gave a required to live on-campus, all 7:30PM presentation at Union Special. together in the same housing? How World Cup Party In addition to the logical things like important is coming home more than Thursday, June 12 the importance of a GPA, and the once or twice a year to visit Mom Buffalo Wild Wings, Algonquin difference between an “official” and Dad? How much playing time Board Meeting and an “unofficial” college visit, will you really get as a Freshman? Friday, June 13 the coaches touched on subjects Does an extremely talented player Huntley Park District REC Center with a so-so GPA have an advantage 6:30PM over a “brainiac” who might not be as talented? Heat United Sign Up Day Saturday, June 14 These questions and many others Tomaso Sports Park were answered in an entertaining 10AM - 2PM two-hour session that provided insight into some of the real-world questions Kane County Cougars Game every prospective college athlete Thursday, June 19 should consider before signing a Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, Geneva letter of commitment. Board Meeting Friday, July 11 Huntley Park District REC Center 6:30PM Board Meeting TIME AND TALENT Friday, August 8 Huntley Park District REC Center 6:30PM REMEMBER | All families are required to complete 6 hours of Time and Talent for the Club: 4 hours at the Summer HUSC 2014 Heat Challenge, and the remaining 2 hours at other times throughout the year. Upcoming Time and Talent opportunities include helping with High School Girls tryouts May 11 & 18, Fall Season tryouts May 27 & 28, the HYSO Run thru the Sun held on June 1, the Lake in the Hills Triathlon on June 15 and the HYSO golf outing in August. Ask your team manager, or contact August 15th through 17th Time & Talent Coordinator Genevieve Hochwarter to find out more. YEAR Families that do not fulfill their obligation will receive an invoice for $150 NEWLOOK! in addition to their club dues. www.heatunited.com MARCHAPRIL2014 | PAGE 3 MEET IYSA VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR DAN LOPRIENO When Heat United Soccer Club was formed in 2004, Dan Loprieno was there to make sure Success on the Mats the program started off on the right foot. “We In his 14 seasons as head wrestling coach at Harper started out with all parents coaching,” said Dan, College, Loprieno’s teams have won three national one of the original organizers of the program. championships, in 2001, 2006 and 2010. Along with And although his background is in wrestling three titles, Loprieno’s teams have finished second in (see sidebar), Loprieno has been a driving the nation three times, third in the nation twice and force behind the growth of soccer in the fourth in the nation once. In addition, Loprieno has Northwest suburbs during his time with Heat guided the Harper Hawks to ten Regional titles and United Soccer Club. His dedication to the game runners-up in the region twice. and the commitment to the Heat contributed to Loprieno being named an Illinois Youth Soccer Under Loprieno, the Hawks have been the top non- Association Volunteer of the Year for 2013. levels of competition. The success in those scholarship school at the national meet three times. Loprieno has also coached four national champions: A former president of the club, he is currently tournaments prompted Loprieno to pursue his serving as vice president, coach and Mr Fix-It, idea of Heat United hosting a tournament on Josh Kratovil at 141, Mike Rio at 149, PJ Starnes at which includes doing everything from lining its home fields. 2014 will mark the third year 157 and Curtis Blaydes in the heavyweight division. that the club has hosted the Summer Heat fields to moving goals and cutting grass. Dan’s In 2011-12, Loprieno was named Coach of the Challenge. The second annual tournament saw handiwork includes assembling the new trophy Year. His team included ten national qualifiers for displays at the east end of the indoor practice significant growth from the first, and this year’s the national meet, an individual national champion field at Union Special. tournament, slated to be held from August 15 – 17, promises to be even larger, with many (Blaydes), three All-Americans (Blaydes, Charles Oh... add tournament director to the list of of last year’s teams already committed to attend. Argue and Chris Gonzalez) and 11 members of the Dan’s accomplishments. “We’re not really Academic All-Conference team. training to win,” says Loprieno. “We’re training Dan is currently head wresting coach and a to develop soccer players… and when you professor of Mathematics at Harper College, Loprieno was inducted in the NJCAA Wrestling Hall of do that, one of the by-products where he started teaching in the Fame in 2008. He was the NJCAA Wrestling Man of is that you win a lot.” As fall of 1991. He lives in the Year in 2009, and in 2010 Coach Loprieno was Heat United got larger, the Algonquin with his wife, Heidi, inducted into the NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame. club started attending more and their three children: Haley, tournaments, seeing higher Delaney and Luke. SPIRITWEAR ON-DEMAND IS HERE! TRYOUTS HS GIRLS NO ORDER DEADLINES… NO PICK UP OR DELIVERY HASSLES… MAY 11 & 18 It’s Spirit Wear made simple! FALL SEASON You can order a wide variety of HeatUnited spiritwear, from OF MAY 27 fleece jackets to windshirts, from beanies to baseball caps, from WEEK duffle bags to string bags, and so much more, all from the comfort of your office or home. Simply log on to www.heatunited.com and click on the Spirit Wear link to place your order. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR SCHEDULES All orders placed via the website will be delivered to your home address at no cost, within 7 to 10 days of receipt of your order, providing the delivery is local (Huntley area). For orders shipped to your home or to a non-local address, please e-mail [email protected] with shipping information. Orders will ship at your expense using UPS. CHICAGO FIRE GAME NEW TIME AND TALENT OPPORTUNITY! Join Heat United at 7:30 pm on Heat United Soccer Club Scholarship Committee Saturday, June 7 Heat United is looking for a few good men (and women) to serve on a committee that at Toyota Park in Bridgeview will establish the criteria, review applications and award a $500 scholarship to both as the Chicago Fire take on a graduating Senior boy and graduating Senior girl Heat United player who will be continuing his or her soccer career at the college level.