DeGroot takes root for Lincoln-Way West
Alabama-Huntsville recruit grows into ‘phenomenal’ goal-scoring threat for Warriors
Refining his shot in the offseason has led to a breakthrough senior year for Lincoln-Way West forward Ross DeGroot.
“Last year, I had the power but I didn’t have the accuracy on my shots,” he said. “This year, I’ve learned how to put some finesse on them and that’s been the key.”
DeGroot, who has scored 18 goals this season, has become the Warriors’ biggest offensive threat. It has been a huge year for someone who didn’t always seem destined for stardom.
“The development for Ross the past three seasons has been phenomenal,” Lincoln-Way West coach Matt Laude said. “He’s now clearly one of our strongest and most talented players, but he started on our JV2 level.
“A lot of people would assume someone that plays on JV2 isn’t going to become an impact player on varsity, but his hard work on and off the field has led him to a senior season that’s going to end up being pretty exceptional.”
DeGroot expected to be an improved player as a senior, but he didn’t see this coming.
“I knew I was getting better over the summer,” he said. “I was going to the fields every day. I knew I was going to do something better, but I guess I didn’t expect all this.
“The team has been getting me the ball and that’s just what’s been working.”
DeGroot caught fire early in the season. In the Warriors’ second game, he scored four times in a win over Whitney Young. He followed that up with a hat trick the following game against Bremen.
“As a forward, your best asset is your confidence,” Laude said. “If you feel like you can beat anyone on that field, there’s no stopping you.
“Having that confidence to go at people, that can’t be taught or trained. That has to be earned on your own. Ross did that at the beginning of the season and that’s carried over.”
DeGroot started playing soccer in fourth grade, though it wasn’t necessarily his first choice of sports.
“My dad (Rick) played soccer and wanted me to play,” DeGroot said. “I always wanted to play football, but I ended up playing soccer because of my dad. It’s worked out well, I’d say. I love the sport.”
DeGroot has committed to continue his soccer career at Alabama in Huntsville.
“I’m really into engineering and they’re a great engineering school,” he said. “I went down there for a camp and decided I wanted to play there. It’s going to be amazing.
“At the beginning of high school, I started thinking about playing soccer in college and I really wanted to do it. So, it’s really exciting to know that I am going to keep playing after this.”
Record breaker: Senior forward Christian Munoz now is Bloom’s all-time leading scorer.
Munoz scored his 123rd career
goal in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Kankakee, topping the old mark of 122 set by 2008 graduate Alonso Flores.
Munoz scored his 100th goal on Sept. 22, then needed just two more weeks and eight games to get to 123.
“The record means a lot to me,” Munoz said. “I’ve been going after it ever since my freshman and sophomore years. I’ve wanted to
leave my legacy at Bloom.”
Perfect Knights: Lincoln-Way
Central beat Stagg 1-0 on Saturday to complete a 4-0 run in SouthWest Suburban Red play and win the conference title outright.
It’s the first conference championship since 2007 for the Knights, who are the top seed in the Class 3A Sandburg Sectional.
“It’s been a great season,” senior midfielder Zach Davis said. “We’ve progressed so much over the years.
This is our year.”