MaxPreps Soccer Tour of Champions celebrates Chesterton High School

The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Indiana on Tuesday, December 18 to recognize Chesterton (Ind.) High School and its boys soccer team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended Zionsville 1-0 in the IHSAA Class 3A state championship contest, the 21-0-2 Trojans claimed their first boys state soccer title in three trips to the finals and earned the No. 43 ranking in MaxPreps' National Rankings!

Dubbed ‘the cardiac kids' because they had competed in an unheard of four double overtime contests during the state championship season, the Trojans drew plenty of attention to their game schedule. Head Coach Lucas Sabedra attributed his squad's successes to preseason workouts as well as the constant effort and the ‘never give up' of the Trojans.

Shortly after arriving on campus, Sergeant Danny Lowe of the Indiana Army National Guard displayed the Army National Guard national ranking trophy to promote the ceremony that was scheduled to take place at halftime of Chesterton's boys basketball game against Hammond Bishop Noll, a 71-61 Trojan win.

At any point during the evening, small clusters of teammates reflected on stories of their season and laughed with each other as they waited patiently for halftime of the basketball game and the trophy presentation to begin. MaxPreps representative Sue Crawford kicked off the celebration by explaining the MaxPreps National Rankings and then introduced SGT Lowe and Captain Gino Georgetti.

SGT Lowe and CAPT Georgetti took center court to congratulate the Trojans on their accomplishments and spoke about dedication, teamwork, loyalty and honor, shared character traits of the Army National Guard and a state championship soccer team. The Trojans were then awarded with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy and a nationally ranked rafter banner for future display. Fans rose to their feet with applause as pictures, cheers and many smiles filled the gymnasium.

Athletic director Garry Nallenweg, who was helpful in putting together the day's festivities, told the crowd of over 750 students, faculty and fans how excited he has been since Chesterton's first boys state soccer championship win. Principal Brent Martinson said, "These boys are even better people than they are soccer players."

Congratulations to the Chesterton Trojans boys soccer team for your spectacular season and the legacy you've left for your community to savor! Click here to view the Chesterton TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Soccer TOC, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.