This is a Tiger Program Rich in
Tradition dating back to the spring of 1987…Ours is a tradition where elements
of a soccer rich culture are passed down from class to class.
Winning is the byproduct of such a
culture. We have developed behaviors that have enriched the experience while
preparing for the competitive environment.
Tradition starts with an idea and a
movement towards believing in a precedent that influences our present state.
This initial idea began with a group
of girls in 1984. Freshmen Nancy Fox would help spearhead a movement to
convince the Board of Education that enough girls at central were interested in
becoming the newest Tiger program.
To date girls could only play in the
boys program in the Fall if they were capable and many did… Players like Anne
Marie Tomek and IHSSCA and Wheaton Warrenville South Hall of Famer sister
Christine Tomek. In the spring of 1987
coach Luckey was to head a new movement in Tiger athletics by accepting the
responsibility in becoming the first head coach for the woman’s program. Nancy Fox was now a Senior at Central but her
dream would come true that Spring as a Girls program began to compete in its
first soccer schedule.
Robyn Swatland would become the first
Keeper between the pipes and Juniors Alesha Gunderson, Sue Steele and Chris
Darcy would make an immediate impact on the success of the program.
Ginny Puglise played in the boys
program that fall and now suited up in the spring for the girls program.
1988 was the year in which both the
IHSA would formally sanction the women’s game and its first state Championship
while the Dupage Valley Conference initiated its first Conference Championship.
Naperville North would win both the DVC championship and the IHSA State
Championship over Main South 2-0. Wheaton Central would finish 3rd in the DVC
that initial year finishing with a record of 12 wins 5 loses and 1 tie overall.
Conference teams included in the order of finish Naperville North, Naperville
Central,Wheaton Central, West Chicago, Wheaton North, Glenbard South and
Glenbard North. All conference players were Sue Steele, Suzy Richards , Chris
Darcy, Alesha Gunderson and Betsy Boudreau
In 1989 we have the addition of
Glenbard East creating a 8 team conference. The Tigers establish themselves as
one of the states elite teams by only allowing 11 goals in 18 games recording
11 shutouts enroot to a 14 -3-1 record before losing to Downers South in the
sectional semifinals 2-1 in Overtime.
As the 80’s played out it was obvious
that girls soccer had established itself as a major player on the athletic
canvas and a new tiger tradition was starting to evolve while providing a new
alternative to girls in the Wheaton Warrenville area.