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Willsey finally dons New Trier uniform
Hinsdale Central's Mitch Reavis passes the ball against New Trier on Saturday, Sept. 17th. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
Connor Willsey figured it was time to play for New Trier.
After training with the Chicago Sockers FC during the last two fall seasons, the junior decided to play for the Trevians this season. Willsey’s good standing with the club, and his relationship with New Trier coach Craig Fairbairn, helped ease the transition.
“I felt it was time for me to represent my school and play in front of friends,” the defender said. “I’ve known coach Fairbairn since my freshman year. He was happy about me coming back. It’s not like the coaches didn’t know who I was.”
Willsey said he picked club ball over high school initially because he was interested in developing his game.
“It’s not like high school wouldn’t have made me a better player, it’s just that club soccer is different,” he said. “I felt it was best for me as a player.”
Willsey said pleas to play for the Trevians were hard to resist.
“Every year people would ask me,” he said. “I just had to tell them why I was doing it. I knew I would eventually play high school.”
Willsey wasted no time earning a spot in the starting lineup as a center defender for a team still finding its way. The Trevians, who have won two state titles since 2006, suffered a 4-3 loss to Hinsdale Central on Saturday to drop to 3-5-1.
Despite the team’s struggles, Willsey is enjoying his first season in a New Trier uniform.
“It’s gone really well so far,” he said. “We have a great mix of players. We’ve had some trouble early on, but I hope the problems are starting to work themselves out.”
By the time he was in elementary school, Willsey already knew soccer was his sport. Now he’s working toward earning a scholarship to play in college. He’s looking at are Stanford, Virginia, Duke and Wake Forest. The Cardinal is at the top of his list.
“I’ve wanted to go there since I was a little kid,” he said. “It’s just something about that school. They are great in every sport, especially soccer, and have top-notch academics. I am hoping to find a college and commit sometime after my junior year.”
The Trevians, who beat Maine South 4-0 last week, were scheduled to play rival Evanston on Tuesday, Glenbrook South today (Thursday) and Lake Forest on Saturday.
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