For only the second time in the program’s history, the Wheaton Academy Boys Soccer team brought home a state championship.

The title game was played under the lights at the East Side Center in Peoria, IL, against Belleville Althoff Catholic High School. The Warriors knew their opponents would give them a tough game. They had played Althoff earlier in the fall in The Great River Classic tournament in Iowa. That match was a back-and-forth battle that ended in WA winning in PKs. The state final proved to be another tightly contested game. Twin brothers Josh ’23 and Caleb Mariotti ’23 struck first for the Warriors—strikes from Josh at 1:12 and Caleb at 11:17. Althoff got on the scoreboard with a goal in the 29^th minute. The second half was physical, and emotional, but the Warrior defense and goalie Declan Finnegan kept Althoff scoreless. The Academy held on for the win and the right to claim the state title. The Warriors finished their 2021 championship season on a 12-game winning streak for a final record of 19-4-1 that included 85 goals, 55 assists, nine shutouts, a 1.25 GAA (Goals Against Average), and memories for a lifetime. Well done, Warriors!