Bryce Whitehead was tasked with an important position in only his first season with the Rochelle Township High School varsity soccer team. Just a sophomore, Whitehead earned a starting center back role in the middle of the Hub defense, where he was called upon to compete and hold the line against the strongest and most skilled offensive players on the opposing team.

Whitehead battled throughout the season, helping the Hubs to a 13-8 record and assisting the Rochelle defense in limiting opponents to only 2.1 goals per game. Now a rising junior and upperclassman, Whitehead said his conditioning will be the key to his success as he prepares for his second varsity season as a center back with the Hubs next spring.

“I didn’t perform as well as I had hoped to, but I have a feeling that this coming season should be a lot better,” Whitehead said. “I thought we played really well as a team and I don’t see us struggling in that area next season. I want to be in top shape for this coming season. I’m going to constantly work hard and stay positive in order to get to where I want to be.”

Whitehead is one of three projected starting defenders lined up to return from a 2019 varsity roster that recorded 10 shutouts in 21 games. Rochelle finished fourth in its first season as a member of the Interstate 8 Conference, and the Hubs will be looking for an even better finish in the conference next spring, with the schedule set to begin in February.

“We did really well as a team to stay on the same page during each game,” Whitehead said. “Everybody knew what his job was. If we can work on staying conditioned and prepared for each game this coming season, I think we can perform really well. Our biggest strength last season was playing together and making sure everybody was on the same page tactically.”