More winning the expectation as J.T. Huey takes over Streator boys soccer

After 28 years and 356 wins as a boys soccer powerhouse in the Illinois Valley under head coach Jim Muntz, the Streator boys soccer program has a new leader.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, that coach, J.T. Huey, for more than a decade has been a large part of the successful soccer machine Muntz has maintained as well as the engineer of the now-equally successful Streator girls soccer program.

“Fortunately, I am coming into a system that was built in over 20-plus years of success by my friend and mentor, Jim Muntz, and me being part of that culture for the last 11 years as his assistant makes it easy for me to come in and continue business as usual,” Huey said.

“Sure, I am adding my own techniques, methods and culture, much of which I have developed with the girls [program], but the strong soccer culture of SHS is something I intend to continue, making it a smooth transition.”

The Bulldogs are coming off a 6-6-2 spring season moved and shortened by efforts to contain the coronavirus. That continued a run of .500 or better seasons on the Streator pitch going all the way back to 1994, the program’s second season being brought back after a year of nonexistence, a victim of the early-1990s failed referendum/budget cuts.

There’s no reason to suspect that winning streak will come to an end in 2021, as Huey welcomes back some excellent, proven performers this fall.

That starts with the likes of center midfielder Jack Starkey, striker Davey Rashid and the stopper/sweeper one-two punch of fellow senior Mac Beals and junior Parker Phillis. All four are top-level pieces and leaders a team can be built around, which is exactly what Huey plans to do with them.

More seniors – namely forwards Kannin Angelico and Braxton Mushimba, midfielders Will Hatzer and Connor Novotney, and defender Aiden Studnicki – also will be key contributors.

The junior class, too, is a strong one, leading Huey to say, “We are lucky to have juniors making up the bulk of the program.”

That includes defenders Adam Williamson, Connor Akin and Christopher Moreno; midfielder Brian Huichapa; keeper Jimmy Sokol; and forwards Brady Grabowski and Declan O’Connor.

Huey also is excited to see what his underclassmen playing up with the varsity will be able to contribute.

“The freshmen/sophomores are not to be underestimated, as they are technically competent and skillful coming from the [Streator Football Club],” Huey said. “Sophomores Keaton Yedinak (D/M) and Landon Muntz (F/M) and freshman Noah Russow (F) will stun opponents.

“And we still have some freshmen and sophomores we are looking at after our Red and White Scrimmage who demonstrated that we may be pulling them up real soon. Stay tuned for them.”

Another sophomore, Noah Camp, has emerged as the early-season starter in goal, with Sokol a strong option who will see time there, as well.

The Bulldogs opened their season in encouraging style Monday with a 6-0 victory over Princeton. Streator is scheduled to continue on its home field Wednesday against the Newark-Seneca co-op, Thursday at Plano and back at home Saturday for the annual Streator Invitational.

Streator is scheduled to open Illinois Central Eight Conference competition at home Aug. 31 against Herscher.

“We are really looking to come out of the strange spring pandemic season strong and are very excited to play our conference opponents and continue Streator soccer’s reputation as a strong, winning program,” Huey said.