Girls Soccer History Timeline

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 3rdin 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 Nap. North, Nap. 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.