Waubonsie celebrates soccer champions

For the second year in a row, Waubonsie Valley High School celebrated the achievements of its state championship girls soccer team during an early-morning pep rally at the school.

The team, led by coach Julie Bergstrom, not only beat Belleville Althoff High School 3-0 to clinch the Class AA state title, but also holds an undefeated record the last two seasons with a 58-game winning streak.

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Waubonsie Valley soccer players Jessie Morgan, left, and Rachel Bostick, center, throw stuffed soccer balls to students assembled for a pep rally Wednesday honoring the state champion girls soccer team at Waubonsie.
(Jonathon Miano/Staff photographer)

Junior Bri Rodriguez, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the state quarterfinal round, was also recognized at the pep rally in front of a crowd of about 3,600 for winning the Gatoradce State Girls Soccer Player of the Year Award.

"As an individual award, she deserves it," Bergstrom said. "But it also is representative of Waubonsie soccer and where we've come with the players on the team in the last few years."

The team graduates three seniors: Emily Bielaga, Hillary Blake and Jessica Blake.