The future is generally hard to predict. But there will be one definite occurrence next boys’ soccer season that is absolute -- Naperville North will not win a 10th-consecutive Best of the West tournament title. 

That bold prediction comes on the heels of the Huskies 1-0 championship game win over Naperville Central in the latest iteration of the event Sept. 7.

However, to be honest, the prognostication is not risky at all.

Though Naperville North coach Jim Konrad felt overjoyed by the recent win, he is ready for a new challenge.

“For a long time I’ve wanted to start a tournament and have it highlight programs that have won state championships,” Konrad said. “I thought it would be cool to have these storied Illinois programs together.”

Konrad recently announced his idea for a week-long Tournament of Champions to debut the first week of September in the 2025 season.

He has secured commitments from Lyons (2009 title/one runnerup finish), Libertyville (2015/4), Benet, (2000-01 Class A, 2019 Class AA/0), Fremd (1984, 1987/2), recent Class 3A third place finisher Hinsdale Central (1975, 2014/0) and New Trier (1974 as New Trier West, 2006, 2008, 2023/3) to participate. 

Morton (2011/2), York (2021) and West Chicago (2019) have also been invited into the tournament. Those programs have asked for additional details and information, according to Konrad.

The only thing the new event lacks is out of area representation, but prohibitive logistics prevent programs like recent Class 3A fourth place finisher Edwardsville or Class AA power Notre Dame (Peoria) from participating.

Konrad’s Huskies captured three consecutive Class 3A state championships from 2016 to 2018. His predecessor and mentor, Dave Bucher, won the Class AA state championship in the two-class system in 1998, and finished fourth in his last season at the helm in the 2002-03 school year.

New Trier defeated Lyons in the 2023 Class 3A state title game. 

It's not known what will happen to the Best of the West, which is hosted by Naperville Central. Konrad said he has invited the Redhawks (2022 championship, three runnerup finishes) to take part in the new tournament.

“If that happens the Best of the West, as we’ve known it, will be over,” he said.

The Best of the West has functioned, ostensibly, as the best of Naperville -- the Huskies and Redhawks’ powerful programs have reached the championship game almost every year.

“It’s been a great tournament, but nearly every year or every other year we were playing Central in the finals,” Konrad said. “We were playing them there, during conference, and oftentimes we’d run into them in state playoffs. 

“It just got to be too much.”

If Naperville Central joined the new tournament with its overall tougher competition, a cross-town match-up would be less certain.

Konrad said the event would likely play off the scheduling formats of New Trier's North Shore College Showcase boys tournament or its Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Classic on the girls side, which feature pool play and a championship match.

“It’s going to be really cool for high school soccer to bring all of these big teams together,” Konrad said. “I’ve always wanted the opportunity to play New Trier more often. 

“We’ve done it on the girls’ side. We’re lucky to play Lyons every year.”

While Naperville North will be the host school, all teams will be guaranteed home and away games.

“We’re going to be thoughtful about how we set this up,” Konrad said. “we’re going to make it so it’s fair for all the teams in the bracket. 

“Right now we’re planning on having two brackets/pools with four teams. We’re deciding for the first year whether to have teams play three games and call it a tournament without having a champion. Or we might add an additional date to have an actual champion.”

Konrad is approaching a significant career milestone -- he is 14 wins away from 400.

“I wanted to create a cool thing for high school before I retire,” he said. “I have four seasons left. I wanted to have this before I step away from the game.

“I’m really excited about it, having eight former state champions playing against each other, all great coaches, great programs. We’re finally making it happen. We have commitments, and we’re going to roll with it.”

Naperville North doubles up in All-American game

The Huskies will be one of seven programs with two players selected for the annual All-American game. The event takes place on Dec. 14 in Charleston, S.C.

Forwards Noah Radeke and Jaxon Stokes are part of the 20-player West roster. It marks the second time the Huskies have multiple players in the game -- former Chicagoland Soccer Players of the Year Tommy Welch and Colin Iverson were selected for the 2018 edition.

Radeke and Stokes are each two-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State players. Another two-time selection, forward Kayden Hudson, of Notre Dame (Peoria), is also part of the West squad.