Hubert Grele learned a lot as a freshman fighting for playing time on an Argo boys soccer team that won the South Suburban Red championship in 2021.
Grele, a senior forward, took many lessons from that team’s leaders. Now, he’s the top dog as Argonauts are closing in on their first conference title since then.
“I’ve been looking forward to this since freshman year,” Grele said. “I always thought maybe I’d be in this position where I could be a senior and lead my team to win conference.
“I just want to do some big things with my team this season.”
Grele had a huge night Wednesday, recording a hat trick and adding two assists as visiting Argo rolled to an 8-0 win over Bremen in a South Suburban Conference crossover in Midlothian.
Krystof Cicha finished with a goal and three assists, while Abraham Horta, Kevin Segura, Julian Swiatek and Matt Blaszak all added goals for the Argonauts (10-2-3, 7-2 SSC Red).
Diego Lagunas had two shots on goal for Bremen (4-10-2, 2-6-2 SSC Blue).
Grele and Cicha set each other up all night. That’s something they’ve been doing for the last three seasons for Argo on the varsity.
“We’ve been close ever since freshman year,” Cicha said. “We started hanging out, playing soccer, going to the field every day, sometimes just us two.”
Cicha said they push each other hard — and sometimes get upset with each other on the field.
“We’ve had some issues, too, getting mad with each other,” Cicha said. “But whatever happens on the field stays on the field. When we get off the field, we’re good again and we work to get better.
“It’s just competitiveness and also trying to better each other.”
Grele, who has 26 goals and 12 assists this season, credits his friendship — and competition — with Cicha for helping him improve.
“We put more pressure on each other, and I think the competition between us makes us both better,” Grele said. “At the end of the day, we’re teammates and best friends on and off the field.”
Argo coach Carlos Marquez has gotten used to seeing the duo’s competitive nature come out in different ways, including the occasional fight.
“It’s funny,” Marquez said. “It doesn’t even faze me anymore. I’ll see them argue on the field, see them start fighting and my assistant, who is kind of new, will be like, ‘You’re not going to do anything about that?’ I just say, ‘Honestly, in a couple minutes, they’re going to be OK.’
“That’s how they are. They’re so darn competitive and they have so much respect for each other, they’re going to work it out.”
Grele has been playing soccer since he was 10 years old.
“I’m the first person in my family to play,” he said. “I honestly don’t know why I wanted to play, but I found it fun. I like the success that I’ve had on the field and I can’t wait for my future success.”
Cicha has watched Grele go from a timid freshman to a senior star.
“I’ve seen him gain a lot more confidence,” Cicha said. “When we were freshmen and I saw him get on the field, he didn’t look too confident. Over the years, he’s just gained more confidence on the ball. His finishing ability has gotten better, too.”
The Argonauts can seal the South Suburban Red title with wins Saturday against T.F. United and Monday against Reavis at SeatGeek Stadium.
Argo will then try to make a run as the eighth seed in the tough Class 3A Reavis Sectional.
While Grele’s high school career is nearing its end, he hopes it’s just the beginning.
“I’ve been talking to a couple colleges and I want to keep playing,” he said. “I want to be able to keep playing this beautiful game I love.”
