Junior midfielder Piotr Chmiel knew what was holding him back from a successful soccer career at Argo had nothing to do with anything happening on the field.
Chmiel was academically ineligible for his entire sophomore season last year. That served as a wake-up call that it was time to work harder in the classroom.
“My grades slipped last year and I definitely didn’t want that to happen again,” Chmiel said. “I didn’t want to miss another season. I’ve been working really hard in school.”
Chmiel has gotten his grades up, and Monday at SeatGeek Stadium, he lifted up Argo’s spirits.
His goal on a free kick sparked a furious late rally as the Argonauts clinched at least a share of the South Suburban Red title with a 3-2 win over Reavis in Bridgeview.
Abraham Horta scored two goals, while Krystof Cicha and Hubert Grele each added an assist for the Argonauts (11-3-4, 8-2-1). Xavier Brant made eight saves.
Diego Ochoa had a goal and an assist, Jesus Pantoja scored a goal, Krystian Paluch contributed an assist and Bart Obrochta made seven saves for Reavis (10-5-5, 7-2-1), which missed a chance to clinch the SSC Red title outright but can share the championship with a win Wednesday over Eisenhower.
The Rams led 2-0 with just under 10 minutes to go when Chmiel ripped a free kick from 20 yards inside the left post.
“I knew that was my spot,” Chmiel said. “I’ve done it before. I work on it sometimes in practice. I just felt it in the moment. I felt like it was going to pop in.
“It’s amazing scoring in this stadium. This was my first time playing here. It was super exciting.”
Argo assistant coach Brian Grider, who ran the team with head coach Carlos Marquez out sick, had a good feeling before Chmiel took his free kick.
“That’s his spot,” Grider said. “Piotr is like my son. I help him a lot in the classroom. I’m always joking, ‘There’s my son again.’ He stepped up big.”
Chmiel’s goal sparked a frenetic comeback for the Argonauts as they scored three times in less than three minutes. Horta delivered the game-tying and go-ahead goals just 14 seconds apart.
It all started with Chmiel, whose teammates are sure glad to have on the field.
“I never really played with him because he was having trouble with his grades,” Brant said. “This year, in the first practice or two, I saw him play and I was like, ‘What the heck? This is what we’ve been missing out on?’
“I got mad at him. It means a lot to the team to have him with us.”
It was the seventh goal of the season for Chmiel, who said his work with Grider has helped him immensely in the classroom.
“We have a program called GRIT and I’m one of the GRIT teachers,” Grider said. “They have to come in during lunch and do extra work. I pulled him in, and he kind of got it much quicker this time. He did what he needed to do.
“He’s battled with it. He says school doesn’t always come easy for him, but he’s been working hard and I’m proud of him.”
The conference title, meanwhile, is the first for Argo since 2021.
“This was the best moment of my high school career,” Brant said. “Playing in this stadium, where so many great players have played, a lot of World Cup players, and winning conference here, it means everything.”
It was the kind of win Chmiel has imagined being a part of since watching his older brother, Jakub, play for Argo.
“I always wanted to be like him, so I started playing soccer and fell in love with it,” Chmiel said. “We played in the backyard a lot.
“Now I’m ready.”
