Nolan Ewanic calls it “being on that grind.”
The Naperville Central senior forward’s rise through the program wasn’t as swift as he would have liked, but his perseverance is paying dividends.
After two years playing on the junior varsity level, Ewanic finally made the varsity team on his last attempt. In doing so, he has epitomized the value of the so-called grinder.
“Part of our program is you work your way through it and it’s hard,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “There’s a lot of good kids.
“As Nolan has gotten older, he’s gotten stronger, and he’s developed as a player. That’s the big thing is he kept getting better.”
Ewanic hasn’t simply settled for the varsity roster spot, however.
“I think it can go either way,” Adams said. “It could go like, ‘Thank God I’m on varsity, and I’m good,’ or it can go, ‘I’m finally getting recognized,’ and then they want it more.
“Nolan is more of the, ‘Hey, this is my opportunity. This is my shot.’
Ewanic has taken advantage of his opportunity by taking — and making — shots. He has scored five goals in his first four games for the Redhawks, who edged Plainfield North 2-1 in a Best of the West Tournament game at Memorial Stadium in Naperville on Thursday.
“Definitely a nice start,” Ewanic said. “I would like to get more. I want the team to get more, and then I want to keep progressing.”
That has been a constant for Ewanic throughout his four years with the Redhawks (2-0-3). He never looks back.
“I guess I’m always looking forward, always looking ahead to seeing how I can get better, seeing what I could be,” he said.
Ewanic has been a force on the wing, using his speed and work ethic to wreak havoc on defenses.
“I’m always trying to get after it, pressure the defenders, and then using my speed as well,” he said. “I just like getting in behind, putting pressure on the defense.”
That has endeared him to teammates like senior midfielder Aidan DiClemente, who is in his second varsity season.
“He’s definitely one of the most positive, good-minded kids I know,” DiClemente said. “He has a great mindset. He’s always working hard. He’s always doing the right things.
“Sometimes a player will make a bad touch or a bad pass and put their head down, but Nolan will keep his chin up and just keeping getting after it, keep working hard. That’s how he scores his goals is just off of hard work and being in the right spot.”
Ewanic has been doing it literally from the start of the season, when he scored Naperville Central’s only goal in a 1-1 tie with Elgin. He had two more goals the following day as the Redhawks beat Morton 3-0.
“He finds the right spots, and he’s capitalized on what he’s doing,” Adams said. “The other thing is his work rate. He works his tail off. The goal he scored against Elgin was him fighting off one guy, got the ball, separated, fought another guy and got separation, and then finished.”
Ewanic isn’t finished yet. Neither are the Redhawks, whose challenging schedule continued against previously unbeaten Plainfield North (2-1-2).
“It’s a good group of guys,” he said. “We’re all hardworking. We all want to get after it. We all want to win.”
For younger players who don’t get what they want when they want it, Ewanic has some advice.
“Prove them wrong,” he said. “Get after it, don’t let their decision change your mindset and just keep working.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
