BLOOMINGTON — Lincoln-Way East’s Kara Waishwell made sure her last game lived up to its billing.
The senior midfielder, a two-sport standout, was named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year last week in a vote conducted by the Griffins’ coaches. And she was superb Tuesday night.
For the North Central College recruit, it goes beyond the numbers.
“I feel like I’m very inspirational out there,” Waishwell said afterward. “I try to help keep everyone’s head held high even if we’re down. I’m a team player and I pass the ball to everybody.”
Showing that unselfish manner, Waishwell created some of the strongest scoring threats for the upset-minded Griffins in a 3-0 loss to O’Fallon in a Class 3A Bloomington Supersectional.
Waishwell, a four-year regular, ended her celebrated career with six goals and 15 assists this spring for Lincoln-Way East (18-4-1), which aimed for a second trip to state in the last three years.
Two years ago as a sophomore, Waishwell produced four goals and six assists as the Griffins took fourth place. She was excited about a return to playing at NCC, where she’s signed for soccer.
Along with Northwestern football recruit Caden O’Rourke, the school’s Male Athlete of the Year, Waishwell displayed the respect that she commands as both a captain and a leader.
“That tells you something about the kind of player she is,” Lincoln-Way East coach Mike Murphy said of Waishwell, who capped her career for the Griffins finishing third all-time program history for assists. “She was a very big reason we got to state two years ago.
“She has this infectious quality and natural leadership, and everybody loves playing with her.”
Senior forward Ellie Feigl has been a primary beneficiary of Waishwell’s shot creation.
“Athletically, I can’t say enough about her,” Feigl said. “She has great vision, quickness and the ability to see the whole field. Off the field, she’s one of the best people you’ll ever meet.
“She is always smiling and she is always there for you.”
Despite the loss, Waishwell didn’t walk off the field fuming after the supersectional. She felt the Griffins were closer than the the final score indicates.
“We had some opportunities, some corner kicks,” Waishwell said of the Griffins’ attack. “I thought we did a good job of holding them defensively. We didn’t get fourth like two years ago.
“But we ended up fighting and battling all the way through.”
Waishwell, the youngest of three soccer players in her family, grew up being coached by her father, Brian. Her mother, Lesa, played softball and ran track.
Her older siblings, sister Anna and brother Dylan, were a driving force guiding her to soccer.
“Watching my sister as I grew up, she was a big role model who inspired me and led to be the player that I am,” said Kara, who was stunned about being named the school’s top female athlete.
“I was shocked when I heard about the award. I called my family right away. I’m honored to get that because we have so many great athletes at our school.”
Running three miles while competing in cross country also helped Waishwell.
“I love being outside,” she said. “I feel like it’s a very mentally challenging sport that has helped with soccer. It has taught me about not giving up because the training is really challenging.
“The endurance has really helped with my soccer.”
Turning the page, though, Waishwell graduates as part of the long line of Lincoln-Way East girls soccer teams that have made a mark against the best in the state.
“I’m going to take away how far we came and I’m going to use that to motivate me in college,” she said. “I never would have thought my sophomore year we’d make it to state.
“We worked hard these past four years and created an incredible foundation.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
