The turning point for Wauconda’s Freddy Barnshaw came during his freshman year.
After scoring five goals in just four games for the boys soccer team, he decided to quit basketball. That surprised Barnshaw’s father, Doug, who has been an assistant in Round Lake’s girls basketball program for 30 years.
“He was always a good basketball player,” Doug Barnshaw said. “He was a good shooter, could handle the ball a little bit, wouldn’t mind mixing it up a bit, but was maybe slow-footed on defense.”
Freddy Barnshaw doesn’t regret that decision, however.
“It wasn’t really hard for me, but it was definitely harder for my dad,” he said. “It was a smoother transition to just playing soccer for me.”
Count Wauconda boys soccer coach Tim Miller among the people who are happy that Barnshaw has focused on that sport. The 6-foot-1 senior forward is one of the top players in Lake County. Barnshaw has 15 goals and 10 assists this season to lead the Bulldogs (9-2, 3-0) into first place in the Northern Lake County Conference.
“Freddy is silky smooth on the ball,” Miller said. “His foot skills are really top-notch. He can run at full speed with the ball, even with a defender close to him. He can finish with both feet. He has size and can still grow more. He’s strong and fit and can do it all. He’s a competitor.”
Barnshaw, who has 34 goals and 24 assists in 50 career games, scored the game-winner and also had an assist in Wauconda’s 3-2 conference win against Grayslake North on Thursday. He said he came into his senior season driven to push the Bulldogs to new heights, pointing to their loss to Grayslake North in a Class 2A regional championship game last year.
“I have a different energy, being a senior, like to play every game like it’s your last,” Barnshaw said. “My mindset has changed a little bit. My work rate has also improved. I knew I could score more this year, but I wasn’t really looking to score so many goals. I was just trying to win games and put my team in the best position to win, whether that was goals, assists or defense.
“That loss really motivated the guys still on the squad.”
Former teammate Karsten Ternes, a freshman midfielder at Purdue Fort Wayne, is not surprised by Barnshaw’s production after the duo catapulted the Bulldogs to their first conference title last season.
“I could tell he was going to have a good year because of his work ethic,” Ternes said. “I’ve known him my whole life and knew that after that loss last year, he would be determined to have a great senior year. In the offseason, we trained together, and I knew he was going to tear things up.”
Ternes said Barnshaw has expanded his game.
“(Freddy) is a super intelligent player,” Ternes said. “His confidence and experience in big situations and games make him stand out from any player on the field. He’s a leader, and his understanding of the game is at a high level. His physicality and technical skills are some of the best around. He’s a quick learner and willing to do anything to win.”
Barnshaw played his freshman season with his older brother Bobby, who was a senior at the time. Barnshaw credits Bobby for shaping his career.
“I took a lot away from him,” Barnshaw said. “He always worked really hard, especially defensively. He always had a motor.”
Barnshaw is Wauconda’s engine these days. The postseason begins in two weeks.
“We have a lot of huge games coming up,” he said. “I want to see what we can do to finish off strong. As a young and growing team, I feel like we’re getting better every week.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
