It was a long road back to the soccer field for Lincoln-Way Central’s Carter Krynski, who had to rebound from two hip surgeries and missed all of last season.

After the senior defender helped the Knights record their 12th shutout of the season and earn the program’s first sectional championship since 2006, all the rehab certainly felt worth it.

“I’m overjoyed,” Krynski said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to have a starting spot when I came back. It was awesome. The coaches gave me the nod. I worked hard.

“A lot of physical therapy and I just grinded, kept my job for the whole season and now we’re celebrating a sectional championship. It’s special.”

With Krynski leading the stingy defense Saturday and Derrick Rafacz scoring twice, Lincoln-Way Central rolled to a 3-0 win over crosstown rival Lincoln-Way West in the Class 3A Joliet West Sectional championship game.

Chuck Stevens added a goal and an assist for the second-seeded Knights (18-4). Josh DeMik made three saves for the shutout, getting plenty of help from a defense led by Krynski, Charlie Hrebic, AJ Lambert and Will Bettenhausen.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Carter Krynski (20) heads the ball against Lincoln-Way West’s William Jirek (20) during the Class 3A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

Lincoln-Way Central will take on St. Laurence (22-2-4) at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Class 3A Lyons Supersectional.

“It’s incredible,” Krynski said. “Right before the game, we were in the field house at our school. We looked up at the banner and we saw there were no sectional championships since 2006, so we really wanted this one. It’s awesome.”

Zack Szubryt made six saves for 12th-seeded Lincoln-Way West (9-10-1).

Krynski, meanwhile, suffered the hip injury while playing lacrosse for the Knights in spring 2024. He had two surgeries a month apart that summer and missed the entire soccer season last fall.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Connor Pate (10) and Lincoln-Way West’s Jackson Hirschboeck (19) battles for the ball during the Class 3A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

Krynski was on the sideline at Joliet West last year when Lincoln-Way Central lost 1-0 to Lockport in a sectional semifinal.

“We had a heartbreaking loss and it was tough watching from the bench, wishing I could play,” Krynski said. “But I knew I had one more year, so I was excited to make the most of it.”

Krynski has definitely done that, delighting his teammates.

“He’s my best friend,” Rafacz said. “I watched him go through it. He rehabbed for about eight months. He had two hip surgeries in the span of a month.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Chuck Stevens (19) takes a shot on goal against Lincoln-Way West during the Class 3A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

“The way he’s been able to come back after not being able to play soccer for a couple years and to be able to perform as good as he is, it’s amazing.”

Rafacz, who missed the start of this season dealing with his own injury, has had a heck of a comeback, too.

He scored in the third minute off a cross from Stevens, then curled a corner kick into the back of the net in the 16th minute to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.

“This means everything to me,” Rafacz said. “I grew up going to the kids camp for years. Now, I’ve been a part of the varsity team from freshman to senior year.

“To finally get here, it’s huge for the program.”

Lincoln-Way West’s Karter Kelderhouse (22) tries to work past Lincoln-Way Central’s Carter Krynski (20) during the Class 3A Joliet West Sectional championship game on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

The Knights’ defense, which has allowed only 11 goals all season, took it from there and Krynski did his thing as an outside back. Which, by the way, is a brand-new spot for him.

“I had to get back into soccer and back into shape and then I was at a new position,” Krynski said. “So there was a learning curve there, too.

“After a few games, I got comfortable. They’ve trusted me there. It’s worked out.”

Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Brown can hardly believe it’s panned out this well.

“He’s a super competitive kid and a super bright kid,” Brown said of Krynski. “He’s a complete role model, on and off the field. As a coach, it’s awesome to see a kid perform as well as he has after going through what he did.

“It’s an incredible recovery story for him.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/01/carter-krynski-lincoln-way-central-west-ihsa-boys-soccer/