Vernon Hills senior defender Nikita Stepanov says he is the first in his family to play soccer but gets advice from his parents.
Vernon Hills’ Nikita Stepanov controls the ball during the Class 2A Grayslake Central Sectional championship game against Grayslake Central on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022.Stepanov said his father, Grigoriy Stepanov, and his mother, Elena Pisarenko, have unique backgrounds that allow them to offer valuable insight. His father performed in circuses, and his mother was a professional ballet dancer.
After playing club soccer in his freshman season, the 6-foot, 170-pound Stepanov emerged as a stabilizing player on the back line for the Cougars over the past two seasons. He said he wants to make his mark in the family by excelling in the sport. Stepanov credits a 2018 visit to Ukraine, where his parents grew up, for further motivating him to become an elite player.
With Stepanov leading the defense, the Cougars start this season with high hopes. They’ve won seven regional titles in the past nine full seasons, and five starters return after losing a 1-0 thriller to Grayslake Central in a Class 2A sectional final last year.
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