Dodsworth legacy continues at Naperville Central
Naperville Central senior defender Bryce Dodsworth plays a position that requires a lot of courage.
Dodsworth has a lot of it, but it might not be his best attribute. He plays with joy and walks around with a smile plastered on his face.
“He’s an incredible player and it’s fun to have him on the court,” Naperville Central senior forward Zakaria Sajjad said. “He makes jokes and raises the energy a lot.
“Before games, he’s always the first one to come out and say, ‘Oh, let’s go. Let’s get excited. Let’s win this.'”
Dodsworth, a two-year starter at center back, was at work again on Tuesday. He motivated the Redhawks for their Class 3A Central Regional semifinal in Naperville, and his teammates responded.
Sajjad scored twice, his first multi-goal game, while junior midfielder Brady Strang and senior defender Ryan Gervase both scored a goal as second-seeded Naperville Central blanked 16th-seeded Plainfield East 4-0 at Memorial Stadium.
Dodsworth anchored a defense that allowed just one shot. The Redhawks (14-3) will face seventh-seeded Oswego (15-7) in the regional championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Sajjad said Dodsworth’s positivity has been a big boost.
“I feel like it helps us a lot, just because if the whole team is down, the whole team is down,” Sajjad said. “But if one person steps up and says, ‘Let’s get excited,’ we’re all going to be in on it.”
“I feel like he’s one of those people who gets us excited, who gets us ready for our games. Even in practice, he says, ‘Boys, let’s focus.'”
Dodsworth practices what he preaches. He does not hesitate to do the often overlooked work required of defenders.
“He’s pretty instinctive because he’s been a defender for a while, so you can see he understands the position,” Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said. “He knows where to be. He’s a pretty confident tackler. He doesn’t mind putting his body in there to make plays that could hurt, so courage would be a big part of it.”
The main ingredient to Dodsworth’s success, however, is the joy with which he plays.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “Spending time with the team, building some chemistry, it’s a great group of guys, and I love playing with them.”
“When everyone knows what’s going on, everything comes together. It’s a great time.”
While Dodsworth’s legacy will be his sunny disposition — he was always smiling even in the windy, wet and cold conditions after the game — it will be just the latest chapter in his family’s multigenerational history with the Redhawks.
Dodsworth’s father Brian, aunts Amy and Laura, brother Nathan and sister Daly all played football at Naperville Central. Retired Naperville Central girls soccer coach Ed Watson recalled that Amy Dodsworth scored the winning goal in an upset victory over top-ranked Naperville North in a sectional semifinal in 1993 and played on the 1994 team that finished second in the state.
“The Dodsworths are one of those families that has grown at Naperville Central, both on the boys and girls sides,” Adams said. “There’s a lot of history, a lot of contributions.
“I think it makes it more meaningful, a little more special.”
Indeed, Bryce Dodsworth has long dreamed of playing for the Redhawks.
“I think it’s an advantage,” he said of the family history. “Just growing up around this place, hearing the stories made me want to play more, and then playing here when I was little with my uncle and aunt was always fun.”
Dodsworth was in sixth grade when he attended his first Naperville Central game to watch his brother Nathan play.
“Seeing him out there, mainly him with the team having fun, it always seemed like a good time,” Dodsworth said. “At home we always played football since I was little, so I love it inside and out.”
Dodsworth hasn’t yet decided whether he will play football in college, but he has some advice for younger players.
“To get ready for the season, you obviously want to be on your best game, but also just have fun,” he said. “It’s a good time.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance journalist.
Originally published:
