Mercy Home Athlete, Teammates Win First State Championship in School History

November 25, 2025

Last year, Toni’s dream soccer season for Chicago’s De La Salle High School ended in heartbreak.  

As a junior, the Mercy Home resident starred as a defender on the Meteor’s 27-2-2 squad that reached the Illinois Class 2A state final. But in a dramatic overtime tilt, De La Salle lost to Belleville Althoff 3-2 on a last second penalty kick.  

Toni and his teammates earned a shot at redemption by securing a return to the final this fall. At first, the contest between De La Salle (25-3-1) and downstate Washington High School (29-2-1) almost felt like a mirror image of the 2024 title matchup. Tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, the sides remained deadlocked after overtime and headed into a penalty shootout. But this time, the Meteors came out on top, prevailing 3-2 on penalty kicks.  

“I am just so happy,” Toni said. “I was crying because it was my last year of high school and we won.”  

Toni was also part of school history. Despite being founded in 1889, just two years after Mercy Home, and producing many notable alumni including five future Chicago mayors, this year’s boys soccer state title is the first in any sport for the venerable institution. According to the Chicago Tribune, it was also the first boys soccer title for any Catholic League team and the first soccer championship — boys or girls — for any South Side or south suburban school since Sandburg won the Class AA boys title in 2002. After the win, the newly crowned champs celebrated with food and music back at school. 

“I am most proud of my teammates and friends,” Toni said.  

While the finals thriller brought excitement, the previous night’s semifinal match was also filled with nerves, even for Toni. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, De La Salle rallied back to tie the match with four minutes remaining. De La Salle ultimately prevailed 4-2 in overtime. Toni injured his ankle in the win but still took the field for the state championship the next day.  

“I was a little nervous, but I had faith in my team,” Toni said.  

Born in Chicago, Toni moved to Mexico with his family at the age of four to help care for his grandparents. Growing up, he played competitive soccer for a national team in Mexico but later returned to the United States to live with his older sister. Toni moved into Mercy Home one month later in search of a safe and therapeutic environment.  

Mercy Home helped enroll Toni at Wells Community Academy High School because of their support for ESL students.  He quickly became proficient in the English language and wanted to go to De La Salle High School, the school his sister attended while she lived at Mercy Home. De La Salle could help prepare Toni for college while also providing a more competitive opportunity for playing soccer. He thrived in his first season, but he also excelled academically, finishing with A’s and B’s. 

At Mercy Home, Toni is a leader among his peers. He regularly competes in soccer club and helped sweep the gymnasium last year. 

“He’s a great role model for his peers,” Youth Care Worker Laura Hildreth said. “His peers saw him getting more privileges but that’s because he was being responsible and does everything he needs to do.” 

During De La Salle’s 3-0 win in the Supersectional last year, Toni’s peers at the Home, who all attend different schools, surprised him by attending the game in the pouring rain.  

Julian, a Mercy Home youth said, “I just wanted to be there for Toni.”

Each game, Toni is typically supported in the stands by his older sister and one or two Mercy Home coworkers. But for that game, the boys wore their coats and made the trek to the South Side. 

“He leads by example,” one youth said last year. “He’s someone that we should follow. He’s the glue that keeps us together.” 

Morgan Doyle, Toni’s program manager at the time, said that she had never seen community support like that in her time working at Mercy Home. 

“Toni is one of the kindest, most patient and hardworking kids in the world,” Doyle said. “He’s so respectful, so polite, school-oriented, family-oriented and he’s also super playful and fun. And because of that, I think all of his peers look up to him because of the leader that he is, and they just enjoy having him around. I don’t think that you could find anyone in this building that could say a bad word about Toni.” 

After high school, Toni hopes to continue playing soccer in college. He is currently applying to college, building his resumé, and plans to attend the Job Skills Seminar at Mercy Home in February. 

Now that his high school season is over, Toni will return to play for the Chicago Fire “MLS Next” Academy.

“I’m just so proud of Toni,” Post-Secondary Options and Career Resources Coordinator Stephen Guardino said. “He’s excelling in the classroom, on the soccer field, and still makes time to do the work he needs to do at Mercy Home.”