Naperville Central forward Callie Tumilty’s high school career was brief and brilliant.
Those who got a chance to watch the Ohio State commit play in her senior year were treated to an athletic display rarely seen at that level. Every time she got the ball, fans knew there was a possibility she would do something memorable.
That doesn’t surprise Naperville North defender Emily Buescher, who has been Tumilty’s club teammate since they were in third grade.
“She’s the same player she was since she was little,” Buescher said. “Now she’s just bigger.”
Tumilty’s impact on the Redhawks in her only season couldn’t have been any bigger. The 2025 Naperville Sun Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Tumilty racked up 23 goals and 15 assists in 23 games, setting the single-season program record for goals and tying the mark for points with 61.
Tumilty was named the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association’s player of the year and became the third All-American in program history, joining Karen Richter (1986) and Washington Spirit defender Casey Krueger (2008).
Tumilty combined speed, strength and passing skills to break down defenses with regularity. She was just as likely to shoot accurately with either foot from 30 yards or more as she was to dribble through multiple defenders.
Naperville Central coach Troy Adams said Tumilty combined the technical with the physical and the tactical. But that alone did not make her great.
“She has that rare trait that attacking forwards need — that short-term memory,” Adams said. “You go at somebody, they take it away from you, and the next time you have no fear.
“She has no fear of attacking somebody, and the great thing about attacking players is they’ve only got to be right once in a while. She definitely has that mindset that ‘I’m going to go fast, and I’m going to go at people.’”
(Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
That’s nothing new for Tumilty. She even displayed it when she played varsity basketball as a freshman and sophomore.
“Basically, I just want to win,” she said. “I hate losing more than anything, so that’s kind of where it comes from, and also, you’re always going to make mistakes when you play a game. It’s part of the game to lose the ball, and if anyone cares if you lose the ball or that you miss a shot, then it’s more their problem because it’s just part of the game.”
Tumilty wasn’t always so sanguine.
“That was hard for me to realize when growing up,” she said. “I would always get a little bit caught on the last play, but realistically it doesn’t really matter because until the buzzer beeps, you always have time to make something happen.
“That’s kind of how I look at things — like there’s always another chance. Obviously, it wasn’t so at the Neuqua game.”
The Redhawks (20-2-1) had a terrific season end in a 1-0 loss to Neuqua Valley in the Class 3A sectional semifinals on May 27. The Wildcats were the only team to beat the Redhawks this season.
It was a tough pill for Tumilty and her teammates to swallow. But she made a lot of things happen, leading the Redhawks to DuPage Valley Conference and regional titles. They also won the prestigious Naperville Invitational for the first time since 2012, a special memory for Tumilty.
“The Naperville Invite really showed what team we could be, and it really brought us together because we played five top competitors that week,” she said. “I think that we had the hardest schedule in the state by far.”
Tumilty, who played club soccer for her first two years and then was out of action for 16 months following ACL surgery, relished every moment.
“I always wanted to play school soccer,” she said. “Now that it’s over, I was really grateful that I got to play. Obviously, winning state was a goal, but the fact that I got the opportunity to even play high school soccer, especially after my injury, was huge.”
Everyone was glad she did. Adams was pleased to see Tumilty take his advice and use it to adapt and improve.
Buescher, a Minnesota recruit who will play against Tumilty in the Big Ten, said high school soccer was better for having Tumilty participate.
“We always say she’s built for high school soccer,” Buescher said. “This is where she thrives, so it’s been amazing to watch her and cheer her on.”
When asked what her legacy will be, Tumilty referred to her decision to play for the Redhawks.
“That it’s never too late,” she said. “Because if you want to play high school soccer, just do it.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
