Preseason Perspective: Boy's Soccer

Last year’s record: We finished the regular season last year 8-8 and then lost to SMNW in playoffs to end up 8-9.

Key Match ups: That obviously starts with the other three Olathe schools.  Outside of Olathe, the rest of the Sunflower League provides such strong competition that every game is a key match-up for us.

Key Players: Our senior class is going to be extremely important for us this year with their leadership and their experience at this level.  Our seniors are Sam Howell, Sam Thomas, Jack O’Brien, Josh Varela, John Hickman, Christian Haley, Matt Wilkinson, and Jack Holmgren.

Seniors: Sam Howell, Sam Thomas, Jack O’Brien, Josh Varela, John Hickman, Christian Haley, Matt Wilkinson, and Jack Holmgren.

Key Newcomers: Connor Jokerst, Chris Cotton, Jack Cashman, Logan Elmer, Jack Holmgren

What do you expect from your team this season differently from the last?

We had a hard time fielding a consistent starting 11 last year due to injuries and other things that we going on.  I expect this year to be much different in the sense that within this group, I expect every one of our 17 players to contribute significant minutes every game this season, and hopefully we can be more consistent with who is available to try and build chemistry throughout the season.

What do you need to do as a coach to help your team be successful?

To help us be successful, I need to make sure that I, along with our entire staff, is working hard to train and prepare the boys in a way that allows them to be as successful as possible.  We want to provide an environment that pushes the boys to compete daily, and to help them develop confidence in each other.

Is there something about this team that seperates them from any teams you’ve coached in the past?

In previous years, there have been times where I haven’t necessarily known how much certain players would contribute right away at the Varsity level.  My expectation for these 17 guys is that every player will have a significant impact for us to be as successful as I think we can be.

What have you done differently to prepare for this season versus last season?

We took a group to St. Louis this year for a summer tournament to allow us the chance to build some chemistry and play together prior to the start of the season.  We also relied more on our seniors this summer to lead certain off-season workouts.

What key games do you see on the roster as a challenge to your team?

All of our league opponents are a challenge, and with our involvement in the Olathe Tournament, it presents another 3 very challenging games on our schedule.