Four weeks ago, the boys’ soccer team did something it has not done in 20 years; it won the Schuylkill League championship. Beating Jim Thorpe 2-1 October 19 for the championship title, the team capped off a historic season

I am a member of the team, and I was there for that night. It was tense, with Jim Thorpe being the only team that scored for a large part of the first half. But the team pulled through, scoring one goal at the end of the first half and another at the beginning of the second, causing us to go home with a trophy that night.

“Obviously I was extremely happy and overwhelmed in a positive way. We knew you guys were a championship team since the moment you stepped on the field as freshmen, and it was awesome to see that come true. You guys are genuinely good people, and that made this championship a little more gratifying. Knowing that, with all the good things you guys did on and off the field, make that new date going up on the banner something words can’t describe,” Mr. Christian Newton, assistant coach, said.

We’ve been working for the title for a long time. We started in July with two-a-day practices, where we did a combination of 40-minute runs, hill sprints, sprint courses and dribbling drills every week for the next two months, making us one of the fastest and best conditioned teams in the league.

Other significant factors are teamwork and chemistry. The seniors on the team have been together for a long time; we won the U-12 and the U-15 championships together. We know how to play together well, and we have been doing so for a long time.

Possibly the most important factor is the skill the team has. Senior Tobias Serrian is an outstanding goalie, seniors Noah Shelhamer and Chris Stoudt work together perfectly in the back four, and we have some stellar players on the offensive side of the field, like senior Collin Ebling and sophomore Caleb Roos.

All of these factors combined are the reason why Mr. Eric Rismiller, athletic director, said at the beginning of the season, “I truly believe that we have the talent for a league title run and a deep run into the District XI playoffs.” He knew what we were capable of.

While the seniors were an important part of the victory, underclassmen played a huge role as well. I can say with confidence that the team is in good hands, and I would recommend watching the team for years to come; more championships are in the future for the boys’ soccer team.