The boys’ soccer team has been on an absolute roll this season! The boys have opened the season strongly and continue to build their success on and off the field. At the time of writing this article, the teams is currently 9-2 and 2-0 in SWSC conference play with home games against Stagg and LW West coming up this week. They have wins against Downers Grove North, Thornton, Lemont, HFHS, PEHS, and Andrew. What an amazing start to the season! The team is moving with so much momentum and chemistry this season. Goalkeeper, senior Joshua DeMik, talks about the current success of the team. Joshua DeMik explains that a big factor to the success of the team is the close-knit community between his teammates and coaches. He says, “Everyone builds each other up and pushes each other to preform to the best of our abilities day in and day out.” Like his other teammate, senior captain, Chuck Stevens, talks about the team’s success as well and says, “The biggest reason for our team’s success is the atmosphere the team and coaches provide. We have a family mindset on the team, and it helps immensely with our chemistry on the field.” For this team, togetherness and that brotherly bond plays a major role in their success. Way to go boys, Knights are a family!
Unfortunately, the boys fell short in their game against Joliet West. A loss can be hard, but they are also lessons for motivation. Chuck Stevens claims: “The way we stay motivated in the high-pressure games and practices is by having everyone holding [each other] to a high standard. Whether it’s the senior captains or the new sophomore on varsity, everyone expects the best out of one another, and it keeps us performing at a high level” (Stevens). This team displays liability and allows each other to rely on one another. Their success comes from various other aspects, other than their phenomenal athletic abilities.
Recently the boys’ soccer team was recognized on the WGN News channel for the Body Armor Sports Series. The boys participated in the Labor Day Trivia Challenge. They rocked it! Not only was this a trivia challenge, but it also had an important meaning. The boys took the opportunity to help promote Self-Care Awareness Month. They worked with a nonprofit organization called Buddy’s Helpers which encourages athletes to volunteer in their community. By promoting self-care awareness month, the boys helped raise awareness about its importance.
The season continues, and the boys will continue to grow. DeMik says, “The team hopes to continue to build a close-knit community and support each other through the highs and lows. As far as goals go for this year, we are all hopeful for a first-place finish in conference and a solid play off run.” The boys have a ton of motivation and grit to achieve their season goals. This team has a special bond, and it really shows based on their performance on the field. Not only do they treat each other with an immense amount of respect and hold each other to a high standard, they play some great games. Wishing the boys the best of luck with the rest of their season, you’ve got this boys!
