As fall sports come to a close, Hewitt’s soccer team is taking pride in their spirit, if not their wins. Many injuries hurt the team, but t its spirits and hopes were high, and they continued to practice until the end, even when they no longer had games to play.
Although the soccer team had to forfeit a majority of their games, they scored many goals in the games that they played in, which is a very big improvement from last year.
The many injuries and lack of players led to lowered the morale of the players during games. “The season began really well at IMG Academy, and we tied a few games and scored many times,” said Paloma Stafford, a senior who was injured. “Yet we started to have less and less subs, and it progressively got worse, and even though people were happy with how we did in the games, our spirits were tested because so any people were hurt. As an injured person it was upsetting because it was my last year on the team after four years dedicated to Hewitt soccer.”
The soccer team did not have a spirit game this year, but the team still received a great deal of support from their team manager, 10th grader Cara Springer, who came to a majority of the games. Last year, soccer did not have a team manager, and the addition of Cara this year made them feel more represented in the games.
The team implemented another new initiative this year: a senior buddy system. Each game day, the seniors and lower classmen were assigned to each other. The buddies traded supportive and kind notes to raise confidence and spirit. The buddy system has really united the team. In many instances, the buddies bonded over the notes and became genuine friends.
Everyone on the team has put in her full effort and time since preseason, and the coaches, Coach Poole and Coach Vincent, constantly compliment each player on how she has progressed and how the team has progressed by their increased communication, speed, and agility.
“I think we all grew both as individuals and as a team, and I saw each of us communicate and understand the plays better with each practice and game, and it felt great to see ourselves improving throughout the season,” said Camila Pavon, a junior on the team.
In the end, the soccer team grew through thick and thin and pushed through a difficult fall season. In spite of the unfortunate injuries, The Hewitt Times congratulates them on a great season!