The Manitou Springs High School 2024-2025 boys varsity soccer team had their first winning away game on Aug. 27 against Gunnison High School, the score being 2-0. Their first home game is on Sept. 5 against Vanguard High School.
This year’s team is going to be focusing on the fundamentals and other important technical aspects of soccer. “We have a lot of players without a ton of experience, so I just really want them to work hard and to grow together as a team,” head varsity coach, Ben Mack, said.
The senior players this year are looking to leave behind a sense of passion and work ethic. Some seniors are also viewing their last season as a way to keep up the energy and commitment that they had in the very beginning.
An example of this is Avery Scott (12) who has played soccer all four years of his high school career and has been on varsity for three of them. “You’ve got to work hard for everything, you can’t let yourself get stagnant in your work,” Scott said.
With high hopes for this year and the building of skills as a team, there is some concern about maintaining the previous years’ stats. Alexander Steger (12) has been on the team for two years of his twelve years of playing soccer. He has seen the team in previous years work together to achieve a good season, but now with new players, he is concerned. “I’m excited because it’s my senior season, and I think I’m at my best; but I’m also scared because we lost 12 varsity seniors last year,” Steger, a varsity captain, said.
The team has turned some skill aspects of the game into workable parts but still has some pieces they are practicing. “A lot of the players haven’t played a ton of soccer, but they’re really hard workers, they’re very coachable, and I’m seeing a lot of progress in it so far,” Mack said.
There aren’t as many seniors this season as there were the last, but it is important to reflect on the important moments as a team.“There’s something special about working hard to be one of those 11 starters announced, being part of this squad, and working hard to be part of something cool,” Scott said.
Along with the lessons that Mack has taught the players about soccer, he also taught them how to work better as a team. “He’s taught me to be patient with players even though they may not be up to your level,” Steger said. “Let them learn and lead by example, be patient with them.”
Younger players following the senior class are hopeful to continue the momentum of stats, and also practice key leadership skills. “I hope to be a reliable goalie that my teammates can trust, and set a leadership standard for the underclassmen,” varsity goalkeeper Sebastian Steger (10) said.
Mack consistently pushes his players to take the leadership abilities learned in the sport and apply them as life skills moving forward. “I would say that I want to teach selflessness, dedication, commitment and being part of something bigger than yourself,” Mack said.
