Coaches Mike Huber and Dusty Dennis are rebuilding the varsity girls soccer team after graduating 11 seniors in the class of 2022. So far this season, they are third in conference and on route to go back to state.
With only three upperclassmen who start on the field, this year’s young team is a talented group and can compete at a high level against D1 commits. The young team has neat footwork and they know how to maneuver the field.
“Most of our underclassmen are very skilled and have greatly improved. They know how to hold their own,” Senior Captain Grace Schwoch said.
Playing soccer year-round helps the players keep their skills continue to grow. Minnesota Thunder Academy is an elite soccer club where some of the varsity players play.
“Playing varsity in the fall helps keep the growth I’m doing when not in the high school season I play for MTA,” sophomore Alayna Muths said.
After girls soccer has gone State many years in a row, it makes them the top team to beat. The team needs to stay strong and humble to compete with the drive of other teams.
“Our program has been so strong so all the teams are looking at us for revenge,” Schwoch said.
High school soccer is way more physical than club soccer. In club soccer, the team trains together as a team and practices using skills to connect with each other. In high school soccer being physical is a skill.
Muths said that doing extra work outside of team stuff helps a lot to prepare to be more physical against all the competition in high school.
“They are just going to get in your face and knock you on your rear end,” assistant coach Dusty Dennis added.
The girl’s team is en route to go to state again. They have a good team with only 1 loss so far this season and only losing about 4 seniors on the varsity roster from last year.
“I think it’s going to be a harder battle than it was in the past based on experience,¨ Dennis added.
Coaching a young team has its challenges there is such a wide skill level, especially for seniors and underclassmen. The younger girls on the team need to work harder to close that gap of skill and age difference to prove themselves.
“They have to start to learn how to be rough mean and physical,” Dennis explained.
The relationship between academics and athletics has changed a lot over the years and with such a young team some might struggle to balance the two. Dennis explained academics are more important but athletics plays a great role in developing great experiences and friendships.
Last year three seniors committed to play collegiate-level soccer the young team is following in their footsteps. Muths is looking at D1 schools closer to home.
Dennis reflected on his core values as a coach with his hopes for the team and their upcoming battle to go to State “be able to grind when you’re super tired.”
