Photo credit: Ian DuVernay

Dedication Pays Off | During the 2023 homecoming pep assembly, the girls soccer team was recognized for their hard work and accomplishments that took place in their previous season. Reflecting on their success, senior Alyssa Burney takes pride in their efforts. “I was very proud to be a part of the team and be able to win for our school,” Burney said.

After a memorable Division 2 State Championship win for the girls varsity soccer team, returning players suspect that this year is going to look different due to their head coach leaving and a predicted lower number of participants. In June 2023 the girls soccer team took the turf against East Grand Rapids in the state championship game, defeating them 3-2. After finishing the regular season with a record of 4-7-7, they were able to overcome adversity and pull off a perfect postseason, ending with a record of 10-7-7. 

The team, however, faces a new set of challenges while needing to fill the head coaching position as the 2024 season quickly approaches. Class of 2023 alumni and former defender Mia Stephanoff believes that because of her old coach’s impact on the team, it will be a hard void to fill. 

“I’m sad to see her leave,” Stephanoff said. “But I’m grateful to have had her as a coach and achieved a state championship with her because no one was more deserving of that than her.”

A strong supporter of the girl’s soccer team, Athletic Director Michelle Davis, states the qualifications needed following the former coach’s footsteps. She is optimistic that the future coach will provide the athletes with a strong support system.

“[I am hoping to find] someone to take care of our athletes, physically and emotionally,” Davis said. “Someone who puts safety first at all times, someone who has a passion for the sport they will be coaching and builds relationships with students and someone who makes playing the sport fun yet competitive.”

As the new season approaches, the team is anticipating the pressure of living up to their success from last year, even after losing their former coach. Despite the pressure attached to taking on the head coach position, Stephanoff expresses her hopes and advice for the new coach. 

“The coach this year should be very understanding,” Stephanoff said. “Coming off a state championship is very hard because people will expect a lot from you. I think that the new coach should understand that and not hold the title above their heads and use it as motivation.”

This year, the team is also predicting a large decrease in the number of players on their team, posing an additional concern as they hope to defend their state championship title. Returning player sophomore Meredith Dodenhoff emphasizes joining a state championship team shouldn’t be intimidating, as the team’s dynamic is built both inside and outside of the sport. 

“If someone was thinking about joining the team I would tell them that it is a lot of fun,” Dodenhoff said. “You get to be with your friends, it’s nice weather, and we do more than just play soccer. We get Starbucks, hang out, and go to baseball games and so much more.” 

During her first high school soccer season, Dodenhoff set the comeback momentum by scoring the first goal of the state championship. As this year’s season approaches, she hopes to continue the legacy fostered last year. 

“The next step as a team is we need to keep up the intensity and stay positive the whole season like we did last year,” Dodenhoff said.