By Sadie Chronister, Staff Reporter
Last year, the Conestoga boys’ soccer team ended its season as the PIAA 4A boys soccer champions with a record of 24-0-1.
With 17 seniors graduating last year, the team is in the process of rebuilding. The boys are testing new formations and styles of play while adjusting to this change. Head coach David Zimmerman looks forward to this transition and the challenges it may bring.
“As a coach, I love the idea of putting together a new team. It is like a puzzle I have to solve. I find it very stimulating,” Zimmerman said. “As much as I liked having that group that was very good, I also really like having to figure out (the team).”
As Zimmerman and the other coaches continue to rebuild the team, upperclassman players are rising into leadership positions. Senior Luuk Stewart has played for Conestoga for four years and is determined to be a role model for younger players.
“I have to be a leader now that all the seniors are gone. It is my time to step up. I’m trying to show them (younger players) what Conestoga soccer is and what our core values are and also what we need to do to get the win at the end of the day,” Stewart said.
Along with new responsibilities, the returning players are also challenged with building connections on the field. The team has two freshmen and 10 sophomore players, as well as a different lineup for the new season. Junior Derek Boyer hopes to continue to bond with the team as it moves forward.
“A lot of us haven’t really played together, so as we play, we need to really find our groove and hopefully improve our team chemistry,” Boyer said, “We want to make states and hopefully win, so I look forward to having fun with this team.”
As the boys continue to brave the change of a new season, Zimmerman intends for the team to stick to the team’s value of sportsmanship.
“Who the players are as people is far more important to us than whether we win or not. One of the things I am most proud of is, despite the fact we win the Central League (title) almost every year, sometimes undefeated, the other coaches in the Central League have given us the sportsmanship awards nine out of the last 10 years,” Zimmerman said. “To me, that says something about how we go about doing things.”
Sadie Chronister can be reached at [email protected].
