With autumn here, the Northwest High School Boys’ Soccer team makes its wonderful return with both new and old players on this year’s roster. The varsity team has made this an excellent year for the Northwest Mounties.

   Two new players this year are Freshman Luke Zielinski and Freshman Chase Wyers, who both made varsity in their first years of high school. Zielinski is ecstatic about the news and describes it as a feat he is very proud of.

   “Chase and I fit in perfectly. Everyone was very welcoming, and not once did we ever feel left out,” said Zielinski.

   Sophomore Ashton Dack has already made amazing progress this year, making Northwest Athlete of the Week an amazing feat as he proudly maintains a 4.0 GPA while excelling on the varsity team.

   “Ashton locks down the best attackers in the game,” said Varsity Coach Tony Smith. “Defensively, he works hard and keeps our team battling with any opponent. He continues to be vocal and demonstrates strong leadership on the field, even as an underclassman.”

   Sophomore Silas Shepherd is a second-year player Varsity Soccer Team. He enjoyed coming back this year, speaking out about how much having a new coach changed things for him. He expressed that the team truly felt like family, and the joy he experienced with them this year made it clear what his favorite moment was.

   “A favorite moment for me this year is when (Senior) Drake Tillman chipped the ball over the keeper at the half,” said Shepherd.

    Shepherd had described the team’s morality as excellent despite the low scoring. 

      Even in the face of hardships and tough losses, the team displays remarkable sportsmanship and cultivates strong relationships, proving that even the saddest defeats can become powerful lessons, making the journey worthwhile.