Juggling school work and an after school sport is no easy task, but Whippany Park athletes are always rising to the challenge. This fall, the Freshman Boys Soccer Team have shown their grit as new Wildcats. With their vigorous pre-season and fresh ideas under the leadership of their new coach, the team has had a successful season working together.
Before the season officially began, the freshman soccer players practiced all summer to get in shape. According to the players, their training consisted of running up to 15 laps each day to build stamina and endurance, which prepared them for their scrimmages, passing drills, and shooting drills. The summer was also a great opportunity for the coaches to finalize each players’ main position. Even in the brutal heat and scorching sun of late August, every player showed up and put effort into each practice.
As school started and the soccer season ramped up, Coach Chad, the new coach, took control of the Freshman Wildcats. His approach taught them a number of new skills and how to mesh well as a team. Ryan Heiart, a right/left midfielder, described Coach Chad as having “a strong passion for the game.” Declan Slattery-Mauss, a center midfielder, explained that the new coach shows support for his players, but also makes them work hard. Other players highlighted the difficult skills Coach Chad has helped demonstrate, such as retaining and building out the ball, where players fight to move the ball towards the opposing team’s goal. Another challenging tactic is called playing the “wingers”, who are on the outskirts of the field, by having them pass the ball from their position to the players in the middle of the field. Above all, Coach Chad emphasized the importance of communication and having a strong team dynamic. Thanks to this, players are not afraid to call out words of encouragement or helpful tips to each other on the field.
The team couldn’t have mastered these skills without their consistent practice. These Freshman Wildcats rally five times a week for two hours to warm up, scrimmage, and work on shooting and passing. Warm Ups consist of stretching and high-intensity exercises to ensure players get their hearts pumping. Coach Chad mainly focuses on the fitness of his players, as he tests their speed and agility with running drills. All of this work prepares players for a scrimmage at the end of every practice, where they piece together all of their newly-learned abilities.
So far, the Freshman team has had two wins and two losses on their season. Their frequent training has prepped them for their final game on October 19th against Jonathan Dayton High School.
The new generation of Boys Whippany Park Soccer players have shown their persistence and resilience in the 2024 season, through the relentless heat to cooling temperatures. No matter the conditions, these Wildcats were sure to make the most of their soccer season and determined to leave their mark.
