Boys Varsity Soccer is one of many sports Oakdale offers. Starting the season strong with a 2-0 win over Centennial High School, the players are determined to hold on for a strong rest of the season.

Sports are great opportunities for players to build strong relationships and share responsibilities with each other. As Ekow Yankah, a senior at Oakdale High School, mentions, “We definitely work well together; this year, the chemistry with the team is really good. Everyone picks everyone up, like when someone makes mistakes or when someone is down.” Yankah appreciates how connected the team is with each other and how everyone is united.

Although players have strong connections with their coaches and managers, they all play a big role in how the team performs. These people are meant to give helpful advice, show support, and be there for their students. Jeremy Feaster, a senior at Oakdale High School, shares a core moment with their coach during one of his games, as he explains, “This one time, I had a coach tell me to just calm down and focus, because I wasn’t tapping into everything that I could. And when he told me that, it really helped me, because it was the first time someone pulled me aside, talked to me for the first time, and singled me out, and it felt really good.” Feaster cherishes the fact that his coaches take time to check in on players individually to help improve their performance throughout games.

However, not all games have been glorious victories for the team, although they have stayed strong-willed and persistent. As Feaster mentions, “We gave up two losses at the beginning of the season that were rough. Two games we should have won,….so I’m happy with how the season’s going.” With outcomes and mindsets like this, there is no limit to what this team can do.

With that being said. The team has been keeping up a good and strong fight throughout their tough games. During the game against Frederick High school, Oakdale won 2-1. The game stayed tied with Yankah scoring a penalty in the 97th minute. This shows the constant struggle the team seems to face, but they grapple towards the end and work together to get the win.

Based on this, it is obvious that this group of boys are determined individuals who can make anything happen. To them, soccer is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. With hard work and proper communication during games, the team can hopefully make the playoffs this year. We wish the team good luck for the rest of the season and can’t wait to see what they can accomplish. Go Bears!