Spring Sports Update: Hard-working Wildcats soccer team is ready for successful season

The 19-man Wildcat team has experience on its side this season, says head coach Darren Brown. “Wehave a lot of returning players this year and 12 seniors.”

March 14, 2017 5:09 pm

Head coach: Darren Brown

Team captains: Kyle Hunter, Nathaniel Apone, Cameron Dwight and Reed Paradissis, the team’s first sophomore co-captain.

How did Mount Si end up with its first sophomore team captain?

“I filled a spot at center back last year, and I worked as hard as I could so the guys would like me,” Paradissis explained. And it worked.

Team strengths: The 19-man Wildcat team has experience on its side this season, says head coach Darren Brown. “We have a lot of returning players this year and 12 seniors.”

Unexpectedly, the team’s noisy practice grounds, on the field right next to the construction site of the future high school gym, is also looking to be a positive thing.

“Brown wants us to use that to our advantage,” said Paradissis. “Since we can’t hear anyone, we have to talk a lot more and stay aware.”

The co-captain would also put Brown, and specifically his motivational skills, on the team’s list of advantages, too.

“That’s definitely one of Brown’s strengths, he motivates us.”

Brown admitted that he actually likes the noise. “We have been stressing the importance of communicating on the field and using your voice. The construction ends at 5:30 p.m., so on Friday nights when it is game time, we hope that the noise and intensity we hear is from our team.”

All of the team’s home games are on Fridays this season, and all of the team’s away games are on Tuesdays, which will be really nice, said Paradissis.

The biggest difference in the team for him, though, is the energy his teammates bring to the field.

“We’re all working super hard,” he said, “and if you work as hard as you can, you will get better,” Paradissis said.

Challenges: Building team chemistry early in the season is a high priority for Paradissis, but not as high as working hard. He sees the team focusing in practice on working to increase and keep possession of the ball, and when we talked last week, he was looking forward to their first home game on Saturday, March 11, hosting Kentwood at home, which they ended up winning.

“You can never really tell in practice, who’s going to have a great game,” he said.

Don’t miss this game: Every Friday there’s a home game, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Si Stadium.

2016-17 Mount Si Varsity Boys Soccer Schedule