Mayer: The 2012 West Vigo Boys Soccer Team

(This blog post corresponds with a feature story that aired on Monday, October 1st. Here is the link to the video: West Vigo Delivers Surprising Season

The soccer players walked in and out of the gym trying to stay warm and for that matter awake. They arrived at West Vigo High School around 7:45 AM on Saturday and were still trying to figure out the location of the bus that was scheduled to take them on the two and half hour ride to Browne County.

This kind of thing happens all the time in high school sports. Bus schedules get mixed up and kids that would want nothing more then to sleep in on a Saturday are left envisioning their upcoming game and waiting for a ride. Of course, many of these soccer players that had given up their Saturday and countless other weekends and hours of practicing never anticpated having to do so. That's because as recently as this summer, they weren't soccer players.

Anyone who has played sports on a serious level understands the commitment it takes. Time is just one aspect. So, when the Vikings boys soccer team found themselves without enough players two weeks before the 2012 season, they knew it would be a difficult task to convince others to join the squad. That didn't stop captains Brady Cole, Nathan Augustus, and Justin Kump from attempting to save their team. They wandered the halls of their school and pitched the idea to countless athletes. Cross Country players already had the conditioning aspect down, basketball and baseball players could get great practice for their upcoming seasons, and tennis players would have the much needed hand eye coordination.

Coach Culley DeGroote also tried to sell the soccer team to students, but he was also busy making sure he knew enough about the sport to teach it. DeGroote had experience as a coach, but had never played or taught the beautiful game. The middle school gym teacher surrounded himself with assisstants Cody Jones and Travis Lewzader, who would help relay the basics.

Sports teams often have to overcome obstacles that bring them together and help form a bond that eventually leads to great success. They must climb a metaphorical mountain to reach the summit of athletic success. However, the Vikings were not only climbing a mountain, they were doing it without harnesses and hopping on one leg.

West Vigo lost nine starting seniors from the 2011 squad. Three of those players were the all time leading scorers for the program. The coaching staff was gone as well. The players that remained had to switch positions for the most part and play a greatly increased role. Once players from other sports were recruited (over half the team) the Vikings had two weeks to impart 15 years of soccer knowledge. The players who actually knew soccer had to spend much of their time normally preserved for improving, teaching the novices basics of the game such as how to properly execute a throw in and when there would be a corner or goalie kick. Furthermore, a great number of the new soccer players did not know their teammates previously and had never met Coach DeGroote, so chemistry would have to be built from ground zero in a very short amount of time.

The bus ride was quite at first. Most of the boys used the long journey to catch up on sleep and dream of a Saturday watching college football, going to the lake, or spending the day with friends and family. After a while, everyone started to gain some energy and begin preparations for the game. They acted like a group that had been together for years as opposed to a couple months. There was laughing, razzing, and everything you would expect from a group of high school boys on a road trip.

The pre-game was rushed because we made it to Browne County a bit late. It was cool, but not cold and the grass was still moist with the son yet to break through. Players went through their routines and for the Vikings this includes countless tips and advice for the less experienced boys. As the game started and progressed the inexperience shows. Defenders are out of position, maybe only a second late, but that can make all the difference in soccer.

A Browne County player, who is obviously experienced and talented, continually uses jukes and fakes to get around the Vikings. West Vigo has opportunities on offense, but they just can't seem to get enough players down the field to create continuinty and any kind of established attack.

The final score is 5-1, the one West Vigo goal coming on a beautiful shot from Justin Kump, an experienced sophomore. The Vikings don't hang their heads. They hustle off the field, stand in line and shake hands. Coach DeGroote directs them to gather everything and make sure all the trash is thrown away. Some of the players spent a few minutes talking with parents then head back to the bus.

The silence of a defeated team is not found on the ride back. The players understand that the odds are stacked against them. They are still learning with each game although this was the season finale and playoffs await. There are smiles and laughter along with music and talk of plans for the rest of the weekend. The players are not ok with losing. They are a determined group, but simply, refuse to let a loss bring them down. The team is constantly looking forward, trying to figure out ways to get better and build a sustainable program.

Athleticism is the basis for the majority of sports, but knowledge and fundamentals play just as important of a role. When building a team, it takes time for the players to bond and build a trust that can translate into success. The West Vigo soccer team has packed in years of knowledge and practice into a small set of time and still found a way to wins games. They have morphed into a true team instead of individuals playing with like uniforms. No matter the outcome, the season has been a mighty success. 

After finishing conference play at 2-3-1, West Vigo won its sectional game 2-0 over South Vermillion. They play Covington for the championship on Saturday.