“We just don’t have the strong points we had last year,” junior Dozie Nwaneri, a forward for St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Boys Varsity Soccer team, said about the current status of the team. With one of the youngest age demographics in BVS history, the team is trying to rebuild its well known strength. Members of the team are feeling some disappointment about their performance this year; Nwaneri describes the feeling as being the new “underdogs.”

“Everyone on the team is getting frustrated. We all hate losing but that’s really brought together the team too,” midfielder junior Jordan Hughes said. Nevertheless, a sense of unity and trust, essential to any victorious soccer team, is developing rapidly. “It was hard at the beginning to get team unity but we’re all working hard for each other. Everyone really respects each other,” Hughes said.

Sweeper Sam Suzuki concurs with Hughes but adds that that to take the next step forward, BVS team members needs to start seeing each other “not only as teammates, but as family.” Whether the team finishes the season victoriously or not, they certainly will have tried their best, improved their skill level, and hopefully taken strides towards future victories.