The Homewood boys and girls soccer teams are ready to continue their streak of excellence this season.
After the successful 2024 spring season, varsity boys soccer is looking forward to playing on the field as reigning state champions.
Julian Kersh is in his sixth year of coaching boys varsity and recognizes the increased pressure following a state title win. The boys finished the season 23-2-3.
“The fact is, every time you go out to play, every team is going to look at you as the state champions,” Kersh said. “We’ll have a target on our back…So, same as last year, we’ll stay ultra focused. It’s a game at a time.”
He is focusing on helping the team “shake off the rust” accumulated from the offseason by prioritizing fitness and technique.
Serious injuries and individual errors prevented the girls team from making the state championship last spring, ending their season 14-10. However, head girls varsity coach Sean McBride believes the mix of club soccer players and varsity veterans will contribute to a fruitful season.
“We’ve had very good practices where everyone’s been working really hard,” McBride said. “The girls have been putting in the hours, looking very fast and in very good shape.”
His approach to coaching consists of simplifying the sport so as not to pressure athletes and decrease their love of the game.
“I just let them play,” McBride said. “Embrace if you make a mistake, then don’t worry about it because you’re going to make mistakes.”
Homewood girls varsity won back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023. McBride thinks this rich history will fuel current seniors to work hard and win that feeling back.
Since practices began in late January, teams have been working to craft a dynamic that allows players to improve their communication. By catching up former junior varsity players to the faster varsity pace, coaches and captains are confident that the team’s cohesiveness will translate into better teamwork on the field.
Senior Gid Malone believes the championship win was the result of more than goals scored or time spent in practice.
“We won all three tournaments that we were in and really dominated through the regular season,” Malone said. “Although we got a really good record, maybe the best part of the whole bit was the team relationship.”
As the new boys varsity captain, Malone recognizes the shift accompanying a leadership role is no small task.
“Last year, I really only had to worry about myself and my performance,” Malone said. “This year, it’s really a much bigger role to have to worry about 11 players on the field, including myself and making sure that other people are prepared to play.”
Another challenge the boys and girls face is graduating several talented seniors last spring. Kersh, quoted earlier, notes that the number of seniors graduated from soccer does not guarantee a poor performance.
“When you win a state championship, unfortunately, you can’t set your sights any lower the following season,” Kersh said. “It doesn’t matter who graduated or what your team looks like versus what it did the year before.”
Sadie Busbee is a senior on varsity looking forward to ending her high school career on a high note. As a tri-sport athlete she is optimistic about the team’s prospect of advancing in the postseason.
“This year we’re looking really strong and we’re excited,” Busbee said. “We’ve been working on a lot of stuff at practice that I think is going to transition to the field really well.”
She notes that girls sports typically lack the audiences and acknowledgement that boys sports receive. This year she hopes the student body will set a new precedent by attending games.
“We’re just looking for some more support, for female sports in general,” Busbee said. “I’ve noticed that we don’t have as big crowds as the guys do. I’m hoping people will come out to watch us more.”
The girls played against the Huntsville Panthers Feb. 6 at Waldrop Stadium. Annie McBride scored the winning goal for varsity. Junior varsity won 2-0 with goals from Embry McGarrah and Willa Sheehan.
Boys season opener is Feb. 14 at the Lakeshore Shootout Tournament. The team Homewood is playing against remains to be seen.
