I generally start these notes with some comment about how we battled the weather, but the focus this year is all about teamwork. Thank you to everyone that has supported the Buckeyes Soccer Program, from the 8th grade parents who emailed in the dead of winter asking for and then planning our first ever and super successful Pack the Park event to those parents that referee when none are around. And of course, a HUGE thanks to all those that helped coach our young kids. Just like a soccer team, this program only works well when more than the starting 9 or 11 put in the work. I am very grateful to be a part of a superb team.
This year brought many firsts for Barnabas Soccer, including the aforementioned Pack the Park. Before the first games in the fall, Varsity Coach Mike Rom scheduled a trip to his alma mater Loyola University for us to watch a collegiate match. This event drew over 30 players and parents. To watch the game at that speed and competitive level showed our kids the effort and intensity that is required to continue playing soccer past grade school. Bringing it down just one small notch, some of those same Varsity players took the day off from practice a few weeks later to visit some friends at a Mt. Carmel vs Brother Rice frosh game this year. A similar reunion at a Mt. Carmel vs Marist match brought together a combined 6 Barnabas Soccer alums and the fun didn't stop there - our 3rd/4th grade girls and a few others gathered together at McAuley to watch the Mighty Macs take on St. Ignatius with two alums battling it out. It was so joyful to see friends turn to foes and then back to friends again after the matches. We know there will be more of that in the years that follow.
One more note about Mike Rom. His son Xander is two years older than my oldest, so we always missed being in the grade groupings by a year. After the COVID pandemic stole the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 seasons, the Fall 2021 season brought us back to the fields for the first time in almost 24 months. While chatting with another parent as we approached the Convent field for a practice, we noticed Mike dribbling circles around his JV team. As he slowly walked back to the patio after the scrimmage ended, I jokingly asked how the kids would compete that season if they couldn't take the ball from him. A serious look came to his face when he said (something to that effect of) not good if they couldn't keep up with someone like him. But he continued that they worked hard that practice and if they kept that up, they'd get there. Sure enough they did and if not for a brutal handball call in the semifinal that year, they'd have been playing for a championship.
That's Mike - a perfect balance of realism and hopefulness. He always competed with his players while pushing them to improve; supporting them all the way. For 9 years, Mike was a tremendous coach for St. Barnabas. We are truly sad to have seen his final match near the bench (although after the game he said he still had one more game left - the annual parent & kid match - to which I reminded him he'd be on the field with them. Hearing that, a small smile came to his face. Watch out kids!). With the amount of Buckeyes Soccer gear that he has, I know he won't be a stranger at The Prairie Park, well that is as long as there are no conflicts with Aston Villa or Crusaders matches.
Now, on to our current players. Our K - 4th Grade teams again participated in the St. Linus Spring Soccer League. The league consists of teams from Saints Barnabas, Linus, Alexander, Walter/Benedict, Gerald, and Cajetan (who joined this year). Our teams finished in the top half of the standings in each division with 3 of the 4 teams advancing in the playoffs. The only reason we didn't advance all 4 is because we had a rematch of the Pack the Park 1st grade game. Next year, we'll make sure we avoid first round matchups. Kevin White's Kindergarten group scored a couple of late victories including a thrilling winner at Pack the Park. Our 3rd/4th White and 1st/2nd Red scored playoff victories to advance to the quarterfinals, but both teams ended their runs there. 3rd/4th Red cruised in their playoff opener and won their quarterfinal game in a thrilling penalty kick shootout with two unbelievable saves by their 3rd grade goalie, making it to the final day. Sadly a 3-2 loss in the semi-final to St. Linus on their home field ended the season. The crowd was packed that night and all season for all of these youth teams. I was glad to have shared some time with most of those fans cheering on our younger Buckeyes.
Following a Fall Season that should never be spoken about again (we lost every game and only scored one goal), the JV team roared back this Spring. After staying close to but dropping the opening game to last Fall's champions, Coaches Krabbe and Pearson guided the JV team to 4 consecutive victories in dominating fashion, setting up a Mother's Day match at bitter rival St. Alexander. On a sweltering day, injuries (and some questionable calls) plagued the team. A lucky shot found the net that crushed our playoff hopes. But as the parents and coaches witnessed all year, this resilient group of 5th and 6th graders were not discouraged and fought for one final win in the last game away from home that capped a 5-win season, the most by Barnabas in SWCSA play in two years. The coaches are so proud of these players, many of which were new to the team and even soccer over the last 3 seasons.
Upon review, this annual message has been sent later and later because this Varsity group of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 have been as successful a group as there has been since my wife and I moved to Barnabas over a decade ago. The team grinded to a playoff birth in the Fall Season, winning their final two games to make it before exiting with a first round playoff defeat to St. Nicholas. After an 0-2 start, they picked it up at the right time with 3 victories including the highlight at Pack the Park. With minutes left on the clock, Xander Rom scored the game-winning wonder goal from mid-field sending the thousands of fans into a frenzy. The roars could be heard past the BBQ grill at the end of the park all the way to Blue Island. A draw against MHR to end the season returned the group to the semifinal for the first time since their heartbreaking loss two years ago. In a rematch against top-seeded MHR, our Buckeyes gave up a couple of early goals and never recovered. A great shot that hit the MHR post early in the second half wasn't influenced by the wind enough to find the net, stalling the momentum. A late goal by Rafa Rivero got the Buckeyes fans on our feet one final time this season, but only enough to end the game 3-1. It was an enjoyable run watching this team and I look forward to seeing the rising 8th graders back on the field in the fall.
We say farewell and offer our best wishes to Teddy Diaz de Leon (Rice), Rory Griffin (Ignatius), Carter Harris (Marist), Erin Healy (Marist), Joseph Herber (Ignatius), Marlies Krabbe (Culver Academies), Liam McGrath (Marist), Aidan Phillips (Mt. Carmel), Rafa Rivero (Rice), Xander Rom (Rice), Drago Sutalo (Rita), and Ethan Weekley (Ignatius) as they begin their next chapters. This is the first Varsity class that I got to know well due to many of their siblings being in my kids' grades. "Reliable sources" have told me that a good portion plan to try out for their soccer teams. I will miss seeing these young men and women at games and practices, but it makes me happy that they'll possibly continue to play soccer while also enjoying other things in high school. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.