(by Don Meador, Sports Information Director)
Launching a first varsity season in any sport at any time is one thing, doing so in the midst of a pandemic is another. That’s the challenge first year soccer coach Josue Ramirez Vicente faces.
Named to lead the program in nearly March, Ramirez was soon confronted with the reality that COVID-19 would disrupt plans for summer conditioning and practice. Like other fall sports, soccer could officially began in July in preparation for a season that normally starts in early to mid-August. However, like the AC-S fall sports of football, volleyball, and cross country, soccer was on hold. Limited condition drills started in early August but practice---including kicking the ball---could not start until August 24. Not the idea situation with your first home match scheduled for next week.
However, Ramirez and his team has adjusted well despite the circumstances. His participant numbers are somewhat low but not small enough to derail plans for the school’s first varsity season---two years after starting the high school program.
“I have 14-16 kids that have been with me for conditioning,” Ramirez said. “Most of the kids have played before in middle school and last year.”
The Patriot players have been a part of the building of the high school program. The journey began several years ago at the middle school level---a step brought about by the outstanding youth soccer program established by The Core. Next week, the dreams of a handful of parents and supporters will become reality as varsity soccer arrives at Allen County-Scottsville---arrives despite the coronavirus.
“This pandemic has caused a little inconvenience,” Ramirez said, but quickly noting that all the safety protocols in place were needed to keep his team and their families healthy. “We do have rules we must follow. We also have a little bit of inconvenience with school not being in session. Normally the kids would be in school and could take the bus to practice. Now, parents have to get them to our practices in the afternoon.”
Despite the logistical realities brought about by the situation, the squad has been working a month on conditioning for the season.
“Normally in a regular year, the kids would have been more active in some sort of way,” Ramirez said. “They may have played basketball or been involved in another sport and stayed active in the spring. But they have not been as active as they would have been (without the pandemic) so we have been working on endurance.”
During the conditioning phase of the summer, one guideline to follow was the fact that the use of a soccer ball was not permitted. Now with official practice underway, the team has started to focus on more strategy and skills.
“Now we are working with controlling the ball and with our foot skills,” Ramirez explained. “We also have some rules modifications to work on to comply due to the pandemic. We have been working on having fun and continuing to learn the game,”
The squad is expected to be led by a core group of players with several years’s experience, junior Alejandro Munguia and sophomore Aaron Shain.
“Those two are showing the skills they have developed and their improvement in the last year. Im exciting to have them and to have Houston Wilkins and Brayden Green. “The four have the most ability coming back, They are excited to get going.”
Additional players include Ethan Farris, Tommy Hunt, Austin Stinson, Anahi Viramontes, Riley Marsh, Sarah Hawks, Blade Workman, Renick Jones, Monkey Welch, Jack Celsor, Emma Vick, Kynleigh Shultz, Hallie Payne, and Roni Morales.
The coach also says that he is stressing the need for his team to follow all health recommendations---at home and in public---in order to stay healthy and keep others safe as well.
“We all have to practice good health habits,” coach Ramirez added. “I keep telling them the same things you do on the field you need to do at home. If somebody gets sick we are all affected. “
As of now, the Patriots are scheduled to start the season next week---with their exact opponent yet to be determined. Butler County was penciled in for a Tuesday September 8 match, but the game has not been confirmed. However, Monroe County is inked in for a game on September 10. Whichever game ends up being the first match---an announcement will come later this week---the coach is looking for some things from his team.
“I want to see how we endure the whole game,” coach Ramirez said. “I want to see the same energy in the first minute also at the end of the game. I also want to see us working as one team. I tell them that there is no I in team and that everyone must work hard to be a part of the team.” WI also want for it to be a good game. I would also like to say that we will win but we’ll see,”
The official first home game will be announced later this week. However, the game is tentatively slated to be played on the Patriot football field. However, other home matches will be at the Allen County Primary Center. Construction is also slated to start later this fall on a more permanent soccer field at the ACPC site.