This autumn, Shorewood’s soccer team progressed through the 2024 season with momentum. With a dynamic group, the varsity team claimed the title of regional champions, advancing as far as sectionals within their division. 

Aside from the playoffs, some of the team’s biggest games were against their established rivals, the Whitefish Bay, Nicolet, and New Berlin Eisenhower teams. This year’s game against the Whitefish Bay team was especially profound as the Greyhounds secured a win for the first time in 14 years.

“[Whitefish Bay] is regularly contending for state championships in their division,” said Kyle Konkol, head coach. “We’ve always been close and competitive but it was really pretty nice to knock them off and beat them this year.”

Beyond the drawn-out rivalry, many team members also found the game exciting as many players personally knew their opponents. Ultimately, the game rounded off with a 2-1 win and a dramatic twist for Charlie Hietpas, team captain, who was knocked unconscious moments after the final buzzer.

“At the end of the game I got kicked in the head and I was knocked out,” Hietpas said. “I don’t think [the player] meant for me to go to the hospital, but it was super late and it’s a rivalry.”

With numerous wins this season, the team held onto the competitive reputation they shaped in previous seasons. Based on the promising results, many athletes expected a good outcome in the playoffs. The team’s final game took place on October 31 while contending for sectional champions. 

“We played Pius and we lost 3-2,” said Price Jones, senior. “We were winning 2-1 at one point and [then] they scored in the seventieth minute to force overtime…It was 2-2 in overtime and they scored in the second overtime with three minutes left. I remember looking at the scoreboard and just thinking, ‘Wow, I’m never going to get to play on this field again.’”

According to Konkol, the athletes faced setbacks that prevented them from winning a state title.

“I think we had a lot of adversity this year that was unique to this season as far as injuries [go],” said Konkol. “I give the guys a lot of credit for not taking the season into the negative route; they really responded well and kept encouraging each other.”

Regardless of the team’s results, players expressed how appreciative they were for the other memories, lessons, and friendships they made throughout the season.

“Part of how you respond when things go wrong says a lot about your character both individually but also as a group,” Konkol said. “I’m pretty lucky to coach players with that kind of character.”

Konkol believes that the primary aim of soccer is to have fun by enjoying the sport and most of all, each other. Due to soccer’s team-heavy nature, the group’s performance greatly relies on players’ ability to remain cohesive on and off the field. 

“It’s a new set of skills every year, so it’s really hard at the beginning of the season because a lot of those people you haven’t played with [yet],” Jones said. “But as it goes on you get used to them, you build team chemistry, and it just gets better and better.”

The soccer team has a few traditions to encourage this process, the most notable being pasta dinners where players from the JV and varsity teams meet the night before a game to bond over a meal. 

“These guys have a lot of [team bonding] ideas as well: one day, we came to training and they wanted to play charades,” Konkol said. “To be honest, I’ve been coaching soccer for 25 years and have never had a team ask to play charades, so I was all about it…We put the training session aside and played charades and some other games and had a pretty good time.”

A responsibility for each athlete is adapting to one another and learning how to approach and respond to each other. According to Konkol, a player’s willingness to take into account the wants and needs of their team makes a difference in the team’s trust and coordination. 

“The older guys start by setting a standard for how they want the younger guys coming on in the play, and through that process and the ups and downs of trying to meet those expectations, that creates a bond between these guys,” Konkol said. “That is really fun to be a part of and to witness the growth of not just the younger guys but the older players as leaders.”

Another feature of Shorewood’s soccer program is the liveliness it brings from the student body. Soccer is one of the most popular fall sports at SHS with high student turnout at home games.

“Plenty of players have told me that the amount of students we get at the games on our stadium field with just the overall atmosphere is electric,” Konkol said. “It’s a special place to play and I feel pretty lucky to coach here.”

Many players feel that despite the added pressure of playing on their field, they enjoy receiving support. 

“The energy difference between club and high school soccer is different,” Hietpas said. “[Playing home games] almost feels like you’re playing for your country.”

Konkol notes the appreciation the players have for their school. 

“I [like to] remind them how lucky they are to play at Shorewood; it doesn’t take a whole lot of reminding, I think they [already] recognize that,” said Konkol. “They do a good job recognizing and honoring [all] the sacrifices and effort that people before them have put to [get] us where we are now.”

Overall, players are proud of their results from the season and appreciative of the experience and the friends they made.

“My parents put me in [soccer] and I’ve played it for as long as I can remember,” Jones said. “But what kept me with it is [the fact] that it’s exhilarating being on the field with your friends, winning, losing. It’s all fun.”