Wildcat roster undergoes overhaul as soccer squad looks to peak

The turf looks better now that 80 degree temperatures have banished the snow. As the weather warms, girls soccer kicks off a new season. After placing third in the FVA conference last year, senior captain Jenna Brewer hopes to exceed expectations. 

“Although there are a lot of talented teams in our conference, I think if we keep working hard and we all put in the effort, then I have no doubts that we have just as good of a chance of getting to state as any other team,” she said. 

Winning comes with hard work and dedication. Junior goalie Hannah Wolf has been playing soccer with West since her freshman year and has breathed that motto every year.

“We have to keep our heads on straight and keep working in order to accomplish winning the conference,” she said. “We just need to transfer our skills and chemistry from pre-season and previous teams into this team and season.”

After losing a total of 18 seniors from last year, the team finds ways to regroup and “learn a new game.”

“We’ve dealt with a slight hiccup in our chemistry,” Wolf said. “We have to relearn how each other plays and connect with each other; both will come with more games together as it's already started to improve.” 

Regardless, the team has persevered and they aren’t dwelling on this minor setback. 

“Obviously, we have our captains who played varsity last year, but besides that, there were only three other players that even practiced with varsity last year,” Wolf said. “Having a whole new team is a challenge, though it's one I think we will overcome.”

With new players comes new challenges, ones prominent especially early in the season. For the Wildcats, it’s no different. 

“We do have a lot to work on, like finishing, keeping our midfield connected, and preventing our defense from being flat,” Brewer said. “I think we have all played to the very last second of every game we have played thus far. We’re only getting better, which is all I can ask.”

Even with a new team, the players remain hopeful. Having played together on club teams for the majority of their soccer careers, most already have built relationships.

“It's less of a challenge because we have all played together during club seasons and other different rec games,” Wolf said. “We are persevering through the lack of experience, though, and I don't think it's all that obvious that we have a younger team.” 

Despite having played for other programs, the players have encountered new conflicts.

“A big challenge we’ve faced is training,” Brewer said. “You have to practice like you play. At times, our team has faced troubles training with full intensity, and that is what training comes with, intensity. It’s all about what you put in.” 

At the varsity level of high school sports, each game relies on more than just how much a player practices. Sometimes, it’s just about the talent. 

“Talent has no age,” Brewer said. “I think this year's team has a lot of potential and everyone has their own skills that set them apart from the rest of the team.” 

Sophomore Grace Senkbeil is excited for the team’s potential.

“The season started during spring break and so far we’ve won twice, so I think we’ve been pretty successful,” she said.  

After winning against Neenah High School and impressively tying Notre Dame Academy, a team that placed second in state last year, the players began to see their determination paying off.

“It is fulfilling to see that our efforts towards doing well are working in conference games,” Wolf said. 

As sweet as the success may be, it just scratches the surface, according to Brewer.

“As a team, I would like us not only to win but to work on ourselves,” she said. “Learn how to take a loss and grow from it and make mistakes and come back even stronger. Being negative only sets us back.” 

Mentality plays a huge role in the sport.

“I doubt my skills a lot and deal with a lot of anxiety around the sport because of it,” Wolf said. “It's not bad enough that I can't work through it, it's a common challenge among athletes.” 

As Brewer finishes out her senior year, she has guidance and advice to those who struggle.

“Being kinder to yourself is one of the hardest things we can do consistently,” she said. “We are so often our own worst critics. Setting soccer goals can be as much mental as physical and that is important to remember.” 

by Makenna Freund

Published April 24, 2023

Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue VII