Boys soccer continues district play

Junior+Beau+Johnson+stands+at+midfield+with+control+of+the+ball.

Erin Sheffield

Junior Beau Johnson stands at midfield with control of the ball.

The boys soccer team will play against Amarillo High Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in Dick Bivins Stadium in Amarillo.

The team played in three tournaments this season and began district play Feb. 5. They also competed in six district games up to this point.

“We just want to play hard as a team and take advantage of the opportunities we get against them,” junior Beau Johnson said. “Most guys are having to play the full game, and playing with that, you get tired, and you have to push through. Pressuring and defending the other team is another thing we’re working on to get better as a group each game we play.”

Johnson said his favorite part about soccer is playing with his teammates because of the relationships formed.

Soccer has made me a better leader because I am one of the captains on the team.

— Daniel Musgrave

“We’ve definitely grown as friends and teammates because we’re with each other all the time,” Johnson said. “Having that relationship outside and inside of school helps us build and connect better on the field.”

Junior Daniel Musgrave, a defender on the team, began playing soccer at 4 years old.

“Soccer has made me a better leader because I am one of the captains on the team,” Musgrave said. “It makes me work harder to set an example for the younger guys.”

Musgrave also said with the amount of conditioning needed in soccer, coach Jeremy Chettinger is always telling the team to eat well and drink lots of water.

“We usually start off each practice by doing our normal stretching and passing,” Musgrave said. “We also do a large scrimmage of some type against each other which gives us good competition. Fixing our mistakes definitely starts by working harder during practice.”

It makes me work harder to set an example for the younger guys.

— Daniel Musgrave, 11

Senior Dilan Negrete said his individual and team goals are very important to his soccer season.

“My individual goal is to try and give more assists this year for my teammates,” Negrete said. “Our ultimate team goal is to go to the playoffs.”

The team motto for the boys this year revolves around a boat oar, a canoe and always staying in rhythm.

“The paddle is a daily reminder that if one person stops rowing, then eventually the whole canoe (team) messes up,” Negrete said. “This motto has made me stronger as a person by not giving up when I want to because of the team.”