Spencer McCord

Staff Writer

This year’s soccer team, unlike other soccer teams we’ve had in the past, had the chance to be something special.

I have been a part of GRC soccer for five years and this is only the second team I’ve been a part of where there was no fighting among us even when times were at their worst. This team has been through so much dating back into last season where we got absolutely heartbroken in the district tournament. No one knew how we would play this year.

We started out the season so confident after going undefeated in the Bluegrass State Games to just have that crushed by losing five of our first six games (tying the other). But what made this team special was the fact that we were able to stay together.

I remember us having a team meeting in the locker room before practice when getting ready to play Montgomery County and we talked for half an hour about coming together even more than we were already. We talked about playing for more than just ourselves but to play for the team – our brothers, our family.

We went out and beat Montgomery the next night, then we went on to win the next four as well. This honestly was so shocking to me. We had completely turned our season around in a matter of days and were playing like I could never imagine.

The Gatlinburg tournament was the thing that cemented this brotherhood between us. The rest of the season, our play wasn’t the best but the brotherhood stayed together… bringing us to another night we would love to forget.

The first round of districts, we battled Montgomery, going blow for blow. Unfortunately this would be our final game of the season, the last game that our seniors, Cameron, Evan and Landon would ever play wearing a GRC uniform.

Cameron: It seems like just yesterday we were out there in U-10 playing together. Six years later and we’ve just played our last game together. It has been absolutely amazing playing with you for so long. Just remember, stay in your frame.

Evan: The only other person who could keep up with me on yellow cards. You’re one of the best midfielders I have ever played with.

Landon: My shrink on the field and probably the only one who could ever calm me down out on the field. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you out there, Cap.

This is one of the best years of my life playing for this team.

This season has taught us a lot about ourselves. Next year, we are going to be missing these seniors but we will play on in their honor and continue to follow down this path of greatness that they have helped pave for us.