MFL MarMac will build on athleticism, soccer knowledge as season progresses
Members of the MFL MarMac boys soccer team include (front, left to right) Bryce Jones, Parker Kuehl, Dalton Krause, Gavin Kishman, Tim Ames, Koda Warrington, Braxton Halvorson; (back) Justice Knox, Eli Hanson, Dayne Kohrs, Tucker Ruff, Elias Hatt, Brent Roe, Kynnick Corlett and Izayah Streicher. Not pictured are Wolfgang Martins-Saboria, Logan Ross and Carter Streicher. (Photo courtesy of John Jensen/The Outlook)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
MFL MarMac boys soccer coach Jessica Peterson is excited to help build the program in its first year. The teacher had played the sport since childhood, including high school and one year at the college level, and has seen momentum building at MFL MarMac.
“We had a group of kids about six or seven years ago who were interested in trying to get soccer going, to the point where they made a petition. At the time, there weren’t schools around here close. It wasn’t practical,” she said. “Now, having Clayton Ridge, North Fayette Valley, Postville...”
She and husband Erik, MFL MarMac’s athletic director, were among the proponents to the school board, and Erik discussed the addition of soccer with other spring sports coaches.
“That is a big thing too. You don’t want to take away from those spring sports,” Peterson said.
Four of the 18 soccer players are also out for track, she noted, otherwise the remaining boys would not normally participate in a spring sport.
“So it’s great we’ve got them out and being active,” she said.
The initial weeks of practice have been a learning curve, Peterson admitted, but she’s having fun.
“It’s definitely different than coaching the girls,” she said. “Typically, I’m out there scrimmaging with them, and that’s taken them a little to get used to. They aren’t used to having a female coach, even as an assistant coach. But they’ve been very respectful. It’s been good.”
Some athletes played soccer at a young age, but largely not since around fifth grade. Others were interested in the game after watching the FIFA World Cup, MLS and European leagues.
“Definitely there was some basic skills we had to work on, but we have some athletes out, which I think is going to be crucial this season,” Peterson said. “We’re working as fast as we can to learn as much as we can before the first game. We’ll keep building from there.”
The coach listed seniors Elias Hatt and Izayah Streicher, who has some soccer experience and may be the goalie, among those who will lead the team. So will junior Parker Kuehl and sophomore Eli Hanson.
“Tim Ames came from Prairie and has played club soccer a little bit. He’s a defender, so that’s huge to have that knowledge,” she added. “Brent Roe is one who’s really into soccer, so it’s been great to have that knowledge.”
“We definitely have different levels of those who are familiar with the sport in general,” Peterson quipped.
She’s tossed around several lineups ahead of the season opener against West Delaware on Thursday, March 28. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. in Monona.
“This West Delaware game will be a good tell of how it’s going to go,” Peterson acknowledged.
Even so, she’s already seen substantial growth on the field.
“In one week of practice, there was so much growth in seeing the field, seeing how to move, how to talk, and of course our touch on the ball, because that’s different for everybody. They might have great hand-eye coordination, but now you need some foot-eye coordination,” she explained.
Peterson called leading the program intimidating, yet exciting.
“Having such a passion for soccer, I want it to go well. Now that we’ve got some players out on the field, it calms you a little bit,” she shared.
The goal is for the boys to feel like they had a successful season—and be motivated to come back for another season.
“I want them to want to come back next year because we were successful. We’re used to being successful in boys sports, so we have some boys with some expectations of finding success this year,” Peterson said. “I’ve got an eye on some games we should have some real chances to take a win. If we can do that, I think they’ll be back next year.”
