A year after the Varsity boy’s soccer team finished with their best record in school history, the team finds itself in a “position to win conference”  this season as they move down to Class 2.
Missouri State High School Activities Association changed the requirements on the size of each class, allowing Central – along with 25 other schools – to change classes. The Colts were one of the last teams allowed to move down classes during the selection process.
The team is off to a 9-1 record (at press time), suffering its only loss to Vianney. However, the team has had two big conference wins against Kirkwood and Webster Groves, both ending in penalty kicks. They also defeated previously ranked Francis Howell 2-1 in the Parkway Quad tournament.
The Colts are matched up against both the defending Class 2 and Class 3 state champions. Chaminade, the defending Class 3 champion, was ranked as the No. 2 high school soccer team in the nation as of Sept. 18, according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. In addition to Chaminade, the Colts still have to face third-ranked Marquette, eighth-ranked De Smet, and a conference matchup against 9th-ranked Rockwood Summit.
“We want to improve from last year’s season,” senior Andrew Chekadanov said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to win conference, and then hopefully win state.”
The boys believe they are more than ready for the challenge and look to take advantage of every opportunity to create another record-setting season.
“The whole team has been working hard in practices to be prepare for the season,” junior Nick Helmbacher said. “The coaches have been making practices hard at times by pushing us more than usual, but we enjoy the challenge and are expecting to all become better once the season comes.”
In order to make this all possible, many of the seniors know that they must make major contributions in order for the team to succeed. Captains Andrew Chekadanov and Ben Gross said they need to step up as leaders.
Chekadanov said he has high expectations, as he hopes to make the all-conference and all-metro teams as goalie. Gross hopes to end the season as Central’s leading scorer.