After their best season in three years, Lakeview soccer is looking to soar even higher. During the offseason, it is of utmost importance to stay in shape and keep a soccer ball at your foot. As the players lace up their boots and storm the field, the atmosphere is flooded with passion, determination, and commitment. This year, our Bulldogs are taking it to the next level, treating this offseason like no other. Coaches Facciolo and Augustine are working extremely hard to improve not just the skill of their players, but their character as well. Due to the weather conditions, the boys have been training indoors at the K-8 building. This forces them to work in tight spaces, improving ball control and security.
Incoming Junior Tyler Simonyi believes, “The upcoming season is going to be really good. We have already started training for the next season indoors, doing simple turns and other skills to build chemistry so that we can be locked in for the next season. We work in the gym with our high school coach to get the skills down and some of us do conditioning to keep us in shape and ready for the upcoming season.”
With a more strict regiment, Lakeview soccer will easily shoot to the top of the conference next season. Preparing for opponents like Poland, South Range, Hubbard, Girard, and Howland will not be easy, but our team assures us that we will prevail. With sophomores like Brandon Toot, Tyler Simonyi, Nathan Paolucci, Dylan Carpenter, Evan Hawn, Lucas Easton, and Aidan Barnot, our future is promised to hold victory. The youth of our team is what makes it so great, with most of our starters next year being incoming juniors.
Brandon Toot, sophomore starter, states, “Playing at the Wellness Center and Farmer Jim’s is our favorite way to stay in shape and keep foot skills. We also do Futsal once a week as a team. We also started lifting to become a stronger team. We just try to be consistent and always work hard.”
The demanding off season routine is a test to the Bulldogs commitment to the sport of soccer. The players endure grueling workouts that push their physical limits whist fostering a sense of camaraderie and team bonding. As the team runs, sweats, falls, and gets dirty, the love for each other only grows. The dedication displayed not only during this off season, but with every single off season, promises a Lakeview squad that is not only physically prepared, but mentally resilient, setting the stage for a stellar performance next season.
Incoming junior Lucas Easton says, “It’s all about consistency. doing this stuff that we don’t want to do, but still doing it to be better is what’s important. I’m working on my personal goals to be better in shape and increasing my overall dedication.”
Sophomore Evan Hawn adds, “We always go to the wellness center to play, as well as getting touches in at Farmer Jim’s to try to stay in shape.”
Adding to the excitement, the upcoming freshman class is poised to become a major part of next year’s Lakeview Bulldogs lineup. Eager to make their mark on the team, these fresh talents bring a new energy and enthusiasm to the seasoned and bonded squad. The coaching staff recognizes the extreme potential within the newcomers and is actively integrating them into the team training, lineups, and dynamics. Every year, the determination and vigor from the freshman class not only bolsters the team’s depth, but also provides a dynamic blend of talent on the field.
As the next season quickly approaches, the anticipation to see our Lakeview Bulldogs Soccer perform on the highest of levels grows strong. as a group, they are extremely dedicated to bettering themselves and everybody else around them. The 2024 season will surely turn out exactly as planned.
