Kennett soccer team 'making great strides' this summer

KENNETT – In just over a month from now, Kennett's newly-revived soccer program will be taking the field for the first time in more than a decade.

If the tremendous effort and subsequent growth shown by the players over the course of the last 20 summer contact days is any indication of what is to come, some of the team's opponents may be in for a surprise, according to head coach Jeremy Westerfield.

“We are about four to six weeks ahead of where I thought we'd be at this time, as far as strategy and skill level,” Westerfield said. “They're making great strides and really putting in a lot of effort. I'm feeling much better about going into the season now.”

The first gathering and evaluation of players came on June 8, and since then Westerfield explained that every athlete who has stuck with it has improved tenfold.

With around 15 students who have regularly been in attendance throughout the summer, Westerfield and assistant coach Alex Lee have been pleasantly surprised by not only the prior skills that they bring with them, but also their unrelenting work ethic.

“A lot of these kids are coming early, they're staying late, and they're putting in two hours of work in this heat,” Westerfield said. “That's tough to do, but they're sweating and putting in the time. That is all you can ask for as a coach.”

For the first two seasons, the co-ed team will compete in only junior varsity games. The roster is now comprised of nearly all underclassmen, and this year's freshmen and sophomores will have the opportunity to be a part of the first varsity squad by the time they are juniors and seniors.

Westerfield said he expects to field around 18-20 total players once official practices begin August 7. For now, the lone senior on the team is Lucas Randle, also the apparent team captain.

Lucas Randle participates in a summer contact day with the Kennett soccer team on Monday, July 24, 2023.Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

“He came out here to work,” Westerfield described of Randle. “He's been putting in the hours coming early and staying late. He's showed a lot of effort that he wants to lead this team.”

As many players continue to distinguish themselves, the coaching staff has been able to delve deeper into game strategy than expected earlier in the summer. Most of the players also have past experience playing youth soccer as well.

“We've got a pretty good idea of who our forwards, midfielders, wingers and full backs will be,” Westerfield said. “There will be a few people we rotate in and out to different positions, but we've got our offensive players and defensive players lined out.”

While the team still searches for a standout goalie, irons out formations and shifts attention to individual game preparation, the coaching staff has no doubt that the team will “be competitive out there.”

“I'd like to say we're going to come out here and win every game,” Westerfield said. “Of course, I don't know that and I can't guarantee that, but I can say I'm much more confident now that I've been out here working almost 20 days with these kids. I'm confident that we will be able to go in and give them a run for their money and let them know that we came to play.”

Kennett's first game will take place Tuesday, August 29, at Jackson. After another trip to play Notre Dame on Sept. 7, the Indians host Jackson for their first home game on Monday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m.

Kennett's only other home game this season will be against Saxony Lutheran on Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. Westerfield said that he hopes to be able to live stream each away game this season so that those at home can keep track of the team's season.