"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"
— Mary Anne Radmacher
It’s the end of the road for the Walkersville girls soccer program this year, but it was a great season.
Ending with an overall record of 8-8 our team definitely saw the ups and downs of playing a team sport. We had the unlikely wins, those that no one would have been surprised if we lost, and we had the games that we struggled in and almost lost our hold on what we considered to be an “easy game.”
We had team arguments and team parties, team celebrations and team downfalls, and, most importantly, the perseverance and strength to work through these things as a team.
Plowing through any obstacle in our path, our team was able to successfully work through injuries, arguments, and even a streak of losing six of eight games. Entering playoffs unscathed from our difficulties, and the unlucky draw of 11 of 12, we won the first round with an impressive 6-0 victory at Wheaton High.
After having a weekend break we were brought quickly back to reality when Monday practice rolled around to prepare for Tuesdays round two playoff match-up against rival Middletown.
Inspiration played a large role in our team success this season and it was nothing new when coach Wetz gave us the familiar papers regarding the day’s game.
This time, however, instead of a pep talk, scouting paper and inspirational story of the day, there was a second inspiration story replacing the scouting paper (seeing as we knew all too well how they played).
The first was the story of the high school wrestler who was a state finalist with only half of his arms and legs, but the second took us by surprise.
It was our own Wetzel who had led his team to a last-second victory over the opposing team. “I was scrawny,” he said, “but I always gave it my all.”
We gave all we had in the game. We scratched our way from losing 4-1 to it being a 4-3 game within the last 10 minutes.Unfortunately, this would be the third time we played Middletown this season, and the third time we lost; this time, however, it ended our season.
The end of the game did not bring sadness and wallowing in self pity though. The post-game talk was farewell to the season and to speak of the next year. Entering the school on the bus even brought around one last victory cheer “just for the fun of it” because that is what high school sports are about.
Fun, and the girls on the Walkersville girls soccer team are the champions of having fun.
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