St. Michael School Soccer Team finishes strong season

            The St. Michael’s Saints are finishing up one of their strongest soccer seasons in recent years. With a winning record of 10 and 3 (plus 1 draw), the players’ energy does not let up as they dwindle down to their final games. Despite again the rainy weather, St. Mikes claimed the Greenwood tournament title for the second year in a row. “We played really hard.” Says the voice of experience, 8th grader Emily Mangan about the tournament. Having played for the Saints soccer team for several years, she quickly noted the differences in the roster at the start of this season. There were a lot of new faces at the first practice. “We didn’t expect it, but we pulled it together.” She comments, referring to their astounding season record. 

Goalkeepers Emily Randrup and Lane Drummey have done a great job of keeping the ball out of their goal. Watching Emily play is like a lesson in defensive coordination. “Go to it! Kick it out!” She can be heard calling out to her teammates as she checks her positioning and gets set for the possible shot. Another big key of the team’s success is Lane Drummey’s prowess for shooting those penalty shots. He doesn’t get too nervous, all he thinks is “Just need to score.” Well that seems to work. Every time we’d have a direct kick penalty shot, we’d get Lane up there (even from out of our goal) and it was as good as made.

            Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of Coaches Father Sixmund, Pam Swing, and Galen Kemp, the team was able to have practice four days a week after school. And the team kept this regime up when the games started as well. Sometimes playing up to three games a week, the season was certainly a busy one, and certainly a large time commitment for Coach Father Sixmund of St. Michael’s Church. But speaking with him, it is clear he enjoys every minute of it.

            Growing up in the town of Rulenege in Tanzania, Father Sixmund has been playing soccer since he was very young. In many parts of his homeland, an actual soccer ball was too rare and expensive as item for most school children. In primary school Father remembers crumpling up scrap paper and other materials in order to construct a ball. From secondary school on to his days as a captain in seminary school, Father has been playing soccer. His vocation as a missionary priest has brought him to Brattleboro, where he continues to play. This past summer he joined the SIT summer league. Reflecting on his first day at the SIT fields he says, “People were wondering, how can a priest play soccer?” Apparently it was the first time any of the regular players had a priest join their game. Upon moving here Father had quickly located many of the surrounding soccer fields and observed games there. “It is in my blood.” He explains. “Where there is soccer you’ll find me.”

            Anyone who has seen a game with Father Sixmund on the sideline will notice right away his unique coaching style. Nowhere to be found is a man running up and down the boundary pointing and calling out to his players. Instead spectators will see a silent man intently focusing on the game and making notes on his clipboard to be used later. This he learned from his coaches in the past. They spoke, taught plays, criticized, and encouraged the players at halftime and practices. During actual game play they would be silent. In fact this silent play concept is what Father encourages the team to strive for as well. “Calling for the ball,” he explains, “is like waving a flag to the opposing team to come and cover you.” Instead he teaches the players to look and be aware of where their teammates are and how to get open. “Open the space, and they will see you.” he says.

            This is just one of the secrets of soccer Father offered me during our talk. Another thing he talks about is a strong defense. “To protect your house is the first thing, if you don’t do that, your house will be stolen, your house will be burned.” The metaphoric house is of course the soccer goal, and any keeper who has ever had the misfortune of being scored upon, knows it can feel very much like your house has just been compromised.

            Father concludes with perhaps one of the most important secrets of any sport. “The team will win and lose, you have to accept these rules. In this way it is fun and can entertain people.” He hopes the players have enjoyed playing as much as he has enjoyed coaching this year. St. Mike’s concludes their season with a banquet this Monday night November 12th. 

Christopher Jenkins, Athletic Director, Saint Michael School