With the Dubs soccer season finally starting back up within the coming weeks, the boys squad expect to be heavy hitters from the jump. Off the back of an unfortunate season that saw the boys fall short of the playoffs for the first time in multiple years, the roster from this year will look like a fresh slate from last season. With 11 seniors from last year’s lineup departing, many new faces will be bursting onto the scene. Due to this, star performances are more expected than ever from the few returning members of the program, with one of the most emphasized names being star center midfielder and returning captain, Owen Patton. As such a force and leader during the Warriors last campaign, the staff looks at Patton to be the main commander of a team looking for revenge.
With this added responsibility on his shoulders, Owen looks to rally the troops as the primary captain on this year’s team. With our additional new captains being new to the position, Owen also strives to assist them in also lifting the squad up to the standard of greatness that we aspire to reach. With his advanced knowledge of not only the game, but also the NAHS structure and goals, Patton wishes to instill those exact same aspirations within the core of the group, specifically the newcomers. “I need to push everyone to work towards a common goal, not just the typical key guys,” said Patton.
This upcoming season being his last, Patton plans to whip the boys into shape so that he can cap off his senior season with a bang. With the additional newcomers as well, Owen looks to focus on the cohesion of the new unit so that there are no parts moving incorrectly from the jump. As the official captain of the team, Owen again owns these responsibilities and strives to get the team back on track and meet the playoff expectations that the school holds them too. Patton and the boys aim to win the region and make a deep run in the playoffs. Just like Owen, coach Epi Martinez also is eager to get the Dubs back to their winning ways, pointing Owen at as a major catalyst in that goal. “These boys need to lock in immediately,” said Martinez, “And Owen is our key to doing that.”
Following the end of this season, Owen’s future is still quite up in the air regarding both soccer and school. As a prime example of what a student athlete is supposed to be, he’s torn on whether to pursue soccer in college or focus on school. With Owen gaining some decent interest over the past couple of years, as well as this season looking to be almost a breakthrough from the sense of college interest, the decision is only getting harder and harder as it goes down to the wire. Nonetheless, soccer will always stay present in Owen’s life and will continue to live within his heart and soul. “Even if I can’t go on scholarship, I can’t abandon the game that I love,” said Patton, “I’d have to play club soccer or something to be active in the game.”
Even with the indeterminate decision that Owen has in store for the next few months, he and the team are locking in on the season up ahead. All of the boys, following Patton’s footsteps, are looking to return to the beloved playoffs once again and dominate the division like the Dubs aspire.
