The greater the success, the higher the level of expectations.
Four straight Division I state championships for St. Paul’s soccer, and five in the past seven seasons would leave many to believe that complacency is bound to set in sooner or later, but no such luck.
Before work on the 2017-18 season begins, St. Paul’s took timeg to honor the 2016-17 championship team, as well as wrestling, Indoor Track, and Powerlifting state titlists at the Champions Assembly at the Gene Bennett Sports Complex.
The level of focus for maintaining a winning tradition was something seniors Reiss Thieler and Michael Longo hadn’t really contemplated until moments after the team’s 5-1 win over Catholic High in Division I title game.
“Michael and I were talking about how crazy it’s been and how fast it’s gone by,” Thieler said. “It’s been an incredible ride and something we’ll never forget.”
Every game this season, the Wolves were marked.
“We noticed it this year the most, maybe because we were seniors,” Thieler added. “Every team in the state didn’t like us and wanted to beat us. The message to the next group is to keep working as hard as possible and stay close to each other, because that’s what’s going to win the state championship.”
The approach of maintaining the program at a certain level that yields results rests in the hands of head coach Sean Moser. His method for the tradition is clear cut.
“We play the hand we’re dealt,” Moser said. “We never worry about whether or not we have a certain person coming back. There’s no panic. We just take it one season at a time, one match at a time. The focus is on what has gotten us to the point where we are now. Each year is different. Each year is special.”
This season may have been extra special for Moser, especially since the team’s 8-0 second round win against 17th seeded Byrd was his 500th career victory.
Playing with the lofty expectations is something Connor Slimming thrived on.
“We’re a team the school can look for and support,” Slimming said. “It comes with a lot of pressure because you are expected to win almost every game and every state championship. It’s incredible to be able play for a team that knows soccer so well.”
The approach to each season, from a players’ perspective is one that doesn’t require much help from the coaches in order to be motivated.
“I don’t want to say that every year when we go out there, that we’re going to win it,” said senior Christian Roberts. “But, every year, we have something to look forward to and work hard for. We have something that everybody else wants.”
In powerlifting, the Wolves had a state champion in in Jonathan Rushing (242-pound) as well as wrestling champions Cole Houser (120-pound), Jarde Thieler (126-pound), and Shane Ulfers (138-pound). Rushing had total lifts of 1660 pounds, for his second state title.
Houser finished the season with a 40-5 record for his second title, and was the top wrestler in the 126-pound class before dropping down to the 120-pound class. Thieler was 30-4 on the season and Ulfers within an eyelash of 40 wins with a 38-5 record.
In Indoor track, the 3200 meter relay team of Colin Sullivan, Evan Hendry, Stephen Schlottman, and Eric Coston were victorious with a time of 8:16.70, and Coston also ran 4:21.63 to capture the 1600 meter run title. Coston, the Louisiana Gatoraide runner of the year, now has 10 state titles in three sports, including Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor Track).
Also of note is that assistant baseball coach, and former head football coach Harry Nunuez was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall Of Fame, and cross country coach Terryl Chatham was named U.S. Trck and Field Cross Country coaches association Coach Of The Year for Louisiana.
