For the last few years, the FCHS JV boys’ soccer team has been in a slump. But according to Coach Jason Davis,that ends now.

On Feb. 22, more than 30 kids showed up to JV tryouts, most of them 8th graders hoping to secure one of the 18-20 spots on the team. Without the large number of 8th graders, the team would have barely had enough players. “I knew it was going to be a big year for 8th grade talent, but it’s a good problem to have,” said Davis.

“I was really nervous. I thought that a freshman or sophomore would make the team over me,” said 8th grader Alex Pellicane, who made the team along with 12 other 8th graders. That means that there are only three freshmen and three sophomores on the team. To have that many 8th graders on a team is highly unusual. It might have something to do with the fact that the 8th grade is included in the high school at FCHS, while at schools like Charlottesville High School, not many 8th graders get the opportunity to play at the JV level. There are even some schools, like Albemarle County High School, where 8th graders don’t have that option at all.

On average, a JV team will only have a few 8th graders–a handful at most– so the number of 8th graders accepted on to the FCHS JV team initially raised some eyebrows, However, Coach Davis said that the decisions were made by both himself, Varsity Coach Earl Gibson, and Assistant Coach Jeff Sample.

“I think they did the right thing by putting all those 8th graders on the team. The players should be judged at tryouts based on their skill level, not on the fact that they played on the team last year and are a year or two older,” said Madison Nazar, a player on the JV girls’ soccer team. Freshman and returning JV boys’ soccer player Finn McGlothlin agreed. “They made the right decision making the majority of the team 8th graders. They are all extremely talented. I think that with this amount of talent, we are going to have an awesome season,” he said.

The JV boys’ soccer team is not the only team with talented 8th graders. There are seven 8th graders on the JV girls’ soccer team as well. Although the competition was not as tough for the girls, they were still just as nervous. “During tryouts I was feeling doubtful and nervous, but once I found out I made the team, I was so happy. I just feel special being able to be a part of the team,” said 8th grader Addie Hamner.

Now that all these 8th graders have made the team, will they meet the standards that have been met for them this season? As of March 20, things look promising: The JV girls’ team won their first game against Spotswood 4-0, while the JV boys’ team played a close match with Spotswood, only losing 0-1 in the last few minutes of the game.