Captains are some of the most respected members of a team, and the same is true for the captain and vice-captains of the boys’ varsity soccer team. Varsity soccer head coach Jason Davis shared what he looks for in captains.
“The most important thing I look for is leadership by example. I want someone whose actions speak louder than their words. They also need to be a good teammate, a quality student, and a good person off the pitch,” said Davis. With these attributes in mind, Davis chose junior Brady Crisp as captain, and seniors Tavin Cook and Art Maqani as vice-captains.
All three boys have played soccer for over 10 years and are experienced players. On the field, Crisp plays center back, Cook plays right wing or wings, and Maqani plays midfield, specifically as a winger.
Being a captain also means you have to push the team beyond their limits. “I enjoy fulfilling the role because not only do I want myself to be the best I can, but I also want my teammates to be the best versions of themselves,” said Crisp.
Meanwhile, the vice-captains help set up, clean up after practice, make sure the team is doing what they’re supposed to, and keep the team in line. The boys think their season is going well right now with a pretty even conference record of 4-3 as of May 1, but they believe they could be better.
“This season is definitely more important for us because we have one of the more talented teams in the past few years, and we have a lot of potential to do something great,” said Crisp.
Maqani agreed, stating, “Despite three unfortunate losses against Jefferson District’s (JD) top schools, we have performed well and played very hard.”
The captains feel as if the boys feel more like a team than in previous years. “We all like each other, there’s no beef, and we all mix well,” said Cook. He noted that this probably has to do with the example the coaches set for them, like teaching that real leadership requires serving others. So the captain do their best to lead by example, hoping to show the rest of the team how to respond in moments of adversity.
Junior and varsity soccer player Cayden Lucas describes the captains as “all good, very supportive, nice, and cool. Brady is the epitome of a leader. He always makes sure that we are ready for the game physically and mentally.” Fellow junior Sean Southall added, “Our captains are very good leaders, and they help build a strong bond within the team that helps us win games.”
Being a captain is a very respected role, but it does come with its pros and cons. “The advantages are that you get to represent the whole program and strive to make the team the best it can be. Honestly, the only disadvantage is that it puts more responsibility on you, but that shouldn’t bother you if you really do fill the captain role,” said Crisp.
“It is great being able to represent such a great group of individuals. The only disadvantage is whenever the team loses or plays poorly, there is a feeling that the responsibility is on me,” added Maquani.
