By Chris Reagan

Staff Writer

Despite both the girls and boys soccer teams unexpected losses in the first round, each team played an exceptional season ending in a district championship for the boys and a close second finish for the girls.

Boys soccer coach Chad Rakestraw did what few coaches are able to achieve have done before, winning a district championship in his first year coaching at Coppell. Rakestraw has stayed humble throughout his success attributing it to the talent and great play of the team.

Specifically he credits success to his senior accepting his new style of coaching, and filling in the voids left by the graduating seniors of last year.

Senior Philip Ellis took over at goalkeeper after Chris Hinze’s departure was a vocal leader on the team and his excellent play was key to the Cowboys success.

Senior Tanner Lines also stepped up this year leading the team in scoring as well as providing leadership by both example and voiced leader for the many underclassmen on the team.

Looking forward, the Cowboys have a great setup for success next year, despite graduating nine seniors. Underclassmen played a larger role on the team than in past year, a move that will benefit the program in the coming years.

“Lots of juniors got experience this year,” Rakestraw said. ”Nick Hazelrigg and Zunil Narsing played a big role as well as sophomores Chris Madden and Kellen Reid.”

Getting the experience and the example set by the seniors has shown the underclassmen how to carry themselves and continue the foundation set this year.

After struggling in past years under the former staff, the boys are back to their winning ways and looking to repeat the success the 2002 state championship.

“I think we’re back to the point,” Rakestraw said, “We’re bringing back the tradition of the program and the deep playoffs run. We’re taking a step in the right direct.”

The girls continued their winning ways this year earning second in district that could have easily been a district win. Every year the girls are a force in district, and despite graduating two of the top players in the nation, Chioma Ubogagu

“Overall we lost 80 percent of out scoring,” Stricker said.” But I’ve been really surprised with how underclassmen have stepped up and of course the seniors.”

The girls knew that they would all have to step up their game to live up to the success in recent years and were prepared from the beginning of the season.”

“The girls set goals in the beginning of the year,” Stricker said. ”Don’t lose to Southlake and win district, which we just barely fell short. We were one win shy of a three way tie for district.”

The girls have always had a strong bond as a team, which is one of the keys to them working well as a team. The leadership provided by the seniors has guided the underclassmen coming into varsity.

With seniors Kasey Johnson and Lindsey Meyer as just two of the seniors providing leadership and guidance to the underclassmen, the seniors have had an impact on how to lead the program in the future.”

“I always tell the seniors to leave a legacy on the team,” Stricker said. ”The team this year was like a family. They weren’t focused on the seniors and had great team chemistry.”

Ahead the girls will have their hands full with the competition in the new district, but the underclassmen this year have taken big roles in the team’s play and should be able to handle the new opposition.

“I was really surprised with how the underclassmen had stepped up this year,” Coach Stricker said. “Liat and Cami stepped in when we needed them to and kept their cool as freshmen playing on varsity.”

As far as leadership goes the juniors have some big shoes to fill, but junior Kayla Peterson and Paige Jacobs are ready to take on the task. After taking a leadership role this year the two will have no problem taking that attitude into next year.

“Kayla and Paige are warriors,” Stricker said, “They are definitely who I’m looking at to lead next year. Mckenna is getting good so our progress over the year with the underclassmen.”

While the boys and girls are both graduating key players, both have given large roles to the underclassmen that will be able to step in, and fill in the holes left by the seniors.

“I think the underclassmen are well prepared for next year,” Senior Lindsey Meyer said, “I’m looking forward to seeing what the girls are capable of after we leave.”