Germantown Academy’s Boys Varsity squad Team had a season to remember, to say the least. Finishing with a record of 17 wins and 3 losses, the Patriots steamrolled their way into Inter-Ac glory. Led by seniors Christian Combs, Jacob Lee, Sean Lipschutz, Brendan Szczepkowski, Brett Rabbiner, Connor Wetzel, and goalkeeper Joe Joe Cava, the red-hot Patriots displayed their years of experience and knowledge on the pitch, ultimately contributing to their effortless play-style and hard working mentality.
Captain Connor Wetzel ‘22 said that the team’s mindset contributed to the overall success of the team, saying, “From day one, we all had the same mindset, that we would be the best team. From the first day of preseason, we all put forth our hardest work as we knew we had special talent, and it would take hard work to foster that talent.” It was this mentality that propelled the team to win the Inter-Ac championship for the first time in 12 years, as well as reach the PAISAA state championship for the first time in school history.
The bonds created on the pitch during long hours spent practicing directly translated to on-field success. Wetzel continued, “We had one of the strongest teams in years, and we took full advantage of the opportunities we had. Team isn’t even the right word – I would say it was more of a brotherhood.” This brotherhood extended beyond the field however, as many Germantown Academy soccer fans provided energy and excitement from the sidelines.
On both sides of the ball, the boys brought high effort approaches, often leading them to catch their opponents off guard. Wetzel said that defensively, “We weren’t the biggest team, but we were the most physical team. We always told ourselves that we wouldn’t be the tallest, but if we put our best foot forward, we could win aerial challenges, 50-50s, and just be successful defensively.” Their defensive scheme allowed for smooth setups on the offensive fronts. Wetzel added that two particular players contributed to the team’s offensive success this season: “Our biggest strength was our wingers. Our biggest game-plan was to swing the ball to Christian Combs and Sean Lipschutz and have them attack their outside defenders. A lot of our goals came from crosses and cuts in from the wing.” Wetzel added that what truly separated this Patriots squad from previous years was the “willingness to dive into difficult situations and adapt to challenges.”
Head Coach Kurt Wetzel revealed the simple yet crucial mindset the team employed: “They had/have nothing to lose. They had/have to play each game as if it was/is a final. They couldn’t afford to lose a game.” This “all-in” mindset differentiated the GA boys from all other Inter-Ac teams they faced throughout the season. Expanding on this, Coach Wetzel says, “We just worked a bit harder, and like all teams, had some good bounces fall our way. Are we proud as coaches? Beyond words.”
When asked about the final thoughts on the season, Wetzel said, “It was definitely an awesome season. It felt good to be out there winning games and making the community proud. It was our first time in a while walking into GA/PC day knowing that if we won, we would win the Inter-Ac for the first time in 12 years, and so everyone had a stronger mindset walking into the day. We started the game slow, but the first goal opened the floodgates, and we knew that trophy was ours. It’s a season I’ll never forget.”
GA Boys Soccer had a spectacular season that many students across the Academy will remember for years to come.
