Every year teams struggle with losing their best players, captains, and so much more for the team.
Last year, the varsity soccer team lost 11 players, they lost a whole starting 11. The same 11 that took our Eagles to a district championship. Last year, Liberty’s football team finished with a 7-4 record and made it all the way to districts. Their best season was by far in school history, but it came with a cost. Liberty lost six seniors which doesn’t seem bad at first until you realized, they lost three out of their four captains and one of the best players in school history Cody McMullen. We are highlighting the stand out freshmen already making strides to become the best players that they can.
Will Schultz (9) and Brody Klein (9) are already standouts of the freshman class for Liberty soccer. Schultz has played soccer for 10 years now and currently plays center back. Schultz felt that his hardest challenge yet was trying out for the high school team this summer. Schultz is the captain on the freshman soccer team.
“It feels amazing, being captain is something I’ve worked hard for,” Schultz said.
Klein, alongside Schultz, has also played for 10 years, and also plays center back. Klein’s main goal he wants to accomplish here at Liberty is being captain on the varsity soccer team. Klein scored a hat-trick in a win against Fort Zumwalt West 3-0. They are both leading the freshman to an undefeated season currently and we are hoping to see them continue the streak.
Kellan Harris (9) and his good friend Langston LaBrot (9) both play for the freshman team and are standout athletes. Now the freshman team has not been good starting 0-2. Here is what coach Brad Smith said about it after the lost to Francis Howell Central.
“We start our freshmen out hard, which means we are going up against C teams, and it won’t be an easy challenge with Sophomores on the field as the same time. But they’ have fighting spirits,” Coach Smith said.
Additionally, this is the first year that the class of the 2029 team has a “real offense.” This is because before this time, Liberty the Class of ’29 was not used to losing. They were coached by Tom Scheulen, who passed away this year sadly. His distinctive trait was that he had a play called “bear,” which he would run almost every time, so there wasn’t much passing.
“My biggest competition is myself and the ability to stay calm in stressful situations. Coach Tom and my team made a big impact on my time playing,” LaBrot said.
It seems Liberty is in good hands for the time being, and we are hopeful that the freshmen of today will go on and do great things for the school and our athletic programs.
