As the second semester of school starts, many sports that are held in the spring do too. After the excitement of the fall football season, many students turn their hopes and school spirit to Chamblee’s soccer teams, which begin playing shortly.

“We have 42 players on the roster and we’ve already started our practices and fitness test,” said head soccer coach, Geoffrey Stephenson, who teaches math when not on the field.
Although Chamblee’s boys’ team saw success last season, making it to the playoffs’ “Elite Eight”, many of the players still kept focus on the issues that prevented them from progressing further.
“As a team, our communication on and off the field needs to improve and overall, we need to get into better shape because last year [our players] got a lot of injuries because our legs weren’t well conditioned,” said Elijah Ritchey (‘25).r
The expectation for Chamblee’s soccer team or any team in general is not only to do well, but to add on to the performance of the season prior.
“We always hope to improve on the prior year, and whether it be performance on the field or off the field, we are trying to teach the kids to raise their soccer skill level and their knowledge as they gain,” said Stephenson. “But we also try to incorporate life values, life lessons, and individual responsibility. I am hoping that this season is more successful than last season, but right now it’s too soon to know.”
Chamblee’s team also benefits from an abundance of players with extensive practice, with many of the team having played since childhood.
“[I’ve been playing soccer ever] since I’ve had a memory,” said Mario Hernandez (‘25).
Although the season has just begun, one of many things that the team’s 42 players have already overcome is the fitness test
“The fitness test consists of the yoyo test, the interval test, and the strength test. It’s three different tests; one is planks, push-ups, sit-ups and the other is a running fitness test,” said Ritchey.
Each individual prepares himself differently.
“Honestly, it’s kind of a thing that you have to prepare for all year round. But what I do is a lot of running and sprints,” said Zeek Edwards (‘24).
Looking at what is ahead, many players feel the key to success is making changes at the level of individuals first.
“As an individual I feel like I should be preparing myself, having the right mindset to get wins, get closer as a team, and have a better mentality this year,” said Darby Perez (‘25).
While individuality can make a world of difference in improving a team, the improvements made by each individual must come together in a coordinated way for any team to see success.
“As a team, we have to take a more direct role, we have to be more direct and work with each other. Last year, we could’ve done way better if we talked with each other but we still had a great season,” said Hernandez.
With conditioning and the fitness test already finished, the season is yet to come forth. An influx of new players means the future isn’t exactly clear for the team, but the hopes and dreams that these players carry will remain constant throughout the season.
“A hope and a goal is to go to state playoffs and win state playoffs. I think that’s a goal for the entire team,” said Ritchey.
Some hopes and goals are more personal.
“Personally, I want to score goals. My job as a mid-fielder is to open the field and mainly sometimes score goals and yes, to lift that trophy as a team,” said Perez.
Perez’s dream is one shared by the entire team.
“I hope we have a great season and I know we will have a great season if we talk and have the spirit,” said Hernandez.