Spring is in the air, and Middleton High School athletes are ready to get out under the warm sun and participate in spring sports. Many are looking forward to the athletic highlights that spring sports bring to Middleton High School (MHS). More specifically, the Middleton High School Varsity Girls Soccer Team–coached by Mary Duffy, Kevin Pauls and Olivia Riggs–is ready to come back even stronger for their 2024 season— whether that be freshman experiencing their first season with the MHS Girls Soccer Team, or seniors preparing to make the most out of their final season. 

“It’s my last season and I want to end it strongly,” said senior Sophie Kasel. Kasel plays for the varsity team and has transitioned into her “soccer season mindset.”

Not only are seniors hoping to make this last season a success, but many underclassmen are excited to make it worth their while. Izzy Frantz, a sophomore on the varsity team, expresses a similar sentiment regarding the seniors. “I love my seniors, and I want to be on the team to make their last season the best,” Frantz said.

In preparation for the season, the team has hosted open gyms, giving athletes the opportunity to get to know each other while practicing the sport. The open gyms connect the team before the season starts and establish the teamwork so integral to the sport.

“The open gyms are a great place to help build morale going into the season,” Frantz said. “It’s also nice because it’s a place where I don’t have to be completely serious and can have fun.”

Many new freshmen have taken advantage of the open gyms for the upcoming season. 

“It has been nice meeting all of the new freshmen players,” said Ursula Anstaett, a junior on the varsity team. 

Varsity team junior Addy Frantz reported sometimes “twenty to thirty freshmen” attending the open gyms, and she looks forward to having great new players on the team.

Returning members of the team also remarked on the success of the 2023 season, with players all feeling really close to each other and equally ready to take on the season. “We felt like a family,” Kasel said. 

“We had great team chemistry,” Izzy Frantz said, “and having great team chemistry and getting along well definitely translates into how well we play.”

The team also has a competitive edge when it comes to gameplay, whether that be working hard in practice or doing exceptionally well at games. However, events from last year’s playoff game against Verona were seemingly the opposite.

“We experienced an unfortunate loss during the second round of the playoffs,” Addy Frantz remarked. “We lost in penalty kicks at the end of two overtimes.”

Nevertheless, the loss against Verona has provoked the desire to make a comeback for the MHS Girls Soccer team. Besides this motivation, the team is inspired to do exceptionally well in general.

“We want it badly. We want it more than anyone else,” Kasel said. 

The MHS Girls Soccer Team is ready for their 2024 season, and strongly appreciates the support of MHS students, especially at home games.

“We are going to have home games so there are definitely opportunities for people to come and support,” Addy Frantz said “Even if you don’t particularly like soccer, bringing a few friends and just being part of the student section can make the games really fun, and we’d love the support.”

Support the MHS Girls Soccer Team and help them reach their goals this 2024 season!