By BRAD BAUGHMAN | For The Democrat
Brown County High School varsity boys soccer Coach Craig Norris knew that the loss of seven seniors to graduation would be cause for concern heading into this season.
After dropping their first four matches, two by lopsided scores, the Eagles have demonstrated some of the weaknesses and inconsistencies Norris was fearful of.
The third-year coach, however, believes he has some solid leaders on the team and has been impressed with a healthy, positive team culture, two attributes he feels can possibly neutralize his group’s inexperience.
When it comes to leadership, the first player Norris mentioned is senior goalkeeper Wyatt Fox. “He’s been one of our leaders ever since his sophomore year,” said Norris about Fox, who brought an off-season of experience playing travel soccer to the team this season.
Sam Normile, another senior, will be expected to provide some leadership as well. Normile, who Norris calls “the most talented player on our team,” is showing signs of providing support and encouragement to his less experienced teammates.
Norris will also be tapping into some non-seniors to help lead the Eagles. Junior Ethan Scott and sophomores Aaron Woodrum and Carter Norcutt are three players he thinks are capable of leading. Norris called Woodrum and Norcutt “two of the hardest working guys on the team.”
One huge positive that stands out to Norris this year is a new, healthy, supportive team culture.
“This year we have a less experienced group, but with that has come a lot of bonding because we are all in this together,” said Norris. He said the team culture is the best it has been since he has been coaching here.
Norris and his team will have to remain patient while they work through some early season issues and wait for some of the players to adjust to varsity high school soccer. “Around half the guys starting haven’t had much experience playing varsity soccer before,” said Norris, adding, ”the soccer IQ is not necessarily very high right now.”
That lack of experience plagued the Eagles in their season opener, a 4-1 loss to Western Indiana Conference foe North Putnam. In the second match of the season, the team was dominated by an experienced, talented Martinsville squad 9-0. Norris knew his team was simply overmatched but praised their effort. “The guys played really hard and stuck together as a team,” he said.
Most recently, the Eagles were overwhelmed 10-1 at home by the Southwestern Spartans and were beaten on the road 5-0 by the Greencastle Tiger Cubs.
Norris believes it might take five or six games for the Eagles to gain a little traction, and when they do, he feels a strong conference (WIC) showing is realistic. “I think in our conference, we have a really good shot to finish in the top half,” he said. He added, “the back half of the season should be encouraging.”
If the Eagles can withstand this early onslaught, maintain that positive culture that their coach is so proud to see, and get some younger players seasoned in a hurry, their prospects will certainly improve.
Young though he may be, Norris understands his role and what is really valued at this level.
“A lot of times it’s easy to get hung up on winning and losing games, but, at the end of the day, I think that high school soccer is about a lot more than that. It’s about developing character and developing things in these high school guys that are going to last long beyond their years in high school on a soccer field.”
The Eagles are scheduled to host WIC rival Northview on Saturday, Sept. 4 at noon and then will travel to Greenwood on Tuesday, Sept. 7 for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
