Introducing our WXXV Student Athletes of the Week: The Long Beach Boys Soccer Senior Class

After the Kansas City Chiefs won back to back Super Bowls earlier this week, a big discussion was if the red and yellow had officially reached “dynasty” level or not. Although back to back years are extremely impressive, there would be no question on the status of a team who has won the state championship three years in a row, and is one step away from a fourth.

In this edition of WXXV Student Athlete of the Week, I’ll introduce you to the dynasty that is the Long Beach Boys soccer senior class.

“I think when it first went in, it was kind of surreal. It didn’t feel real at all, and then running to the corner flag and watching all my teammates and friends and seniors run up to me it just felt like a big accomplishment and something really enjoyable out of that.”

That was Long Beach senior soccer player Jason Marshall, who is fresh off of scoring the game winning goal in overtime to defeat George County for the South State Championship title. Although Marshall described the feeling as surreal, it’s definitely not out of the ordinary for this team’s senior class. 

As freshman, Alexander Mink, Landon Vancourt, Easton Van Norden, and Marshall were a part of the first boys soccer team to ever bring a State Championship to Long Beach high school. The four seniors enjoyed it so much, they’ve done it every single year since they’ve put on the maroon and black. After winning three state championships back to back to back, you could say the team gets along pretty well and they’ve enjoyed sharing the pitch with one another the past four years.

“I’ve been playing with some of them earlier, but we’ve all been together pretty much since middle school and it’s been awesome just having them around. We go out and do stuff or when we just hang out at practice. It’s pretty fun having this high school career with them,” said Mink.

“To be honest, it’s more like brothers than friends. I’ve known a lot of them since we were really little and I’ve been playing with them for six years or longer playing, so it just means a lot to come out here and win it with them every time,” said Marshall.

“I’ve been playing with them for a long, long time, so being able to win four with them would be amazing,” said VanCourt.

“It’s kind of bittersweet we don’t get to all play together after this,” Van Norden said.

But there’s absolutely nothing bitter about the current status of this team because their journey isn’t over yet. all eyes are now on the prize for the fourth year in a row. 

“That’s like, no one has ever done that before. It’d be crazy, but I’m hoping we can get it done. Obviously it’s really exciting to go back again for a fourth year. I feel like senior year it will be a little bit more special then all the other years because I feel like you can contribute more as a leader of your team going into it as a senior as opposed to going into it as a freshman or sophomore, so it’s exciting,” Van Norden said.

“It’s been pretty amazing. Me and the seniors came in winning the first State Championship and we’re trying to end our season out with another and trying to go four for four would be great,” said Mink.

“It’d be great to bring home another one and pretty much end the year being a senior with another ring and having the success in this sport especially along with not getting that much recognition as being a real sport or stuff like that.,” VanCourt said.

“I don’t think a lot of people understand that we go in everyday fighting. I’ve heard a lot of people say we don’t really play as hard as teams, but every single round in the playoffs this year we’ve gone into overtime, so I don’t think people understand how hard we really do fight. I think all the pressure and stuff, our team can handle all the pressure,” said Marshall.

After all, diamonds shine under tremendous pressure, which the Bearcats are no stranger to. With three rings on their fingers all ready, they hope to leave a lasting legacy after graduating from long beach high school.

“Obviously I hope they remember the senior class as people to come in and going four for four, but also that whoever comes after us, try to live up to the legacy and continue to win state championships after us too,” said Mink.

“I hope they remember us, but I hope the younger guys can step up and lead the team next year and it doesn’t end with us,” VanCourt said.

: “I think it’s great that the coaches have built such a successful program. I think it’s great that our new coach gets to come and experience a state championship in his first year here. I think it’s awesome. I think it just shows that we’ve built a really great program here,” said Van Norden.

“I just hope everyone at least remembers our state winning teams and I hope the younger players will come up and step forward and do kind of what a lot of us had to do because our freshmen year we had a really good team, sophomore year we lost a lot of seniors and a lot of people had to step up, and I just hope they can follow and step up with us,” Marshall said.

They have one last chance to step up with them and join them as they compete for their fourth State Championship on Saturday against Center Hill at 6pm.