Redmen soccer team tryouts
Expectations are high this season for the Marquette Redmen boys varsity soccer team. They won the U.P. Championships last October and they are the heavy favorites to do it again this season.
The Redmen began the 2013 season on Wednesday evening, with the first of three days worth of soccer tryouts. In all, 53 players showed up to try and earn a roster spot on one of the three soccer teams.
Matt Tebo, the head coach of the varsity team, has 10 of his 11 starters already figured out. With a few roster spots still up for grabs at the varsity level, Tebo knows exactly what he is looking for in a potential varsity player.
“These kids are starting to become young adults, so we’re just looking for a competent kid who is soccer smart, who is not afraid to communicate with the older kids,” said Tebo. “I’m hoping for some kids to help fill the gaps, give the team some depth, and hopefully help us win a lot of games.”
“It will be great to be a leader this year, to show the kids what they have to do to fill in the shoes with after the seniors are gone. It’s an exciting time for the program,” said Craig Ekstrum, a senior captain on the Redmen varsity team.
“The beginning of the season is when a team can either fail or become great. Strenuous situations like going down to Rochester as our coaches have planned for us, will really help this team gel. It worked well last year and we started out the season well,” Ekstrum added.
The soccer tryouts conclude on Friday. Marquette will play a few preseason games next week in Rochester Hills.