Almost everyday after school, around twenty-six high school boys are together laughing and talking while passing a circular object around. The object is a soccer ball and the boys smiling are Ladue’s Soccer C-Team. In Ladue, there are 3 soccer teams: Varsity, Junior Varsity (JV) and the C-Team.
On Wednesday, October 27, the The C-Team will be playing Oakville at the Fifth Grade Center, according to Ladue Activities. Although the season is almost over, the upcoming game is one of their last ones. During any given game, there are usually eleven players on the field at a time, but people will switch on and off with other members to prevent more injuries.
“We do have a couple injured players at any given time,” sophomore Abheek Dhawan said. “One teammate has been struggling with a calf injury and another injured his ACL before the season started. Other than that, minor injuries come up every now and then.”
The C-Team’s record so far is four wins, seven losses and three ties. For this whole season, the whole team has built teamwork and improved their skills through regular practices and weekly games. Dhawan not only enjoys soccer, but he also dedicates time and energy to improve himself.
I enjoy playing soccer! I’s fun way to get exercise and it’s fun to play as a team. I like being able to spend time with my teammates and it’s fun to play other teams, especially Clayton. — Abheek Dhawan
“When we have games, there is no practice,” Dhawan said. “During practice, [we] dribble and stretch for the warmup. [This is] followed by drills, like corner kick practice, dribbling, passing, transitions, occasionally a scrimmage. Finally, practice ends with more fitness and stretching.”
Having blue and white uniforms, the soccer team shows their Ladue spirit. Furthermore, beyond being part of the Ladue school team, Dhawan has always had a love for soccer. But with his friends playing alongside, this is when he can truly enjoy his appreciation for this sport.
“I tend to play as a forward or a wide midfielder,” Dhawan said. “For me, soccer is a fun way to get exercise and it’s fun to play as a team. I like being able to spend time with my teammates and it’s fun to play other teams, especially Clayton.”
