MANISTEE – In its first season joining the West Michigan Conference, Manistee soccer finished 16-4 overall and 9-1 in league play.
It was a successful year and a far more experienced group than the one that lost to Big Rapids in the district finals the previous season.
“I look back at that Traverse City Christian game knowing the quality of program they are the caliber of players they have on that squad,” Chips coach Brandon Prince said. “We went into that game with 12 guys and to walk away with 1-0 with every opportunity to potentially tie it.
“I was smiling – it was probably one of the only moments where I was smiling after a loss. But I thought that’s not a bad showing … but this team really established themselves early on.”
Prince often referenced the idea of ‘establishing themselves’ rather than developing an identity. He wanted the Chippewas to remain balanced and prepared for anything while also being able to make adjustments on the fly.
It’s a mentality that led to nine wins in a row following a 4-0 loss to Ludington on Sept. 14, which includes the program’s postseason victories over Shelby and Hart.
“I don’t mean to downplay it, but we just never really talked about it … there’s probably 22 of us that wish it was a 12 game winning streak,” Prince said, laughing. “But it’s still impressive for them to do that … the day in and day out of playing in that conference, I think our kids handled it well.
“But I think that comes from things they developed through the experiences they had.”
The longtime coach hopes his team remembers the challenging losses, such as the 6-4 loss to West Michigan Christian, who they had a 4-1 lead on at one point, or the battle for the top spot in the conference against the Orioles.
Prince says he wants them to use it as motivation for next fall.
“I think a team like this learns so much from the ups and downs of what all this season entailed,” he said. “We were in second place and undefeated at the time, having a matchup of one vs. two with Ludington and maybe coming out on the wrong side of it. Just them getting a taste for that, I’m hoping it becomes contagious.
“I think it will, but that’s the big takeaway from it. Let’s make this contagious and keep it going.”
Manistee loses Ben Schlaff, Jarod Wright, Ethan Edmondson and Jack O’Donnell to graduation alongside several foreign exchange students, including Robin Yann, Gres Mandelli, Rafael Goncalves, Johannes Reuting and Henriques Tonili.
However, multiple individuals return in Grayson Prince, Jaret Edmondson, Will Somsel, Jacob Scharp, Luke Smith, Luke Senters, Nolan Kolk, Mason Robinson and Max Scharp.
Together, they form a strong nucleus for the 2023 campaign.
“This group has played soccer … even Max included, for a long time,” Prince said. “I mean, I can remember when they were the green team in MRA back when they were six years old. We kind of felt this day was coming; it’s just what are they capable of when they get here. So, seeing these results as juniors is great … I hope they come back with so much fire and so much passion to get over the next hurdle.”