With a team packed with talent, the 2013 Cyclones expect improved play over last season and a better fitness level to sustain them through a playoff run.
Last year the Cyclones’ endurance trailed off at the end of the season during a bombardment of playoff games. This year the coaches are emphasizing better conditioning and focusing on the big picture. As the season progresses, the team will continue to develop and gel. Head coach Chuck Bales hopes that the improved fitness will help at the end of the season in crunch games that matter. They want to be “in it to win it,” in 2013. There’s a talented roster to do so.
Starting with the returners, All-Conference midfielder Luis Navarrete (Shepard), goalkeeper Max Boyso (Eisenhower) and defenders Marko Enciso (Reavis) and Greg Healy (Stagg) should make an impact this season. Newcomers that show a lot of potential include forward Fuad Haleem (Oak Forest), midfielder Jonathan Marquez (Argo), defender Jorge Martinez (Reavis), midfielder Jordy Padilla (Eisenhower), forward Patryk Paprocki (Curie), and siblings from Brother Rice Dan and Chris Vidos, midfielder and goalkeeper, respectively.
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“We have some solid soccer grads from area high schools, good numbers and good talent. This is a homogenous group, so there will be good competition among players for spots in the lineup. It’ll be a good season to watch. I’m excited about the group. I have a lot of players to work with and make sure to push them,” Bales said. “We should have a better record than last year, but like always, there are two seasons: the conference and the region.”
The Cyclones will be competing on a new game field this season, west of Building P and the softball field, which was the previous site of the team’s practice fields. Their next game is Saturday, Aug. 31, 2 p.m., against Kennedy King College.
