WHITLEY CO. SOCCER

 Whitley County has decided to begin varsity soccer this season. The Colonels introduced the sport last year and played a junior varsity schedule under the direction of Bosko Cupac, a former player for the University of the Cumberlands.

The Colonels had so much enthusiasm and success Cupac says the numbers are up and Whitley County will field a varsity and junior varsity with a 16-game schedule. Whitley County will be in District 31 with Corbin, Middlesboro, North Laurel, Oneida Baptist and South Laurel.

“I think we are ready for varsity play,” said Cupac. “We had a lot of kids to come out for the team. Since we were a junior varsity last year we didn’t have any juniors or seniors on the team. We are a very young team, but our numbers are increasing.”

“We have about 30 kids trying out and do to such a high number we are going to have both JV and varsity squads,” he said. “As a coach it is very good because you get to pick and choose. We have been practicing for about a week and a half and we have a lot of good talent and good athletes, so I am very excited about the season.”

“Obviously, last year helped a lot because we were able to work on fundamentals and basics where this year we have jumped into the drills and straight into the game plan,” said Cupac. “Last year definitely benefited us greatly and this year is going to be tougher do to the fact that we are going to be a varsity squad and will be competing against squads that have had soccer for a long time. They have had youth leagues, so we will be playing catch-up, but I don’t think we are far behind from everybody.”

The Colonels will open the season Tuesday, August 17 against the Pulaski County Maroons. They will play at South Laurel, August 23 and at Middlesboro, August 26. Whitley County is scheduled to play five home games on its new field off Hwy 25.

District games with North Laurel and Oneida Baptist have yet to be added to the schedule.

“As of now, they are not ready yet, but do to our schedule of games, they are going to allow us to play our games on the new fields, but we will practice at the baseball field,” said Cupac. “We will get a little bit of both.”

“The kids are extremely excited about getting to the new complex,” said Cupac. “They bug me everyday wanting to know when they will get in their new locker room, when are we going to practice up there.”

“As I told them it doesn’t really matter where we practice or where we play as long as we get the chance and opportunity to compete,” he said. “It doesn’t really concern me if it’s a soccer field, a baseball field or a piece of grass somewhere.”

Cupac said one of the strong points about this team is their “closeness”. “I think that’s what makes a team, our closeness, unity and the guys getting along with each other.”

“We have some leaders on the team willing to push the others,” he said. “We don’t have much slacking during our practices because of the competitively of the athletes and with the numbers nobody’s spot is safe. They are willing to compete, but in a professional manner for their spots.”

Cupac feels he has gotten leadership from Michael Branham (senior), Briston Smith (senior) and Alex Rains (junior). “They are all kids that played for me last year and have come in and stepped up their game,” he added.

“My biggest concern is if something does go wrong and we get a few defeats back-to-back I want these guys to crumple down and think it is not worth all that they have put into the program,” said Cupac.

“We want them to stay motivated so we can reach our goals,” he said. “I know how it is, I was a player once. I know what it is like to work extremely hard and give everything you have then go into the season and not do so well.”

“I know how easy it is to give up, that’s where our captains and upperclassmen should step in and keep these younger players motivated,” said Cupac. “They don’t realize how young we are and that we are playing a catch-game to everyone else.”

Cupac will have a new assistant coach this year as Jeremy Lake steps aboard to work with the soccer program.