Coach Brian Howsley emphasizes better sportsmanship and chemistry, team improving
Crook County High School’s boys’ soccer team may be at a turning point.
Under the leadership of second-year head coach Brian Houseley, the team looks very competitive with the largest number of players in years.
When Houseley took over the program a year ago, his primary goal was to change the culture of Crook County football. Over the past few years, the team has experienced poor sportsmanship during games and absentee players from practice. As a result of some changes, we have players who have national team experience so far and have not played football this year.
“We have 35 players in football and we expect more to come when school starts on September 7,” Housley said. “The 15 freshmen are considered the largest class of football in over a decade and are a testament to the changing football culture and landscape in Crook County.”
Despite the good numbers, the Cowboys are going to be young. Not only are there 15 freshmen currently enrolled in the program, but there are currently only four seniors and two juniors enrolled.
Still, despite being young and inexperienced, Housley believes the team will be competitive.
“We’re definitely on the right track,” he said after last Tuesday’s jamboree at Caldera High School.
The Cowboys lost all three 20-minute games at the Jamboree, but were still competitive. Additionally, the Cowboys displayed unselfish demeanor and good team play throughout the competition.
The Cowboys kicked off the jamboree with a 1-0 loss to Mountain View. The only goal was a header following a corner kick midway through the 20-minute period. In the second game, the Cowboys tied Caldera 0-0. In that match, Crook County had several scoring opportunities but failed to put the ball in the back of the net despite outscoring the Wolfpack most of the way.
Crook County struggled in their final game of the day, losing 5-1 in what Housley described as a fast and disciplined Ridgeview Raven team. Still, even that game had some positives as the Cowboys finally managed to get the ball in the net and sophomore Eli Elkers scored a corner kick by senior Cody Knutson.
Howsley said he was pleased with the effort his team saw during the jamboree, including the play of freshman goaltender Isaac Ritter.
“Ritter was a bright spot on the day as he solidified his future as a Netminder for Crook County for the season and beyond,” Howsley said.
In addition to Knudston, the remaining Cowboys seniors are Hayden Shaw, Giovani Vargas and Brian Guzman. The team’s juniors are Adam and Cody Ortiz, while sophomores Russell Rodgers, Elkers, Gabe Love, Eddie Luis Ortiz, and freshmen Gabriel Lopez and Jace Jonas contributed significantly to the team’s success. .
The Cowboys kicked off the regular season with a home match against Westside Christians on Monday. Following Monday’s game, Crook County won’t play again until he faces the Outlaw Sisters in a 4:00 p.m. contest on Thursday, September 8.
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