Out of 17 varsity boys’ soccer players, 12 are part of the senior class.

Until senior and left wing Lars Defty was injured, all 11 starting positions were filled with seniors, and next year all of these spots will need to be filled.

Some of these boys have been playing together since middle school and were friends before they were teammates. Of the 12 seniors, eight of them joined the varsity team as sophomores, so these players have had two prior seasons to acclimate themselves to the varsity level of play.

Senior Danny Taras is the only four-year varsity player currently on the team.

“It has been awesome playing with the same people for so long. I’ve known some of the kids on this team since I started playing soccer, and I know that they’ll be lifelong friends,” Taras said.

According to senior and center back Daniel Glickstein, the team’s familiarity with one another’s playing styles has developed over the many years that they have played together, as well as the fact that they are friends both on and off of the field.

“Playing year round with so many of these kids has helped on the field because we know each other’s tendencies and are able to adapt and adjust well to each other, and that’s very helpful in games,” Glickstein said. “Aside from on the field, all of these kids I’m with year round are my best friends. We hang out every weekend and have been best friends since we started playing together.”

Outside of games and practices, the boys constantly spend time together.

“Off the field, we couldn’t be closer. Everyone’s always cracking up, making jokes. Playing together with the same boys for years has been a blessing because it has created a really strong family — which shows in our passing and chemistry,” senior and center midfielder Garrett Naylor said.

The team credits the close, tight-knit family environment to its coach, Kai Werring.

“Coach Kai is the most caring coach that I have ever had, and he’s been a role model in lots of ways. He could make us laugh in the saddest of moments and go the extra mile and do whatever he has to for us to succeed,” senior and right wing Kaya Sunguroglu said.

Naylor said he has had a similar experience with his coach.

“Coach Kai has been unreal for this team. He’s lifted the program really high and has become really really tight with all the boys on the team. Kai does a really good job of getting us to work hard while also keeping a laid back and fun vibe to the season, and I’m really thankful for that. Leaving Kai will be tough because he’s been such a big influence in my life over the past four years, but I’m sure we’ll stay in touch and kick it around over the weekends like always,” Naylor said.

Werring has been the boys’ soccer coach since their sophomore year. Like Naylor, Taras also said that leaving Werring is going to be very hard.

“Leaving Kai will be super tough. I’ve never dealt with more of a player’s coach and someone who cares about his players so much,” Taras said. “His ability to keep everything loose really helps everyone remain relaxed during games.”

As the season comes to a close, the boys are not looking forward to what comes next: saying goodbye.

“When this season comes to an end, it will be really tough to say goodbye to such a massive piece of my childhood,” Naylor said. “But I know that I’ll still be hanging out with the same kids from the team the next day, so I’m not too worried.”