The boys’ soccer team had a great season, ending with a final record of 9-8-3 and 4-6-2 in the NJAC. They earned their spot in the state tournament by working hard and showing great sportsmanship throughout the games. At the beginning of the season, the team struggled with playing strategy and style; they wanted to just “adjust to the style of other teams and work against that,” said Nicholas Zawadiwsky (senior), a captain of the soccer team. He said, “As the season progressed, we sort of developed our own identity and style of play in terms of formation, personnel used, and other tactics.” Over time, the team was able to form a much more comfortable playing style, which was a key part of their success at the end of the year.

       The team played several high-quality competition games, which made it even more challenging to get to the states. Delbarton has been a rival of Mendham High School for a long time, and when the two teams went face-to-face, Mendham was locked in. They finished the game 3-2, which gave the players a huge morale boost. Nick said, “I think our win over Delbarton at home was the game that the team enjoyed the most because it’s a rivalry in our eyes and a team that we haven’t beaten in over 16 years as a school.” Senior Vinny Mosso, assisted by Kamran Basar in the 74th minute, scored the tying goal, followed by Teo Valiantos, assisted by Virjay Kataria, scoring the winning goal in the 87th minute, ending the game and ending Delbarton’s game-winning streak between the two teams. 

         While reflecting on the rest of the season, when asked about the one game he would want to replay, Nick said, “It would be our last state game against Harrison. That game was neck and neck, and we had many opportunities to win, but so did Harrison.” The game went all the way to penalties, and in the end, anyone could’ve taken home the victory. Unfortunately, Harrison was the 1st seed, and they overwhelmed Mendham. The game ended with a close 1-0, which eliminated Mendham from the state tournament. 

       As a captain of the soccer team, Nick had the important responsibility of keeping the team focused and motivated. “I definitely used my voice to try to help organize the team… during practices, I more so just wanted to be a good example, especially for the underclassmen, to show how the smaller things go a long way for making a team strong,” Nick said. To help keep the team stay motivated, he along with the other captains, needed to take a different approach. This included pep talks and pregame speeches with him and other captains. “Teddy (McLaud), Angel (Carrera), and Kaiden (Reed) were a major part in getting the team prepared and ready for the game ahead,” he said. 

       Over the season, there were players on the team who really stood out. As well as making a huge impact on the team, they were very supportive and talented. “In terms of setting up goals or being a major impact on defense, Kaiden Reed, Teo Valianatos, and Teddy McLaud are all names that had a major impact,” Nick said. Although these were some of the stand-out players this year, many left a lasting impression on the team for their dedication and commitment. 

      Although the seniors will certainly be missed, the younger members will take on leadership roles to tackle another exciting season. When asked about the advice he would give to the younger players that might get another chance next year, Nick said, “The advice I would give is to cherish all the moments – every game, every practice, every team bonding event – because all 4 years go by extremely fast and it is an experience that you will remember forever.”