Huskies soccer teams look to take next step

An investment has been made into the Hewitt-Trussville High School soccer programs.

The soccer complex at the Trussville Civic Center, just down the street from the school, looks completely different than it did a few years ago.

Over the span of two years, the soccer field has seen a new set of bleachers arrive that can hold several hundred people. On the opposite side, weather-proof dugouts have been built over both team benches. The newest additions are a pair of dedicated locker rooms for the varsity teams.

“It kind of gives you chills every time you walk in,” said head coach Nick Holt, who is in his third year as coach of both the boys and girls varsity teams.

Now, players and coaches are trying to provide a positive return on that investment. Both the boys and girls teams have aspirations of making a playoff run in 2019.

“Both sides have a really good chance of being good,” Holt said. “When you look at the boys, you have nine fantastic seniors. On the girls’ side, we have a great leadership class as well.”

For the boys, advancing to the playoffs is the natural next step. Two years ago, the Huskies missed out on the postseason by a game. Last spring, they fell short in a tiebreaker because of goal differential.

“We’re just building off the seasons before,” said Eric Besse, one of those nine seniors. “Last year, we had a winning record. We’re going to try to win the region and we believe we can do that with the talent we have.”

Junior Owen Kyle was Holt’s pick to be team captain this year because of his ability to lead the team “by his actions.”

“[The key] is buying into what our coaches are saying,” Kyle said. 

The girls team has a senior class of Abbey Gaiser, Kelly Dunn and Jodey Kyle. Holt called Gaiser the “anchor” of the defense.

“She’s one of those kids you love being around,” Holt said.

Gaiser is optimistic about the team’s chances this season, given that many of the contributors are holdovers from last spring.

“We were a new team last year,” she said. “This year, we’re a lot more comfortable with each other, so I’m really excited to see how we do with our area games.”

That familiarity has also created a strong bond among the girls, which is one of their top priorities.

“A big part of our mentality is being a family,” Gaiser said. “We think that if you’re a family on the field and off the field, then you’ll be successful.”

One thing that won’t hinder the Huskies is having their coach split time between the two varsity squads. 

Holt coached multiple teams in his time at American Christian Academy and credits his assistant coaches with making everything possible.

“I love it,” Gaiser said. “He handles it very well, and it brings [the teams] closer together.”

Hewitt-Trussville moved this year into an area with Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Spain Park, so it will be no easy task for either team to be one of the top two that advance to the postseason. 

No matter the competition, the Huskies senior class has one thing on its mind this year.

“We want to be the top dog,” Besse said.