Long before the current 2023 team, Revere’s men’s soccer team had secured the district title nine times in a span of fifteen years. With five runner-up appearances, their grasp on the Suburban League holds strong. The final award, the state championship, is next in their sights.
In Ohio’s high school soccer scene, the Revere Men’s Soccer team has consistently achieved success. The 2023 season saw Revere High School secure the Suburban League Championship for the third consecutive year in Ohio Division II. Under the guidance of Coach Nicholas DePompei, Assistant Coach John Rorabaugh, and Volunteer Assistant Coach Sandor Jakab, the team has demonstrated its talent, teamwork, and commitment on the field.
Leading them, their player-critical system of building players’ morale and motivation up, much success has been witnessed by other teams.
Team chemistry is the main focus for Revere, they strive to keep the environment for the players strong and healthy. Along with teamwork, their push for individual player relationships helps build their culture.
In sports, leadership, and teamwork are the priorities that drive success on and off the field. Coaches play a role in making these. DePompei explained the levels of work involved
“It’s always the amount of work that the players put in pretty much in the off-season. If they put the work in during the off-season, they’re going to come in being pretty talented,” DePompei said.
The player’s work converts to the quality of play out on the field. Their work in the preseason during the summer will pay off come time for the first game. Players practicing for hours in the preseason has paid off during the start of the actual season. Whether it be foot skills or the mentality of the players. Volunteer Assistant Coach Jakab pushes the player quality alongside DePompei.
“Every team that we play, we want new challenges. So when it comes playoff time, we’re ready for anything, mentally, physically, and we’re prepared to do our best, you know, we’re not surprised by anything,” Jakab said.
Jakab also spoke on this topic of preparation. Their close game ending in a 1-1 draw against Bexley displayed vulnerability; however, they took the game as an opportunity to learn and build their already-established team.
“The work that they did in the off-season as well as now just kind of being willing to work with each other. Put the puzzle together as the season goes on.” DePompei said
DePompei’s emphasis on the off-season is a valuable example of leadership. Hard work and dedication during the off-season of our lives when the spotlight is not on the players, lays the foundation for future success. Leaders inspire others through their commitment and set the tone for the entire team.
Revere Varsity soccer player and captain Jeffery Boyle added to the topic of the individual player’s importance.
“Practicing in the summer has helped us translate into games this season and just working to be a team, not just individual players has also helped us,” Boyle said.
One player’s role is just as important as another’s. Their early practices during the summer before the season started helped the teamwork and the chemistry. This keeps them in shape and tuned for the season underway.
“Training methods evolve over the seasons, getting people back into the swings of things,” DePompei said.
DePompei said leadership often requires adaptability. Leaders must assess the changing environment and adjust their strategies in sports and beyond. Just as a coach makes training methods based on the team’s performance, influential leaders adjust their strategies to meet the unique challenges of their environment.
“One of the biggest things that people have trouble with is just realizing how failure is part of success because you’re never going to be 100%. And so then it’s a question of how do we use that? How do we reflect on that and build ourselves from there?” Jakab said.
Jakab leaves these questions to be answered by the players. Without their self-reflection of each mistake and loss, there cannot be any development. Failure is a common aspect of sports, while Revere Men’s Soccer has experienced relatively few times. Players are taught that failure is one hundred percent part of the game.
“Certain players need different types of motivation. Some people need to be kind of put out a little bit harder and pushed. Some people you need to lay off,” DePompei said.
DePompei states leadership is not a one-size-fits-all effort. Recognizing individual needs is important. Understanding what motivates each team member in sports and the workplace can make a more productive group. A great leader understands when to push and when to provide space, changing their approach to the individual.
“We also have to realize that the other teams look at us as the state final at times and that they may not make it, but they know they’re playing a team that could,” Jakab said.
Jakab emphasizes that they are a team others look to. Opponents look at playing against Revere as a big game. The influence of an undefeated record can be intimidating for other teams.
“This year, in particular, they’re grappling with the transition brought on by losing a significant number of seniors from the previous season. This group in particular, we lost thirteen seniors last year and eight out of the eleven starters,” DePompei said.
Whether adjusting to new team members or overcoming obstacles, strong leadership unites the team and empowers them to rise above challenges. Those thirteen seniors left their mark on the team and motivated them. They also left the culture the players adopt and keep. Whether it is their player friendships or coach relations they stay tight together.
“One of the things that we have talked about is that we don’t play or try to win the state final until the state final. So we have to find other motivation and reasons to play well in each game,” Jakab said.
Jakab added to the topic. Their motivation is shorter-term, smaller game wins that all lead up to the state championship. They play their utmost best, but their motivation for each game is not just for the state championship. Their motivation is to take each win, learn from it, and see where that piece fits in the puzzle.
“The future is just always to compete, compete at the highest level that we possibly can. And really at the end of the day, try and win state championships because that’s, you know, athletically what it’s about,” DePompei said.
DePompei states their true main goal is to compete with every player playing at their best and trying to push for the state championship. However, each game is not just for the final. Each is to build up the players’ motivation and skill, to be able to play at that “highest level.” Their philosophy is to build up what they have to make it stronger.
“There’s a lot of pressure and I think that it sometimes messes with the chemistry but it’s nice to be undefeated, it scares other teams,” Boyle said.
The team has its moments that alter the chemistry, but the foundation stays in place. Revere is seen as a strong team by others and they have displayed strength in many ways.
Teamwork, chemistry, motivation, and leadership all play a part in Revere soccer. All of these factors led to helping create and keep a strong soccer team and culture. With everything in between, their push for the biggest honor continues, the state championship.
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