The Revere mens’ soccer team is building on their winning tradition from their determination to succeed and their dominance on the field as they move into the state playoffs.

The Revere men’s soccer program is recognized for their continuous effort to excel and create a name for not only the program but also for Revere athletics. This “winning tradition,” as senior Brandon Taylor puts it, attracts members of the community to take pride in the sport and causes more players to join the team each year. Head coach Sandor Jakab, who entered his 22nd year of coaching this year, explained his reaction to the noticeable changes in attendance at the soccer games this year.

“You look at the crowds that we have had and the student section and I think it has been awesome. The kids from the middle school are coming to our games; it’s not just the soccer people. It’s everybody. They realize we work hard [to] put a good product on the field, and they also enjoy being a part of it,” Jakab said.

Previously, RHS guidance counselor Nick DePompei held the title of assistant coach at both Solon High School and Avon Lake High School, but this year he joined the Revere soccer organization in hopes that he could be “more involved at the school [he] works at.” As assistant coach for the team, DePompei shared that he thinks one of the reasons behind the team’s success is that the players are given an early start. Jakab explained the youth program to which DePompei was referring.

“We start working with kids at age five, so we do our best to try to give them all the skills and tools that they are going to need to enjoy the game of soccer early,” Jakab said.
DePompei cited his personal goals for the team to be winning a state championship, but, ultimately, playing to the best of the team’s abilities.

Ranked highly in the state and in the nation, the team is on its way to another productive season, posting twelve shutout victories against teams in the league. Senior goalkeeper Joel Gerberich elaborated on the potential of the team this year.

“I think we have the strongest team that I have been a part of, and we work really well together. Almost our entire team plays year round and has immense ability,” Gerberich said.

The team is equipped with eight seniors this year including captains Gerberich, Taylor and Chase Somple, along with Nolan Dyko, Blake Easterling, Brian Gillette, Jordon Marich and Andrew Robinson. With team chemistry and purpose being two of the main focuses of the season, Jakab also stressed that the team needs to narrow their individual mindsets to themselves and not the name written across their opponent’s jerseys.

“Our goal is to compete against ourselves every day to be better than we have ever been. And not to focus on an opponent but to say ‘hey how well can we play today’, ‘can we improve,’ ‘can we do things better,’” Jakab said.

Overall, center defender Taylor concluded that the team’s successes are not solely based off any one individual’s input but the whole team’s efforts.

“The combination of both coaching and talent make this team successful. We have a lot of talent, and our coaches push us to our limits to make us the best,” Taylor said.

The team is currently 15-0-2. Senior night took place on Tuesday, October 1st with the Minutemen posting a 7-0 victory over the Nordonia Knights. The team won their first two playoff games against Orange High School and  Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. The team plays Canfield at Wadsworth on Wednesday, October 30th.