St. Joe’s to field first-ever boys’ soccer team

BOALSBURG — St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy has added a new sport to its athletic agenda this fall.

For the first time in school history, the Wolves will field a boys’ varsity soccer team.

“This program would be strictly for training purposes only in Year 1, were it not for the persistence, commitment and dedication of its founding members,” said head coach Robert Venema. “Those same qualities combined with a strong work ethic will be the keys to the success we realize in our first year.”

The team has only been practicing together for a short time, said Venema, noting the team is not yet “seasoned competitors.” He said as time moves on, and the athletes play more together, the team as a whole will improve.

“The team’s expectations have been to build this program slowly, brick by brick, with hope through blind faith of simply being able to be eligible for postseason play,” said Venema. “With the full backing of the school and a last minute full PIAA schedule in place, they have already achieved that goal. Future goals for this season will follow that same guiding principle — work hard at every practice, take each game one at a time and learn and grow from every experience.”

Venema hope each player on the team puts forth his very best effort into being both an exemplary student and athlete.

“I ask that they push themselves to the point of failure, but never quit. Learn to push past the point of ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’ and to strive for excellence in themselves and each other in everything they do,” Venema said. “I am not as concerned with Ws and Ls — success will come as we build a solid program grounded in excellence.’