#3-peat: Boys soccer wins district championship again
By Sarah Claire Miller
Staff Writer

The Center Hill High School boys soccer team has done it again, winning the District 1-5A championship the third year in a row.

“It feels amazing to be three-time district champs,” Ivan Gonzalez, a striker who scored all three goals when the Mustangs defeated Olive Branch 3-1 on Jan. 18 to win the district championship.

Coach Andrew Yeoman said credit for the team’s accomplishment is shared with former players.

“There are a lot of guys who have graduated and are now in college that played a vital role in helping the program achieve these titles, and I know they would be proud of the guys on this year’s team for keeping the streak going,” Yeoman said. “As their coach it is fun to watch all their hard work come to fruition.”

Yeoman said his players not only work hard but also work together.

“They have built a program that thrives on team chemistry,” he said. “There is a lot of older guys who have sacrificed playing time so that younger talented players can contribute. The junior and senior classes do a great job of being leaders for the team and show them not only how to carry yourself on the field but also off of it.”

To Gonzalez, they are more than teammates.

“I enjoy this time with my team, my family,” he said, adding that he hopes they can turn this district championship into a state title.

“I don’t think it is enough to satisfy me,” he said. “I want a state championship.”

To do that, Yeoman said his team would have to continue to stay disciplined and locked in on getting better every day.

“I definitely want a state championship really bad,” he said. “I can tell the guys do as well. It is fun to watch them put in the work on their own and together as a team to try and be the last team standing.”