Many teams at all different levels are now using the next man up mentality. The Perry soccer team has a record of 22-2 all thanks to players stepping up when asked and doing what it takes to make this team successful.

 With many injuries plaguing this team the reason for this spectacular record doesn’t fall on one person’s shoulders it a great team accomplishment there are so many unselfish players and players who put team success over individual. I was able to talk to coach John Roberts and ask him how he felt the next man up mentality has affected this team “Quite a bit I mean if you would of asked us at the beginning of the year if we were missing some of the players that have been out or are out we would of been not so sure how our season would of been.”

So many players on this team have “excelled and stepped up to the challenge” which has helped this team get to one win away from raising the 2018 state championship banner.

Coach Roberts also said with the state matchup with Xavier their team “needs to be as organized as them” and their “coach is a great coach and we always know we’re gonna get a quality team when they step on the field” he also said “the thing for us is we are very aggressive so we are gonna have to overcome some of our injuries by being aggressive and being first to the ball.” Coach Roberts said they recently had a scrimmage of starters vs up and comers and they played pretty equally. “The future of this program is pretty bright.” I asked Roberts if any of the up and comers would see any playing time in the state championship game he said “ We have we’ve at Chandler we’ve put several JV players in on the field because they’ve proven that they deserve to be out there.” Roberts explained a bit more saying “once the playoffs started we uh practiced and said hey this is tryouts all over again we want the best players out on the field to represent Perry when it’s playoff time some of the players have earned the right to play.”

This next man up mentality is what has driven this team all year and with a coach like coach Roberts reinforcing that and the players knowing what it takes in order to get the job done and the fact that they are only one game away from raising the championship banner for soccer is giving the players extra motivation and they have to put all their effort in not only to try and win but to represent Perry in this state game. This is a special group of players who have put the team first ONE TEAM ONE GOAL.