The Viking Longboat

by Courtney Black

“This is the best season we’ve had during my career,” senior Cody Little said about the soccer team’s spectacular season.

“We’ve all been playing together since grade school,” Little said. “So that and a combination of our new coach let us win leagues and make it to district finals.”

Little was one of 13 seniors on the team this season and was the starting center defender. “Mental toughness, our ability to stay cool and confident, as well as experience both individually and as a team, lead to the season’s success,” Little said.

To get pumped up before a game, Little listens to punk and alternative music.  “I like to warm up and just mess around with the guys,” he said.  “Then it’s game time, and I focus on what I need to do to excel on the field.”

One of his highlights from the season was playing longtime rival, the DeWitt Panthers, in the first round of playoffs. The team was confident it could win after beating DeWitt in a league game earlier in the season.

But DeWitt was not just another game for Little.

“Our pride was on the line,” he said. “We had to defend our field and show we had improved enough to beat them again.”

Another highlight was playing and tying Holt. The Rams were nationally ranked  on ESPN at the time and ended up making it to the finals this year.

“We played out of our minds because we were excited to play them and confident we could hang with them,” Little said.  The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Even though the season is over, Little misses being around and messing around with his teammates.

“I mostly miss just hanging out and goofing off with the guys on the team,” Little said.

Little’s future plans for soccer include men’s league and indoor in the off season.  As for school, he will attend Michigan State University to study mechanical engineering.

Filed under: Sports