Academic based athletics is supposed to be about what the kids learn on the 昀eld of play to help them become better people when they are o昀 the 昀eld of play. They learn teamwork, the ability to follow directions, physical 昀tness, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, perseverance and more. Perseverance is an aspect that gets overlooked more often than not in a winning season. In a losing season, perseverance is at the heart of what the athletes do.

Unfortunately for Hastings both the boys and girls season records did not 昀nish above .500, with the boys 昀nishing 3-13-1 and the girls 昀nishing 6-7-3.

GIRLS

The 2022 Raider girls’ soccer season was under the direction of new Head Coach Paul Armstrong. Armstrong had a few short weeks to get to know his players and begin installing a system that he wanted to run, so it was no surprise that the girls season kicked o昀 with a loss to Eastview at home. The impressive piece to the start of the season was the Raider defense stepped up big the next three games to give the Raiders two ties and a win. The perseverance of the Raiders was quite impressive throughout the season, never going on a losing streak of any kind until the last two games of the season. Whenever they lost one, they would bounce back and win or tie, and in some cases they would win two in a row.

For the most part, Hastings kept games close with half of their games decided by one goal. For the season, the girls scored 24 total goals while allowing 30. In the Section 3AAA quarter昀nal, they faced Eastview and fell 5-0 to end their season.

The girls were captained by Cianna Bernard, Emma Hagen, Jaylen Hanson, and Abbi Pelava. The varsity squad loses six to graduation this year, Sam Williams, Karissa Thompson, Emma Hagen, Ella Throkelson, Cianna Bernard and Lexi Qualy.

BOYS

The lads had a bit tougher time on the pitch even under the leadership of long time Head Coach Jamie Swanson. Swanson, a 1992 graduate of Hastings and very knowledgeable soccer coach, struggled to craft a winning record this season. The boys season also started with a loss to Eastview at home and their 昀rst win came two weeks later in game three of the season at Tartan. The important piece of the boy’s season is they never quit, they fought every minute of their games, even when they were outmatched. In their three wins, they outscored opponents 8-4, on the season overall, they allowed 57 goals while they found the net 18 times. In the Section 3AAA quarter 昀nal, they faced Eagan and fell 5-0 ending their season.

The boys will graduate 12 this year. Chase Harder, Ethan Klaren, Brenner Caturia-Peine, Billy Otto, Ryan Prange, Max Falk-Gensmer, Aiden Beal, Rowan Shelhamer, Nick Wenisch, Austin Miller, Garret Gergen and Martin Onnen.

The 2022 Hastings Raider Boys Soccer Team. (Left to Right.) Front: Xavier Beal, Austin Miller, Ethan Klaren, Rowan Shelhamer, Billy Otto, Tyler Brochman, Anthony Lau. Middle: Head Coach Jamie Swanson, Chase Harder, Ethan Schaack, Sam Sanchez, Sebastian Strauss, Jed Carlson, Riley Stewart, Aiden Beal, Devin Hampl, Coach Christian Waage. Back: Jack Sieben, Jackson Reents, Johan Rova-Hegener, Garrett Gergen, Nick Wenisch, Martin Onnen, Ryan Prange, Max Falk-Gensmer, Brenner Caturia-Peine, Coach Tom Brenny.Photo Courtesy of Beck Photography . dennyb.zenfolio.com