An Unforgettable Season

Change and hardship goes along with the joy that comes out of the bond that Regis’s Varsity Boys Soccer team shares

Regis Jesuit Varsity boys soccer team huddles before a game. The team played a home game against Douglas County on April 13 2021 and won 6-0. (Tyler Chan ‘23)

After a heart wrenching loss against Broomfield High School in the state championship of fall 2020, a close score of 1-0, Regis Jesuit’s determined Boys Varsity Soccer team trained tirelessly for another grueling competition for the state title. Despite the season’s challenges, the boys came together to work diligently, celebrate their wins and hold each other up through the community they’ve built around the sport.

Out of the four captains on Regis’s boys varsity soccer team, Alex Billings (‘21) and Tanner Scarth (‘21) have both been raised playing the sport. They’ve been playing soccer since early childhood, and have grown into their athletic abilities phenomenally.

The web of connections within the team is deeper than surface level, with Tanner Scarth’s dad as an assistant soccer coach, and Alex Billings with a close relationship with Coach Wolf that goes back many years.

One thing for sure, is that there is an overwhelming rapport that the team shared.

“This year we have a unique and diverse skill set in the field. Each of us are fortunately individually gifted and collectively gifted. It clicked very early for us,” Tanner Scarth said.

“The younger guys are always coming to our games, supporting us. We’re always looking out for them, especially in the hallways,” Alex Billings remarks on the outstanding bond.

Senior Alejandro Herrera has been playing for his club team for three years while he’s at Regis and wanted to be part of the soccer program.

“He’s a kid that has raised the level of confidence and plays with everything we’ve demanded with our kids from the first day of being part of our program,” Says Coach Wolf when asked about players who stood out to him.

There’s always a lot of pressure on kids to play for their club teams, and Alejandro’s club coach told him to turn his uniform in and that he wouldn’t be a part of his club again when they spoke about the change. Alejandro didn’t waver and just wanted to play for his fellow students. That showed a large amount of trust in the bond he shared with his teammates.

Rick Wolf has been a soccer coach at Regis for over 17 years, starting in 2003 but becoming the head soccer coach during 2012. He juggles his coaching along with his passion for theology, and teaches the subject in both divisions. He firmly believes the most rewarding thing about coaching is the people and the positive close relationships he establishes with his team.

This year has been unique for a multitude of reasons, but the closeness and community that surrounds his soccer team has been an amazing asset. The coaches leave most of the practices up to the team captains, and this has paid off.

“The leadership on the team to begin with is just amazing. Empowering the kids that are the leaders on the team to really mold and shape the team the way they want it,” Coach Wolf says.

The other circumstance that has changed this year drastically is the spread of the pandemic, which has moved soccer from the fall to this spring. His take on the difficulties Covid19 has thrown at the sports teams is one of gratitude.
“There’s a lot of blessings that have come out of waiting to play until now. It’s been good, difficult, but rewarding,” Wolf said. “The extensive amount of time in which we’ve been able to work with the team,” since the beginning of the pandemic has given Coach Wolf much to be optimistic about.

This season has brought a range of emotions to all who are invested. After a heartbreaking game with Cherry Creek High School, the neck to neck game ended with Creek scoring in the last two minutes to win 1-0.

The Regis Jesuit Varsity Soccer team had played their hearts out, with a record of 7-1 for the season and winning the Conference Title. The brotherhood within the team has unwavering support for each other and that’s a bond no outcome could break.