The undefeated Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer team (9-0-1 overall, 4-0 Southeast Conference) were set to honor their senior players Tuesday night in a cross-town derby against the visiting Thunder Mountain Falcons (0-6 SEC).
Senior ceremonies began at 5 p.m. on the Crimson Bears’ Adair-Kennedy pitch with match action scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
“They have been very successful,” Crimson Bears head coach Gary Lehnhart said. “As freshmen they lost their COVID year and so basically I lost a season to bond with them. But from the very beginning when the five of them came in, they just were unusual. I have coached a lot of teams but this might be the closet-knit core group of seniors that I’ve had. When you looked at them as freshmen they were all pretty small and they were talented, but they weren’t very strong physically. Over the first couple years they went up against bigger, stronger teams and took some bumps and bruises. They still competed well, never quit and they got stronger. They are definitely the most coachable group of kids that I’ve had for four years and to see them last year bring it home, along with the senior class from last year, was really rewarding. Then this year to be undefeated and really be the dominant team in Alaska is really a tribute to how hard they work and what good leaders they are. They are all excellent students and just a pleasure.”
The JDHS senior boys are:
Tommy Pearson – defender, No. 36 or 34.
Favorite food – Any kind of Mexican food
Favorite music – Rock and some rap
Other pastimes – Read and play hockey
Plans after high school – Attend Northwestern University (Illinois) for engineering
Advice to young players/students – Always try your hardest, even during practice, and keep up the intensity.
Jack Schwarting – defender, No. 20.
Favorite food – Carne asada
Favorite music – Ice Spice
Other pastimes – Skiing and fly fishing
Plans after high school – Attend Middlebury College (Vermont) to study environmental policy
Advice to young players/students – Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Tayten Bennetsen – center back, No. 8.
Favorite food – A good pesto gnocchi
Favorite music – Nicki Minaj and Cardi B
Other pastimes – Lots of school work and going outside
Plans after high school – Attend Rice University (Texas)
Advice to young players/students – Believe in yourself.
Kean Buss – striker, No. 5 and 47.
Favorite food – Filet mignon or a hamburger
Favorite music – I only listen to Kendrick Lamar, my favorite artist ever.
Other pastimes – Rock climbing, hammocking, or going out on my boat
Plans after high school – Attend UCLA (California) to study physics
Advice to young players/students – Make a good first impression, it pays off.
Gabe Cheng – center midfielder, No. 6.
Favorite food – Sandwiches
Favorite music – Folk music
Other pastimes – Fishing and rock climbing
Plans after high school – Attend University of Alaska Fairbanks to study engineering
Advice to young players/students – Do not forget your practice jersey.
Micah Brown – defender, No. 23.
Favorite food – Anything barbeque
Favorite music – Mac Miller
Other pastimes – Fish and go outside
Plans after high school – Joining the U.S. Air Force
Advice to young players/students – Just try, give it your best.
Will Robinson – defender, No. 7
Favorite food – Pad Thai
Favorite music – I listen to every genre.
Other pastimes – Hang outside with my dog, hike and run
Plans after high school – Attend Creighton University (Nebraska) to study finance
Advice to young players/students – Just be nice to people, be nice to everybody.
“We’ve got a ways to go and important games to come,” Lehnhart said. “I like where we are at. They are a good group that I trust immensely. They have an energy that’s contagious and it reverberates throughout the program. I don’t think there’s any question they’ll leave a legacy, a positive one to be sure.”
