Surging Carlynton girls soccer team provides rebuilding blueprint for struggling programs

By: Jon Ramsey
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Heather Ritz began coaching when her daughter started out in the Carlynton youth soccer program.

“My daughter is now in eighth grade and I’ve been coaching this group of girls for eight years now.”

Ritz remembers the hardships of fielding a full team only two years ago.

“In 2022, we played every game with eight girls,” she said. “It was a struggle at times, but our girls just wanted to compete for each other.”

Fast forward to this season, the Carlynton girls soccer team has started its season with a 9-3 record, 5-3 in Section 3-A.

A handful of teams around the WPIAL are struggling with low roster numbers, hoping to keep their programs afloat. The Cougars have become a shining example of how it can be done.

When asked about a key to their programmatic turnaround, Ritz had more than one.

“It has been a combination of things,” she said. “Aside from just numbers, we have done well in creating a great team culture. We try to have at least one team dinner a week to bring the girls together as a team off the field, which has been huge for our team chemistry.”

The Carlynton youth programs have also helped drive the current success of the high school team.

Seniors Grace Prepelka and Quinland Delrosario have been a part of Carynton soccer since kindergarten and fifth grade, respectively. They’ve never before seen the type of success the high school team is having so far this season, and they each attribute it to one thing.

“The biggest difference this year is the amount of dedicated girls we have. The past few years, we have barely had enough to have a full field and have had many girls step out to help even though they had no prior experience playing,” said Delrosario. “This year we have seven freshman, half who play for a club team. I am so grateful to all the girls who decided to help out the team.”

Knowing that other high school teams are in similar situations, Grace Prepelka offered some advice: “Never give up. It can get so frustrating at times, especially as someone who grew up playing soccer and played club soccer for many years. It can be very discouraging, but it’s important to keep your head up and know that it will get better.”

Prepelka also circled back to how growing numbers in a program can be the key to a turnaround.

“I would encourage girls to get their friends interested in soccer,” she said. “The more girls, the better. Even inexperienced players help a lot.”

Carlynton is planning to continue what it has built for years to come, as it appears the program is turning the corner.

Athletic director Nathan Milsom has been a part of the school district for the better part of 15 years and has monitored the soccer program throughout its hardships.

“About five years ago, neither the boys or girls middle school programs had enough players to field teams,” he said. “This required us to field a co-ed team, which hurt the girls high school program in the long run.”

Milsom praised the effort and dedication of those who are on the high school squad now.

“Credit goes to the girls who stuck through it playing eight v. 11,” he said.

Moving forward, the program should continue on its current trajectory as long as it keeps building from the bottom up.

“This group of sophomore and freshman girls is very strong,” Milsom said, “and other girls are wanting to play knowing there is a dedicated girls program at the high school.”

Tags: Carlynton