Book about West Allegheny soccer, ‘Unbeatable’ gains popularity in first month of release

By: Greg Macafee
Wednesday, July 31, 2019 | 3:16 PM

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The 2018 West Allegheny boys soccer season was a storybook-type campaign. It was so good in fact that Brent Dragisich, the father of Nathan and Johnny Dragisic, two West A players, decided to author a book about their extraordinary season.

“My wife first brought it up to me to do it as many of the parents said ‘boy, we could write a book with all that happened!’” Dragisich said about how the idea came about to author his first book. “So, one day I just decided, what the heck, I’m going to do it!”

“Unbeatable” is a story about West Allegheny’s journey to the program’s first ever PIAA championship. Dragisich said he goes into detail about a special senior class that included his son, Nate, Evan Blunkosky, Braden Wurst, Justin Shaytar, Gabe Haines, Benny Farelli and Antonio Fiordilino.

It also describes the ups and downs the Indians went through during the course of the season. Their penalty shootout win over Mars in the WPIAL semifinals and losing starting goalkeeper Braden Wurst to an injury during their state quarterfinal game are just two of the stories highlighted.

It was published on Amazon on July 8 and is currently ranked No. 1 under Amazon’s Children and Youth Sports New Releases category. Given that it was his first attempt at authoring a book, Dragisich has been surprised by the success.

“I wrote it thinking that only West Allegheny soccer families would buy it, and that I’d probably just give them copies anyway, which I did!” Dragisich said. “But the feedback I’ve been getting has been great. Even friends that bought it, read it, who aren’t soccer fans or don’t know West A soccer told me they loved the story.”

⁦@WestABoysSoccer⁩ story UNBEATABLE is at its highest rank since being published. #6 on Amazon’s Best Sellers list in the Children’s and Youth Sports category. Also #1 in the New Releases list. Thank you to al that has purchased it. ⁦@WestASports⁩ pic.twitter.com/eukqSuunDw

— West A Boys Soccer (@WestABoysSoccer) July 27, 2019

Many have followed the @WestABoysSoccer run to the 2018 PA State Championship. Well, a book has been written about it! The story “UNBEATABLE” is now available! Go to https://t.co/9KYNbGkzhK or Amazon to order it. Type in UNBEATABLE w/ author Brent Dragisich. pic.twitter.com/GXwNLNUiQw

— West A Boys Soccer (@WestABoysSoccer) July 10, 2019

The Indians went 23-2, losing only once during the regular season and then fell to Franklin Regional, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 3A championship. They defeated the Panthers in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals in route to their first PIAA championship in school history.

They scored 119 goals throughout the season and only allowed 14. Wurst had 14 shutouts and allowed two or more goals twice. Nathan Dragisich scored 44 goals, including a hat trick in the state championship; he also dished out 20 assists and earned Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year honors, along with many others.

After a PK to make it 3-0, here is @WestABoysSoccer final goal to go up 4-0. A great play…a great assist by @GabeHaines to @natedragisich! Two seniors closing out the last goal of the season for West A! @WestASports pic.twitter.com/6Lwmj2tQyx

— West A Boys Soccer (@WestABoysSoccer) November 18, 2018

In an effort to give back to the program as well, Dragisich said any proceeds he makes from the book will be donated back to the West Allegheny boys soccer program. He added giving something to the players that they can look back on for years to come was special enough in itself.

“I know the boys realize how special this season was, and I know that they will appreciate it more and more as the years go by,” Dragisich said. “I hope the book can give them something to show their own children someday about this special time in their lives.”

Greg Macafee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Greg by email at gmacafee@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Tags: West Allegheny