Ed. Note: AJ Jergens is this week’s Tipp Spotlight Feature Athlete of the Week.

With the new soccer season starting today, the page has been turned on the amazing success the Tipp boys soccer team had last year. But even as the focus shifts to the upcoming season, Tipp senior AJ Jergens will always remember the magic this program gave him during his junior soccer season.

“Last year was a dream come true winning a state championship,” he said. “I've always dreamed about winning one ever since I was in middle school when we won the first in 2019. But that’s last year and this year we have to refocus on all of our goals of winning league districts, regionals, then state and not to be complacent and stay hungry.”

“We did lose a lot last year with a big and great senior class, but we also have talent all the way from freshman up to our seniors that are ready to step in at the opportunity that presents itself. To compete at a high level again we all need to keep buying into the program that started with coach Downing and is led by coach Porto and Slyman have built for the Tipp men’s program. They are great leaders and always have a great game plan for us. As players we have to go out and execute and do our jobs to come out with the win.”

Jergens and all of the Red Devils know the target on their backs has gotten larger, and the multi-sport standout knows that will have to be ready.

“The target was definitely set for every game because everyone wants to take a shot at the state champs, and we know that,” Jergens said. “We can’t take a night off, just relax and go easy. We have to make sure every team around the state knows that Tipp doesn’t have a down year and we are as good as we were last year.”

Jergens also looks to excel on the basketball court, and a legacy has continued with the success Tipp has enjoyed on the hardwood the last several years. They are coming off a league title and he knows they will be ready.

“The seniors that graduated last year were amazing and always worked hard and did their part, but we do have a great group of guys coming back this year that can go out there and win another conference championship,” he said. “When we go out on the court our goal is to always be the team that hustles and plays the hardest every time we step foot on the court. To defend our MVL title from last year it’s gonna take everyone on the team and do whatever coach Moon has them doing that game to get the job done.”

And not to be outdone, Jergens busy schedule continues in the spring as a key returning member of the Tippecanoe baseball team. He knows it was an up-and-down year last season, but they all have the same goal, to bring the hardware back to Tippecanoe.

“We had some amazing moments as a team, going down to Florida and starting the year off 4-0 and getting to know our new coaches and teammates really well and bonding as a group,” Jergens said. “My role on the team will be whatever coach Cam has for me that day whether it be playing the outfield that day and making every play in front of me or stepping up to the plates with two outs to deliver a hit or to move runners into scoring position.”

“If we get the number that we need to be successful day in and day out and, we do it the Tipp way we will be able to fight for that conference championship.”

Over the summer, Jergens was a part of the Ohio Galaxies who just played for the Presidents Cup while he also participated in some basketball shootouts and in his free time, he got in the gym to get as many shots up as he could.

Down the road, Jergens has been thinking about playing sports at the next level, and despite playing all three sports for Tipp, he has decided on a sport to continue at the collegiate level.

“I have thought about college since my junior year and decided that I wanted to keep playing soccer through college,” he said. “I’ve just started looking at places, but division doesn’t matter to me. I just want to keep playing the game that I’ve loved since I was little. I have decided on my major. I want to major in data analytics and have a minor in sports management and try to keep a job in the sports world of thing having to do with numbers.”