Tippecanoe Gazette

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Soccer squad uses camp to prepare for season

One week after Tipp held their youth soccer camp, the high school team held their annual camp. This brought together middle and high school soccer players for three days to prepare for the upcoming season.

“The last two weeks have been tremendous for our program,” said Tipp coach Joel Slyman. “Last week we had the youth camp with 200 kids and this week we have 75 guys and it’s perfect.”

“Our guys are role models to the younger players, and we are here to get better. We also have a preseason tournament (last) weekend. So, this is kind of the first time for all of us together, just honing our skills, getting better and getting the culture and chemistry leading up the season.”

Coming off a state championship, their second in five seasons, the returning players are excited to get back out on the field hoping the momentum carries over while also working to make their own destiny with their own team.

“The ‘celebration tour’ went on for a while and the guys are getting ready to focus on the new season and it was fun, but they want to get their season started,” Slyman said. “The seniors know this is their team now, so I think they are definitely still hungry, but they are taking ownership of their team and what are we going to make for it.”

Even with the new focus on the upcoming season, a lot can be said about winning and success.

“Even from the seventh graders up to the seniors, everyone was a part of it and it was a community wide thing,” the Tipp coach said. “It showed last week with our youth camp we have a lot of excitement, and these kids want to see what they are all about.”

Last week, the kids worked on their individual skills and making sure their fitness was there.