Head Coach Tom Pecore said the Newcastle Racer boys soccer team is off to its best start ever, going through preseason undefeated and playing some Class 5A schools.
The Racers are in Class 4A and share a District with Bethany, Chickasha, Harrah, Cache, Ada and Madill.
But Pecore doesn’t seem too worried. In fact, he said it’s going to be fun.
“Our junior class is one of the best groups I have ever coached,” Pecore said, noting players Caleb Dupler, Toby Batchelder, Jacob Cunningham, Will Huff, Justin Haworth, Gracin Grffin and Grahm Griffin.
He also said he is lucky to have three freshman that he affectionately calls his Three Musketeers: Milo Phifer, Hudson Stewart and Jace Ramanjulu. The team returns other key players, as well.
The Racers’ returning starters are Dupler, Batchelder, Cunningham, Huff, and sophomores Cooper Hood and Tobias Phifer.
The core group includes these guys and the three freshmen, according to Pecore. He said there is speed everywhere this year, and these kids are “easy to coach with beautiful team chemistry.” Pecore said they all grew up playing club ball together year round.
The Racers have already finished their pre-season schedule with games against Class 5 schools Lawton Eisenhour, Ardmore and Carl Albert. They also took on and beat Astec Charter School and Weatherford.
Pecore said the scrimmages showed that the Racer players are buying in to the system of play. He said the team’s smaller players are really getting physical with their bigger opponents. This was the direct result, according to Pecore, of talking to the kids about having the guts to go up against older and larger players.
“We’re focusing on our flanks, attacking wide because we are so fast,” Pecore said. “The key to that is Jacob Cunningham and Toby Betchelder.”
The coach said in the middle, the team has the Energizer Bunny Caleb Dupler, who is wearing number 6, a number he shared with his Dad.
“Dupler covers so much ground and he’s clever and smart. He has an incredible soccer IQ,” Pecore said. “He’s the natural leader of this team with his stamina, technical ability, and drive.”
Pecore said, “We have a much needed recovery and fitness break before we head to season opener at Duncan on Friday.”
The Racers have a full soccer squad in varsity and junior varsity with close to 40 players. Pecore said this is a result of the youth program, where they are seeing a great level of success.
“If we can stay healthy and develop a good rotation between the younger players and the starters, I really believe this team can make a deep run into the playoffs,” Pecore said.
The coach recently was awarded a certificate from the United States Soccer Coaches Association for winning 300 or more games.
As a side note, he felt it important to ask parents to take it easy on the referees, saying high school soccer is down to two refs now instead of the original three. This is in part because of the difficulty in finding referees to call games due to the negativity and abuse tossed their way by parents who feel their team or child was wronged.
“Let them call the game,” Pecore said. “Relax and let the coaches work it out on the field.” He noted that Newcastle parents are pretty good about not complaining; however, there are many parents affiliated with other schools who are not and those teams need to understand the issue.
Finally, Pecore wanted to note the support and professionalism from Newcastle Athletic Director Todd Goolsby. Pecore said Goolsby is a coach’s coach, and this is “the best it’s been on that end.”
