The Summit Boys soccer team is determined to return to the playoffs after failing to compete last fall
Cody Jones/Summit Daily News
The Summit High School boys soccer team has something to prove this fall.
After a trip to the Class 4A semifinals in 2022, Summit’s boys soccer team failed to return to the 32-team playoffs in 2023. Now in JJ Bosgraaf’s second year as head coach, the Tigers hope to use their skill, drive and renewed spirit to make the postseason in the fall.
“We missed the playoffs by one place, which was a real shame,” said Bosgraaf. “That was because of a goal in the last three minutes of the last game of the season. Last year was a tough end to the season. With this group, I think we can make another attempt.”
In Bosgraaf’s first season, the Tigers began with four losses and didn’t record a win until the second week of September. But after a less than ideal start to the season, Bosgraaf and the Summit boys soccer team pulled themselves together and managed to post a record of 6-9.
With 11 graduates leaving the varsity squad last spring, Bosgraaf has reason to be concerned about the experience of this year’s team, but early-season practices and a scrimmage against Air Academy on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Summit High School have helped allay most of those fears.
“It was a really good practice game against Air Academy,” said Bosgraaf. “Last year they finished ninth. We played against them last year and had trouble playing against them. This year we’ve done a lot better and everyone is in a much better position. We have a really good starting group. I felt like it was a really good start.”
Although Summit lost nearly half of its team players during the offseason, it returns a strong group of rising seniors, all of whom have experience playing collegiate-level soccer. Bosgraaf will particularly lean on veteran midfielder Juan Varon and veteran center back Reece Bosgraaf for leadership.
“They both lead the team in terms of mentality, effort and coaching on the field,” JJ Bosgraaf said. “Last year I was very active in coaching from the sidelines and I’ve been trying more and more to give the older players the responsibility to do that on the field as well. … Juan and Reece are now third-year players on the varsity team, so they know what it takes. I trust them to help the other guys get to that level as quickly as possible.”
Not only do Varon and Reece Bosgraaf have the skills needed to be exemplary leaders on the field, they were also key pillars in the Tigers’ stat sheets in 2023.
Varon was tied with 2024 graduate Santi Casco in goals per game, averaging 0.6 goals in 10 games, while Bosgraaf was third on the team in assists per game, averaging 0.4. Bosgraaf and Varon are joined by several other talented players from Summit’s graduating class.
Nico Novotny is expected to return to the field after leading the team with 0.5 assists per game and 10 shots on goal last season. On defense, Dillon Butson and Ryder Nazzarine are expected to fill the role of essential defenders.
After it took a few weeks for the team to find its rhythm last fall, Reece Bosgraaf is confident that the chemistry the team showed in the first weeks of training will translate into wins early in the season.
“We have to start strong,” said Reece Bosgraaf. “In recent years we have started the season with a losing record. We can’t just rely on ourselves to pick ourselves back up. We have to start strong so we have a really good chance of making the playoffs.”
With playoff appearances in two of the last three seasons, the Summit boys soccer team plans to take on every game and challenge in hopes of giving Bosgraaf his first state playoff appearance as a head coach.
“I try not to set myself a goal of rankings, playoffs or specific wins,” said JJ Bosgraaf. “The goal is to take it game by game, improve with each game, show that you are serious, that you want to be here, that you want to put in the effort and contribute with your individual game and the team.”
“This is my third year, my second year as captain, so I’m going to make sure I lead the team and we’re ready for the games,” Varon said.
The team will begin its regular season on Thursday, August 22nd when it hosts Conifer High School in Breckenridge.
“I hope for a win above all,” said Reece Bosgraaf, “but I also hope that we show that we are getting better as the year goes on. We can’t just rely on a few players. We have to get better as a team and win as a team.”
Summit’s home opener is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
