“I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN, I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!” This was one of many chants echoing from Walt Whitman’s student section as the Boys Varsity Soccer Team clinched their first ever state championship at Middletown High School against the Ballston Spa Scotties on Sunday.  

Ever since last season’s crushing defeat against Commack in the county finals, the Wildcats were determined to return this year and finish what they started. With their motto “Unfinished Business” printed on the backs of their practice jerseys, the team cruised through the regular season with an impressive 12-1-1 record. The Wildcats made it back to the county finals, and the team’s determination and skill advanced them to the Long Island Championship after they defeated Brentwood in a dramatic 1-0 match.

The LI matchup was held at Farmingdale State College. Witman Hernandez, Sean Zagorski, and Fabrizio Chamorro all scored, helping the team defeat the Hicksville Comets 4-1 and move on to the State championships, a round the team had never reached in its entire history. In the semifinals, Whitman played against the Hilton Cadets. The game was close until the second half, and it seemed as if it would be a low-scoring match. However, Whitman’s electric offense sparked; Hernandez contributed three goals to help the team defeat Hilton 7-3 and move on to the championship.

Many dedicated Wildcat supporters packed the bleachers on Sunday as the team took the field to win a State title. Winning this title would be no easy feat, as the opposing team, the Ballston Spa Scotties, was undefeated coming into the match. Right from the beginning, Whitman’s offense controlled the ball well, putting continued pressure on Ballston Spa’s defense. The Wildcats jumped ahead with an early 2-0 lead within the first five minutes thanks to a converted penalty kick by Michael Lorello and another goal scored by Hernandez. Following a handball in the box, Lorello once again scored on a PK, increasing the score to 3-0. Whitman was secure on the other side of the ball as well, barely allowing the Scotties to enter their side of the field. Keeper Austin Salas made some important saves to prevent Ballston Spa from getting back into the match, which was far from over.

The second half opened with another goal from the Wildcats, this time being provided by Blake Aronson. After Ballston Spa scored their first goal, Hernandez answered right back by spinning past three defenders and sending the ball into the back of the net for yet another goal. The score would remain 5-1 for the remainder of the game, and when the clock wound down to zeroes, our Wildcats were champions of New York State for the first time ever. The players all piled on top of each other in the middle of the field and celebrated as the fans cheered and rejoiced.

When asked about what it meant to make history for his school, Lorello replied, “It feels amazing, mostly because this group of guys [is] the only people I would want to experience this with.” Witman Hernandez, who became Whitman’s all-time leading goal scorer this season, discussed how winning States had been a team goal from the very beginning. He explained that the team’s hard work and dedication had finally paid off.

The team made sure to thank the fans who had supported them throughout their journey as well. Anthony Palazzolo showed his appreciation, explaining that it was “a great feeling” being able to “see the excitement” he had brought to his community and that they wouldn’t have been able to do win without the continuous support from the “fans and coaches.”

The Wildcats came together as a family this season, and this relationship was evident as each player supported one another on their way to the championship. Marc DePasquale exclaimed that “no other experience can compare to the memories” that were made on the team while Zagorski described the group as a bunch of brothers and a “whole big family.”

The team certainly gave our school something to cheer for, becoming the first Whitman sports team to win a state championship since 1992. The entire school united as one big family in support of a team that played their hearts out, took home a championship, and finished the business they set out to complete.