Even before stepping on the field at the Idaho High School State 3A Soccer Championships Oct. 18-20 in Buhl, The Community School boys' soccer team was a winning bunch.
How you ask?
The players got along, reveled in each other's triumphs and supported each other when things didn't go well. The Cutthroats had two "stars" but no one person was more important than the team. When they lost their starting goalie to injury on the eve of the state tournament, there wasn't one hint of dismay among the ranks.
Solidarity? Certainly. Success? Without a doubt.
Senior co-captain Connor Brown said, "This team and this year have been really fun. It's the best team I've been on. We have bonded really well. I think the seniors did a good job of leading by example, of stepping up and staying positive."
Last weekend's eight-team State 3A tournament in Buhl marked the second straight state consolation title for the Cutthroats (17-1-1). And the 3A teams keep getting stronger.
Coach Richard Whitelaw's Cutthroats defeated Bonners Ferry 3-2 to place fourth in 2006 at Boise. This year, Bonners Ferry (18-3-1) scored 12 goals at Buhl and won its first state title 3-2 over Payette (12-7-1).
It was the first-ever state championship for a northern Idaho team at the 3A level.
"We would have had our hands full with Bonners Ferry and Payette (runner-up) this year," Whitelaw said. "It was quite a good group of boys."
On Saturday, The Community School captured this year's consolation crown 4-1 over Sugar-Salem of Sugar City. The Sun Valley boys dominated most of Saturday's game with inspired 50-50 play and heads-up passing. Their only stumble at state was a 4-1 loss to Orofino Thursday in the state opener.
"As a team we played really well. Our passing game was really good and we finished for the most part," Brown said.
In his final game Cutthroat senior striker Travis Stone (Man of the Match) recorded his fifth hat trick of the season and 12th of his 69-start career to finish with 93 goals, one shy of the Sun Valley school record of 94 set by Josh Stanek in 2002.
"Everyone was concerned about the record but Travis," Whitelaw said, alluding to the character and team mentality of his four-year scoring star.
Tanner Flanigan tallied his second goal of the tournament against Sugar-Salem. In 19 games this season, sophomore striker Flanigan was held scoreless only three times. His 24 goals gave Flanigan 37 in just two Sun Valley seasons.
Saturday's victory in a trophy game came on the heels of a 2-1 triumph over 2006 State 3A champion Teton, in a game marked by a bizarre fight in the parking lot, which four Teton players ran off the field to join, including the starting goalie.
Redskins' coach Francisco Herrera was disappointed with his team's conduct.
"Things like that shouldn't happen," he said, noting that he told his goalie to leave Buhl and not to return to the team.
"I have never seen a situation like that," Whitelaw said. "I think the referee should probably not allowed them back in the game after their violent conduct."
The Cutthroats were able to shake off the spectacle, however, building on Bergen Palmer's first-half score. Man of the Match Alex Conn converted a free kick in the 68th minute, marking the 1,000th team goal in 16 Cutthroat campaigns for Whitelaw (193-71-20 including 21-13 in state action).
"The boys had all signed a match ball, but they did not know what it was for and I didn't tell them. They all had a crack at it, but Alex got it," Whitelaw said.
Having entered the three-day state meet at Buhl with a top-ranked 15-0-1 record, the Cutthroats' lone loss of the season came in the opening game against Orofino (9-7) Thursday.
Flanigan, named Man of the Match by Whitelaw, opened the scoring, but northern Idaho runner-up Orofino buried three goals in six minutes in a 4-1 victory. Orofino came back to earth with 3-0 and 3-2 losses to Payette and American Falls.
"They (Orofino) said it was the best game they have played all year," Whitelaw said. "In the most important game, they came to play, and on that day, they were the better side."
"In hindsight our record is pretty bloody good," Whitelaw said. "It was a great season with a good group of guys."
Graduating seniors included Max Harris, Rafael Pena, Jeff Gaecke, Mac Whittington, Wiley Chubb, Brown and Stone.
Fall Sports Banquet night is Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.
Final statistics:
Record: 17-1-1; 84 goals for, 22 against. Individual scoring: Travis Stone 34, Tanner Flanigan 24, Connor Brown 9, Bergen Palmer 3, Alex Conn 3, Mac Whittington 3, Lucas Vorsteveld 2, Eddy Albarran 2, Wyatt Bunce 1, Rafael Pena 1, Peter Atkinson 1, Max Harris 1.
Posing as the new 2007 State 3A boys? soccer consolation kings is The Community School team. Kneeling, from left, assistant coach Jason Lynch, goalie Eugene Zak, Wyatt Bunce, Tyler Davis, goalie Riley Berman, Peter Atkinson, Connor Brown, Tanner Flanigan and Jackson Bates. Back, from left, Rafael Pena, Jeff Gaecke, Travis Stone, Wiley Chubb, Lucas Vorsteveld, Mac Whittington, Max Harris, Bergen Palmer, Alex Conn, Eddy Albarran and head coach Richard Whitelaw. Express photos by Jody Zarkos
