By: Jake Piccola
Ryan Borud jukes one defender… makes a move to the right… AND IT’S IN! Another class goal for Ryan Borud and another win for Kinnelon Colts soccer. Winning has been nothing surprising to this team as they have started strong with a 7-1 start to the season. These boys are hardworking and ready to come strong for the rest of the season. With captains’ practices starting in early July, they have been ready to come out and dominate before many other teams started to work.
Along with the team’s great winning streak, another hot topic is their new coach. Coach Hughes was the boys’ soccer coach at Wayne Valley High School before he became the Kinnelon coach. Starting with a 7-1 team as a first-year coach to the town shows that the team is in good hands. Soccer player and back Matt Kispert says, “Coach Hughes continues to keep the winning streak going and extend it for as long as he can.”
This year for the boys’ team, two captains have to fit the role. Senior captain, Ryan Borud and junior captain, Jack Kimberlin. Ryan Borud is a 4-year varsity player who is in his second year of captaincy. Borud is an experienced captain as well as a player and is one of the voices of the team. When asked about his voice on the team, Ryan Borud says, “I feel like my voice has been a stronger force this year, and with the new coaching staff, they encourage me to use my voice to direct the plays and shift the energy in games.”
All Kinnelon teams have a strong rivalry against Pequannock, especially in soccer. In a 2-1 goal thriller, both were scored by Jai Kang who took 2 free kicks which found their way into the back of the net. Borud says, “I love to watch Jai take a freekick, always hoping for the chance that the ball gets in the net.”
Another big win for the boys’ soccer team was against Whippany Park. Last season the boys’ soccer team went 0-2 in their appearances against Whippany Park. This year the boys won in their revenge game. With goals spread out among the team with one goal coming from Jai, Borud, Kispert, and Dimitrakou. Freshman varsity player Leo Dimitrakiou has been playing phenomenally as well. With 1 goal and 5 assists, Dimitrakiou is shaping up to be the future of Kinnelon soccer, already showing off what skills he has as a freshman.
Junior captain, Jack Kimberlin will be the captain again for the team next year. Kimberlin is another great player who has had a phenomenal season starting with 2 goals and 6 assists. Kimberlin is excited to try and perform to the team’s best ability this year and hopefully make a county or state-run. Kimberlin says, “I think the team has the potential to make a phenomenal run in counties/states as we have worked hard to strive and achieve our goal.”
With a bright start to the season, the sky’s the limit for the Kinnelon Colts soccer team as they can put Kinnelon on the map in either counties or states. The boys are ready to work hard to compete for their goal and they will not let anything get in their way!
