’Cats battle Broncs in opener

The Wildcats are back with the Custer Jr./Sr. High School soccer team kicking off the season Tuesday, Aug. 18, in a matchup against the Belle Fourche Broncs. 
This year the team is led by head coach Amanda Hewett, who started playing soccer at 4 and is still in love with the sport. 
Hewett got into coaching when her boys, Aaron and Austin, started playing, and she coached U8, U10 and U14 at the Custer YMCA. She also coached the Black Hills Rapids Soccer Club and led a number one team in South Dakota.  
“I love it too much. I’m so passionate about it. I think it’s the best sport ever,” said Hewett. 
Hewett has been watching soccer in the Custer School District since her son, Austin, made the varsity team in seventh grade. When she heard the previous coach was moving on, she applied for the position. 
Joining Hewett in coaching is Custer’s very own Bohdan Pesicka. Hewett coached Pesicka when he was 11, and he was the only student to request an interview before she could become his coach. 
“I love my assistant. He is so awesome,” said Hewett. “I’ve watched that kid grow. Man, he knows soccer.” 
This year’s team lineup includes several returning athletes and a few new faces. The team’s seniors are Brett Zapp (GK/MF), Kadence Spaans (F), Koleden Niemann, (F/MF) Brandon Suelflow (D) and Kiran Pesicka (MF). Aaron Hewett (D) and Sylar Dinius (D/F) are the team’s juniors, and Ethan Frank (D/GK), Uriah Kamins and Weston Rozema (F/D) are the team’s sophomores. 
Freshmen include Jacob Polley (MF/F), Austin Hewett (MF), Dillon Pullins (MF) and Kaden Austin (D/MF). Finally, Dustin Nelson (F/MF) is an eighth grader, and Cameron Pullins (D) is a seventh grader on the team. 
“I am so impressed. I’ve been pushing them to win their individual battles passing and just playing the sport for what the sport is, giving them the skills that they need to personally succeed in playing,” said Hewett. 
When it comes to goal scoring, Hewett said, “I coach on if they have the shot, to take the shot. Just because they are in defense, or midfield or they are forward, all of them will take that shot, and they will score.”
Hewett said the team’s strength is they are digging deep and learning to play as one. As for weaknesses, Hewett said they need to work on conditioning and fine-tuning runs, overlaps and give-goes. 
Some of Hewett’s goals for the team are to win individual battles, know the game, have confidence in themselves and trust each other. When those things are in place, Hewett said winning follows. 
“I believe in these kiddos. I do. They’re a great bunch,” said Hewett. 
The Wildcats’ first game was Aug. 18 at the Custer soccer field against the Belle Fourche Broncs. 
“I was impressed with them,” said Hewett. “We had awesome on target shots, we had passing runs, through balls and I can keep going. Defense stepped up, winning their individual battles, and Bret did an amazing job in goal.” 
Hewett said the first half of the game was amazing and every player performed as they had practiced. The Wildcats held off the Broncs until, with six minutes left on the clock, the Broncs scored. 
The Wildcats dug deep, bringing as much energy as they could muster back to the field for the second half. The Broncs managed two more goals with the second one landing two minutes into the second half. 
“The only thing in that second half is they got tired,” said Hewett. “A great thing is my center mids and my defense, they know when they get tired that they can switch and get a rest. That was proven in their first game” as players swapped roles on the field. 
The game ended 3-0 in the Broncs’ favor. The Wildcats faced the St. Thomas More-Rapid City Christian Cavaliers Tuesday, Aug. 25. Results were not available at time of publication. 
“I believe in the team so much. They just have to dig deep, and they’ll get it. I know they will,” said Hewett.