By Alexander Rigali
Luke Borajkiewicz, captain of the boys soccer team, is focused on building a strong foundation for the future. While he sees the current season as a building season, he believes the program has a lot of promise thanks to new talent.
“We have a lot of new talent coming in,” said Borajkiewicz, “and I think the program will be really good in the next few years, and we just need to use it here as a building season.”
Borajkiewicz’s plan for success is straightforward, it is to be consistent and hard work.
“I believe the team needs to work hard to overcome their challenges and simply keep trying as best as we can,” he explained.
Borajkiewicz describes his leadership style as a “calmer leadership.” He prefers not to yell unless absolutely necessary, which he feels creates a better environment for his teammates. “I believe my calm approach helps others feel more comfortable making mistakes around me, because I don’t really get mad at them. I just take it slow and help them through it,” said Borajkiewicz. When a conflict does arise between teammates, his solution is to physically separate them to give them a break from each other.
When it comes to boosting morale after a loss, Borajkiewicz uses humor. He likes to make jokes to get everyone in a better spirit, emphasizing that the most important thing is to get ready and focused for the next game. He ensures new members are included by talking to them, learning their interests, and just “get to know them a little bit.” He enjoys the role of captain because he gets to give younger players a better experience and help them feel more comfortable playing the sport.
A significant challenge the team has faced is the constant turnover of head coaches, having gone through three in three years. Borajkiewicz explains that the way to overcome this instability is by adapting quickly.
“I think the way to overcome it is just by trying your best to adapt to the new coaching style as fast as you can and just make the best of it.”
