Athletes in youth sports are often told things like, “It’s not about winning, it’s about having fun!” Sure, but what if you haven’t won a single game all season? That’s something Eau Claire Writer in Residence Ken Szymanski dealt with as a soccer coach.
He shared a story, “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer,” at a live storytelling event hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. It was held on Nov. 14, 2024 in Eau Claire at The Lakely.
Musician Derick Black, left, and writer Ken Szymanski, right, of Eau Claire, on stage at The Lakely in Eau Claire on Nov. 14, 2024. They performed to a packed house for a storytelling event hosted by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. Rich Kremer/WPR
It’s August in Wisconsin, and my son’s parks and rec soccer season has nearly reached its less-than-inspiring conclusion. His team, the Broncos, sits at zero wins and 10 losses. I can’t blame the coach because I am the coach. And I’m busy trying to make sure they don’t give up altogether and wilt in the August heat.
Do you know how difficult it is to be in charge of morale when your team is 0-10? I can give the Broncos only so many variations on the “it doesn’t matter if we win or lose” speech because when they’re 11 years old and we lose every single time, it does matter. And even if I hide it well, it affects me as a coach, too. Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m doing this wrong.
But this isn’t about me. Sure, I don’t want my son to watch me coach his team to a winless season. But I also don’t want him to go through a winless summer. I don’t want any of these kids to only feel loss after loss after loss after loss and have that become our summer’s legacy. So, we’re all on this sinking ship together — with one last game that could serve as our collective life raft.
Coach Ken Szymanski’s roster board for his soccer team, a homemade contraption that he said, “Gets a lot of attention, and it fits the makeshift vibe of the team.” Photo courtesy of Ken Szymanski
While we lost our previous game 8-0, there are no standings in parks and rec soccer. So, each game is a fresh start. That’s how I sell it in the final pregame speech: “Let’s end this season on a high note!” I say, and the players good-naturedly take their positions on the field.
Less than a minute after that speech, the Cheetahs zig-zag the ball through our defense and score an easy goal. Here we go again.
“Keep fighting, Broncos!” I yell. “Keep hustling!” After some back-and-forth, we work the ball downfield. Charging toward the goal, Mashona passes to Ali, who kicks it past the goalie’s outstretched hands and into the net. Broncos score!
It’s been a while since we scored a goal. Like a defibrillator, it’s a jolt to the system, bringing our team to life. Four minutes later, Mashona is left alone with the ball near midfield, and she boots a high floater. It sails like a shooting star over their defense, over the goalie’s head, and into the net for another goal! Now we have something we haven’t experienced all season: a lead.
Writer Ken Szymanski, right, shares about the youth soccer team he coaches in his essay, “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer.” He shared the piece at a storytelling event hosted by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, which was co-hosted by author B.J. Hollars and “Wisconsin Life” host Maureen McCollum, left. Guitarist Derick Black played the event. Rich Kremer/WPR
I can feel the shift in our team’s mindset. This is where winless teams become dangerous. All the frustration from all those losses suddenly becomes fuel — a hidden reservoir of high-octane fuel unavailable to winners and champions. For the rest of the game, we are in overdrive.
By the fourth quarter, we’re up 5-4, and the defense is determined to hold that lead. This is bigger than soccer. We’re playing for pride — salvaged pride.
And, unlike the sports movie cliché, we don’t need a heroic game-winning goal to pull off the victory. All we have to do is not blow it.
With a one-goal lead, the ticking clock becomes our savior.
Five minutes left.
I can’t do this for them, but I can pace the sidelines. I can yell encouragement. I can contort my body with each shot.
Three minutes left. Our goalie, Kasmer, blocks a barrage of shots and does an army crawl through a flurry of kicking legs to secure the ball.
One minute left.
Don’t let them steal this from us. Just hold on.
Finally, the ref blows the whistle, and victory is ours — for the first and final time.
Our team runs off the field like World Cup champions. In celebration, one player yells: “We actually won!”
The word “actually” gives me pause, but I shake it off and join the celebration.
In parks and rec summer soccer, it’s not whether you win or lose.
Sometimes, it’s when you win or lose.
And on this late Thursday night in August, the Broncos will ride their season-finale, one-game winning streak straight into the setting sun.
Author B.J. Hollars, left, talks with writer Ken Szymanski after he read his essay “As the Sun Sets on Summer Soccer” while musician Derick Black is seated with a guitar. Szymanski shared his story on stage at The Lakely on Nov. 14, 2024. Hollars co-hosted the event put on by WPR’s “Wisconsin Life” and the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. Rich Kremer/WPR
After Szymanski shared his story live on stage at The Lakely, event cohost — and his friend — B.J. Hollars talked with him about the essay.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
B.J. Hollars: Well, Ken, as a former child soccer coach myself — retired, retired! — I do have to ask, what are you thinking? Do you have any essays where you win more? Or is it just all losing?
Ken Szymanski: I think losing is always more interesting.
And every year when your son’s playing parks and rec soccer, they send out the email begging parents to coach. And most parents don’t want to do it for a variety of reasons. But I’ve coached middle school for 20-some years, so it’s something I’m familiar with. I’m comfortable with the kids, so I don’t mind doing it. You get to know the kids. You get in the best seat in the house, really. So what’s not to like?
Some years are better than others.
BH: (Laughing) But there’s always next year! Thanks so much, Ken.
KS: Thank you!
To hear all the Chippewa Valley writers’ stories from the live storytelling event, check out the full collection at “Wisconsin Life” Live from the Chippewa Valley.
