Team of the Week: Shawnee Mission West boys soccer

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Unfinished business tops the agenda for one Johnson County soccer powerhouse.

Shawnee Mission West’s boys soccer program came close to a state title a year ago, and now, the Vikings say they want what’s theirs. West refers to itself as being a family. The team’s practice uniforms include the slogan “Un Equipo Una Familia,” which translates to “One Team One Family.”

The Vikings (3-0-1) hot start to the season comes on the heels of last season’s run to a Kansas Class 6A state runner-up. West won 15 matches last year, setting the stage for what might be this school’s fifth-consecutive trip to the boys’ state soccer tournament.

“Everyone on my team lives and dies soccer,” Trevor Rosewicz, Shawnee Mission West’s fourth-year head coach, said.

Rosewicz wants his team to tackle every test. He built this club’s attack from the net forward, an approach that led them to a weekend win in Blue Valley West’s prestigious Fat Cat Soccer Tournament. West seeks the school’s first boys state soccer championship since 1991.

“We’ve established a culture here, which is awesome. I really believe that culture leads to wins. That’s something we’re looking to build on this upcoming season,” Rosewicz  said.

“We’re going to make it back to the state final. We want to win the championship this year for our school,” Sergio Hernandez, the team’s leading goal scorer, said.

“We try not to peak too early in the season,” Luke DeAngelis, Vikings goalkeeper, said. “Last season, we played some of our best soccer in the postseason. That helped us carry the momentum into the final.”

This futbol family includes some talent. Four Kansas all-state players are back in uniform, as well as nine of the Vikings 11 starters. This program has won 41 matches over the past three seasons, but the win it really wants comes in the form of a state title.

The Vikings visit Gardner-Edgerton this Friday night.

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