As the seconds on the scoreboard counted down and the last shots were taken, the Braves became the District Champions for the Division 1 bracket. It had been two decades since the boys soccer program had won a district title. They ended with a 5-1 score against the Berlin Bears who they had tied in their regular season. The players who scored the goals of the game were Luke Hanlon ‘24 with two, Lucas Brinkman ‘26 with two and Ty Monroe ‘25. 

“This is a goal that we set at the beginning of the season. And we are excited to achieve this goal. However, we are not done yet. And we certainly believe that we can achieve more. Earned not given,” Coach Kyle Hamrick said. 

The win for the Braves meant even though it had been multiple years since their last district championship, the team was ready to prove their skills from this year. The game was also a way for past players and alumni to see the improvements the team made as a whole since the last time they played on the team. Along with, the tournament season was a chance for other players to have the opportunity to have more experience and more chances to play the game. 

“I feel very excited and glad to know we have beat our rivals in such an important game. I am so glad I get to be a part of this journey as we head into the next round of playoffs,” player Ty Monroe ‘25 said. 

The last game set the tone for the rest of the tournament season and showed other teams the Braves will not lose without a fight. The next step for the Braves is the Regional Semifinal against Saint Charles at Westerville Central. Go support the boys soccer team tonight at 7pm!