by Michael Bunnell

Author of The Friendly Little War of Lyman Cutler available at Amazon.com

This year’s Friday Harbor High School soccer team took the field with last year’s league championship line-up mostly intact. Coach Andy Duke reports that graduation took away only three players from the team that went all the way to the state quarter-finals last year.

Coach Duke reported a very large turnout heading into the pre-season two-a-days, and he predicts another state run this year.

Most of the players went into pre-season practices in very good shape, according to Duke, who adds that further conditioning will be a key component of their practice routine as they adapt to playing on Linde Field. The Wolverines’ new home turf is not only the largest pitch in the league but, according to Duke, arguably the best in the league.

The new field was the site of the home opener against La Conner on Sept. 9. The Wolverines won in a landslide with 11-0.

Duke’s assistant coach at FHHS is Kevin Porter.

Head Coach Jose Churape and Assistant Coach Stan Wakeman of the Friday Harbor Football Club also contribute to the ongoing success of the FHHS soccer program by providing U-16 competition for freshmen who don’t make the varsity, which gives them an opportunity to play and hone their skills.