When the players on the Salem Community High School boys’ soccer team talk about the game, they don’t rush to stats or standings. They start with something deeper—shared history, unshakable bonds, and a common love for the sport that turned a handful of boys into brothers.

“This is more than a team,” said Eli Baker. “We’ve grown up together, and now we’re building something that really matters—to us, to the school, to the town.”

Most of the current squad has been playing since childhood, their friendships forged on local fields and deepened through years of shared practices, wins, and heartbreaks. Players like Robbie Schober and Caleb Purinton now play under the guidance of their own fathers, who stepped in to coach when the program needed support. And before them, Eli’s dad helped set the tone for what would become a deeply connected, family-driven team culture.

That culture is what drew in players like Carter Lowe, who joined soccer this year after leaving football behind. “At first, there was some pushback,” he admitted. “But once I got out there, I realized how much I loved it. There’s no waiting around. You’re always moving, always in the game.”

Kyler Sapp started playing just a year earlier, balancing soccer with golf, sometimes rushing from one to the other. “There weren’t a lot of guys playing back then,” he said. “I was influenced by these guys, and I’m glad I joined.”

Their collective commitment has helped shape real progress on the field. This year, the Wildcats placed second in conference, falling only to perennial powerhouse Columbia. It’s a meaningful milestone for a program that once struggled to find its footing. New practice fields, increased community support, and higher expectations have lifted the team to a new level.

“It feels like everything’s growing,” said Caleb. “More fans, more resources, and more momentum. You can see it happening.”

What makes the progress even more impressive is that all these players are juniors—next season will be their chance to lead as seniors, to chase a conference title, and maybe go even farther.

Off the field, the team is just as focused. Eli plans to study chemistry and pursue dentistry at SIUE or elsewhere, with hopes of continuing to play soccer through college. Caleb is still exploring his major but wants to compete at the collegiate level in either soccer or cross country. Kyler and Holden Richardson both plan to go into nursing, with Kyler leaning toward pediatrics and an eye on travel nursing. Carter, thanks to an idea from his math teacher, plans to major in actuarial science, drawn to the precision and promise of the numbers. Austin Woolridge is looking toward cybersecurity or computer programming, still shaping his path but confident it will be tech-forward.

What unites them all is a deep sense of place—and gratitude.

“Salem is tight-knit,” Kyler said. “Our parents grew up together. We grew up together. It’s a bond that carries forward.”

When asked who they’d thank for shaping them, the answers came quickly: parents, teachers, coaches, and each other. “We help each other through everything,” said Holden. “School, soccer, life. That’s just who we are.”

And when the day comes that they return for their 10-year reunion, they already know what they’ll talk about. “The friendships, the games, the winning,” said Eli, smiling. “This is going to stay with us.”

For now, they’re focused on the season ahead—one last chance to wear the Wildcat jersey together. If the past is any indication, they’ll take the field with something more than skill.

They’ll take the field with trust.