By Cora Aitkenhead and Dani Kotansky – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law boys soccer team finished the season with a 2-14-2 record. Advocate News Editors Cora Aitkenhead and Dani Kotansky interviewed Coach Gruber about the season. 

Cora Aitkenhead/Dani Kotansky: What was the biggest focus for this season? What goals did you went in with?

Mr. Gruber: The biggest focus that we wanted to accomplish as a soccer team was development. The SCC conference is a very tough conference to play in and we wanted to get as many of our student athletes as much time together on the field as possible.

CA/DK: How did you utilize your practices this season to see progress in your games?

MG: We wanted to create practice sessions that related to game-like situations and wanted each player to get better from beginning of the year to the end of the year.

CA/DK: How did your captains help underclassmen adjust, and overall improve and contribute to the team throughout the season?

MG: I think the captains did a great job midway through the year taking on more leadership roles both in practice and in games. They worked on personal and social relationships with all the players they gave insight before games and during games to coaches and players and off the field they have been model students athletes. 

CA/DK: What has been your biggest takeaway from coaching the boys this season, whether it is about on field or off field behavior?

MG: I think my biggest takeaway this year was how proud I was of the kids not quitting and battling in every single game, especially the second half of our schedule where we were in pretty much every game and got results. That showed me moving forward and towards next year I expect major jumps in development and results setting Law soccer up for success. 

CA/DK: What is something you’ve learned or improved this season that you hope to work on or apply to next season? 

MG: I think more team building activities during the season worked really well and want to make sure I apply them throughout the season next year to make us a stronger tight knit unit.