(above, l-r) Exhausted Revolution players pose with their trophy. Back row: Coach Mike McGrail, Dylan Howland, Jackson Stock, Kyle Henderson, Logan Gibbs, Alex Rickard, Alexander McGrail (with Kyle Pinkin on his shoulders), Jimmy Hessemer, Sebastian Blasi, Charlie Stock, Colin Shober, Coach Tom Howland. Front row: Brian Kaplan, Jason Orenberg, Johnny Hessemer, Sebastian Woolard, and Michael Gallego-Carvajal.
Westfield Revolution Celebrates the End of Nine Years Together
Submitted by Sarah McGrail
It was the end of an era for the Westfield Revolution as a last-minute goal secured the championship that marked the end of their nine years together.
The Intercounty soccer team, many in their senior year of high school, scored a goal in the dying seconds of the game to take the final against Plainfield into extra time. Despite playing with just nine players to Plainfield’s 11, Revolution battled through pain and exhaustion to score the winning goal to win the game 2-1 with just one minute of extra time remaining.
Delighted coaches Mike McGrail and Tom Howland, who have been with the team from the beginning, celebrated with the parents who have become friends.
“If anyone ever doubted the Revolution spirit – they witnessed it in all its full glory tonight,” Coach Mike told the team and their families after the game. “So many of the boys were playing through injuries and cramps from exhaustion but they were not going to give up until the final whistle was blown.”
Adrian Rickard’s son, Alex, scored the equalizer to take the game into extra time. Mr. Rickard said: “For all these years, Mike and Tom have shown the boys how to combine soccer skills, teamwork and friendship with a strong determination to succeed. For those parents and sons that have been there from the start to finish of Revolution, we are genuinely grateful and will remain forever friends.”
