Experienced Scarsdale Varsity A Soccer Team Set After Highly-Anticipated Tryouts

“Normal.” After spending many months bound by the restrictions and concerns imposed by COVID-19, everyone has redefined the term for themselves. The meaning of “normal” is now different on an individual-by-individual basis. And, for some, a sense of ease and normalcy is gained through playing the sport they love - a mechanism for passion, escapism, and realization of dreams.

After a modified 2020 season - one which was not guaranteed to take place at all - the returning Varsity A soccer players made sure to start preparations for the 2021 campaign as soon as possible. Led by captains Kian Batliwalla, Rowan Haffner, and Luke Peltz, players aspiring to play for any of the four Scarsdale High School soccer teams were welcome at “captains’ practices.” The aim was simple: play as much soccer as possible. The more touches everyone has on the ball ahead of when it will matter the most, the better. Apart from these Scarsdale school-related practices, many players also plied their trade for highly-respected club teams from around the region.

At the end of a summer break, as the world continued to inch towards normalcy, the hot August sun beat down on Butler Field. A few dozen players from all four grades prepared to impress the coaches. As always seems to be the case - which may be a testament to the larger influence the sport is having across the nation - talent arrived in increasing abundance.

The way tryouts are carried out ahead of the creation of the Varsity A team is straightforward: the players play in matches from the first minute to the last, with fitness-testing components sprinkled throughout the process. After all, there is no better way to evaluate players than by seeing what they contribute within a team. The pitch is cut in half so all candidates have a chance to impress for every possible second. Except, of course, during the necessary water breaks.

Inclement weather stole a couple of sessions from the initial tryout process, though the sessions that were not affected were enough for head coach Marcos Monteagudo and assistant coaches Andrew Nagel and Carlos Vazquez to make a thoughtful and well-informed decision on the composition of the final squad. The coaches were doubtless forced to make some tough choices, as there was a large contingent of very talented players who are just on the cusp of the Varsity A program.

The Varsity A roster is as follows:

Kian Batliwalla, Rowan Haffner, Luke Peltz, Matthew Choe, Carson Cohen, Trevor Cohn, Oliver De La Fuente-Akersveen, Javin Edlitz, Carlos Farha, Lorenzo Galeano, Nico Galeano, Eli Gelblum, Adam Katcher, Leo Khang, Adrian Lim, Dylan Manin, Jeremy Mann, Henry Mcallister, Zach Ruback, Teo Sheth, Sam Siegel, Rafael Tassari, Peter Troiano, Sebastian Verrelli, David Wang, and Ben Yacoub.

Players on the Junior Varsity A team are eligible to be called up to the Varsity A team during the course of the season. There are a considerable number of Junior Varsity A players already attending Varsity A training so they are primed and ready to play a big role for the top team in 2022.

Regardless of the team on which the students are placed, they have the opportunity to further a return to their own definition of normalcy. If anything, after the frantic nature of last season where quarantine orders and restrictions impacted many players’ seasons, the passion and energy to be seen during the fall 2021 season will surpass that of even the “old normal.”

With 15 seniors on the Varsity A roster, this could be the last hurrah for many in their respective soccer careers. So, it is important as ever to back the team to help them meet their high expectations for the season. The competition will be tricky and talented as always, but there is no limit to how far this Raiders team can go.