The Trojans soccer season came to a close at the State playoffs in Peoria. They brought home the 4th place trophy. Fourth in State! It is a remarkable achievement—they are part of the Final 4! Head Coach Joel Zielke and Assistant Coaches Mika de Vin and Ryan DeKoekkoek set the tone for a State run in mid-August when the boys started practice. But perhaps more importantly, they encouraged a brotherhood among the players that prays for each other and builds each other up.

Starting with the senior captain, Ethan Lemkuil, the upperclassmen are trained to mentor the underclassmen. Throughout the season they not only spend hours on the field together, but they pray together, do devotions together, and eat meals together. As a parent, it is a joy to watch each player, particularly the upperclassmen, step into leadership roles — both on and off the field.

From the stands, I’ve watched the team huddle together on the field and pray before and after each game — no matter the outcome. Prayer is an automatic response for these boys — because it’s been taught and modeled to them.

So it was no surprise when we gathered together in the hotel lobby in Peoria that weekend to send the boys off to their first game in the State playoffs, that we paused to pray. Prayer, after all, is part of the very fabric of the team.

The Trojans went on to lose their first game in the State series to rival Wheaton Academy (who eventually won the State Title and whom, it’s worth mentioning, we had beaten earlier in the season). The conditions of the first game were absolutely dismal— soaking, bone chilling, sideways rain that simply wouldn’t let up.

And yet our stands were full! Parents — some parents of players, others who simply love the team — grandparents, plus the Red Zone, not only drove two hours to the game, but sat for 80 long minutes in the dark and gloomy weather, encouraging and cheering on our boys until the very end.

But that is the Timothy community. They simply show up for our students no matter the circumstances.

Soccer is so much more than just a game at Timothy. It’s leadership training, a brotherhood, a family for the fans and parents, and just another way to teach young men how to do everything for the glory of God!

The next day, our boys battled for third in State. Any soccer fan will tell you that sometimes the game just doesn’t go your way. The Trojans lost in penalty kicks to Bloomington Central Catholic.

When the Trojans accepted their 4th place medals, it was indeed a bittersweet moment —especially for our seniors. Undefeated Conference Champs, Regional Champs, Sectional Champs, Super Sectional Champs. A stretch of 17 games unbeaten and finishing 18-4-3 on the season. They had come so far — given it their all — and led their team to the state tournament! State!

It was the last day they would wear their Timothy Christian soccer uniform. Their last day with their teammates. But they leave behind a legacy of being part of the Final 4. I couldn’t help but wonder how the team would ever be the same without the seniors. But those seniors, just like those before them and those before them, have encouraged and built up the juniors who will step into the great, big voids that are left behind — and become the leaders.

Soccer is so much more than just a game at Timothy. It’s leadership training, a brotherhood, a family for the fans and parents, and just another way to teach young men how to do everything for the glory of God!

I hope that the players don’t just remember that they placed 4th in the state. I pray that they remember standing in that hotel lobby, surrounded by parents, coaches, fans, and teammates turned brothers, and unabashedly praying in public. Those moments are what it takes to develop boys into men of integrity. Yes, we wanted to win. Yes, we wanted to bring home a trophy. But there is no eternal value in hardware. Standing in a circle and teaching our boys to collectively lean into their faith, that was the true prize.