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How It All Began - Highlands Soccer
How It All Began - Highlands Soccer
Donor: Coach Don McEntire
Authors: Ethan Adhikary and Luke Deegan, class of 2027
Story Contributors: Mark McEntire & Todd Whitney Class of 1989, and Coach Don McEntire
On October 27, 1988, countless Highlands supporters awaited Coaches Don McEntire, Gary Simon, and Cliff Robinson along with their beloved Highlands soccer players to take the soccer field to contend with the Dixie Heights Colonels in the regional finals at Lloyd High School. Both teams were built tough, but only one team could be crowned victorious.
Tensions were high as the seniors, who had been on the team since their freshman year, wanted to win this big game before graduating.
Two-a-days in the summer and dehydration from the hot temperatures, sprints in practice, scrimmages, and a determination all season-long led the Birds to this big game. Let's back up to some big moments that really made this soccer team, a team.
Whitney (center back for HHS during the ‘88-’89 soccer season) revealed, “The HHS soccer program originally started 3 years prior to becoming regional champions, which shows that anything is possible if you believe in and trust your teammates.”
Alumnus Mark McEntire, MVP and Offensive Player of the year, stated, “More than half of the players had little to no soccer experience before joining the team, which makes the regional final win more remarkable.”
Coach Don McEntire (father of Mark) coached during the ‘88-’89 season when they signed the soccer ball featured in Highlands Stories. He and his players worked harder than any other team due to the young age of the program.
“Our Highlands players were more devoted than any team in the region, which is why we won the regional final,” Don recalled.
1989 Alumnus Pat Brinker, starting goalkeeper, played a big role in winning the region by saving shots no one else could.
“Pat Brinker was a great teammate on and off the field. All the insight started with Pat and flowed through to everyone else,” explained Whitney.
The team didn’t even have enough coaches who knew how to play soccer. So they made groups with about one player who knew how to play soccer (and a couple who didn't) for drills. That gave the coaches some time to rotate through the groups and help teach the players.
However, Highlands had something the other teams did not have. Mark pointed out, “We played for each other, we loved each other, and we wanted it more than anyone else.”
Though many players had little experience, Mark and Pat Brinker were very skilled and even traveled around the world playing soccer the summer between their junior and senior year.
“Pat and I traveled to France, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark to play for the US Youth National Team as Highlands students, in 1988,” Mark revealed. This experience helped them gain a deeper appreciation for how soccer is played world-wide. It also helped them become more accepting of referees’ calls (since they were not easily able to dispute due to the language differences). These experiences created new insights for the entire team through Mark and Pat.
Because Highlands soccer field was rocky and muddy, the Highlands players were accustomed to difficult playing conditions. This may have helped HHS overturn their competition.
“Our field was frowned upon because of how rocky and slippery it was, which ironically trained Highlands better than anyone,” Todd grinned.
You see, when the soccer program first began, the city allowed the team to use the space currently designated as the Highlands soccer and track facility. However, the field was created using whatever materials were made available. Landfill was dumped offering dirt that was riddled with rock. Grass seed was sown and watered, but it the rocks always made their way to the surface. It was so dangerous for the goalkeepers, that the team cut sod from another field and transported it in their vehicles to make a safer area for the dives and saves required of the goalies. Despite all the team’s efforts, the referees knew the Highlands field was rocky and treacherous. At the start of each game, the referees, required players from each team to line up on each end of the field, and scour the field for surfaced rocks. Eventually, a few years later, Dr. Mark Farley (concerned citizen and father) spearheaded a fund-raising campaign to purchase a turf soccer field for Highlands. This new turf field was an unbelievable transformation that helped to establish a great soccer program at HHS. Eventually, we were able to purchase lights (so we could host night games) with the players even helping to install the poles.
Even though the Bluebirds became good players, they still faced some hardship during their time playing soccer for Highlands. But the signed soccer ball (our featured artifact) is a reminder that our Highlands team was well-established and grew into a soccer powerhouse.
Mark asserted, “Even though we were regional champs, I was never satisfied with how I was playing, so I worked harder to achieve my goal.”
The regional final game was very close, but Highlands came out on top. Because HHS didn’t want to forget the moment, they all signed the game's soccer ball and Don has kept it ever since.
Some people see this ball as just another soccer ball, but this soccer ball provides a glimpse into some of the players' happiest, most dedicated moments in their teenage lives.
“These players knew everything was on the line for them, so they put their hearts and souls into this game. Overall, I’m very proud of these players and what we’ve achieved. Highlands couldn’t have had such success without the amazing coaching staff and our outstanding players,” Don professed. This team was the grass roots team who started it all for Highlands soccer.
Behind-the-Scenes Beginnings of Highlands Soccer
Coach Don McEntire had played college soccer for three years. When his two young sons began advancing in their abilities, they joined the newly formed NKSL (Northern Kentucky Soccer League). As they got older, they realized there would be no opportunity for them to play in high school, since there were very few high school programs in northern Kentucky, and none in Campbell County.
Don McEntire met with HHS principal, George Frakes, and athletic director, Roger Walz, asking what it would take to begin a soccer program at Highlands. After a period of time and many discussions, it was determined that a soccer program would be authorized if the beginning program included girls as well as boys. Thus, a notice was publicized that girls and boys were eligible to try-out for the NEW HHS soccer team. The first year (1985) the team was formed and fielded with 3 girls and 22 boys! Two years later, there was such a demand, the girls developed their own team. Both teams have been quite successful since, with several players earning college soccer scholarships. Our soccer program has become an established program we are proud of, thanks to the hard work and dedication of this original team who believed in each other and in the game of soccer!
Highlands First Soccer Team, 1985
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