Oliver Dmochowski

The day that Oliver Dmochowski (9-1) stepped foot onto the field for his first ever varsity soccer meeting, he didn’t really know what to expect. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and he was more than ready to kick up some grass.

But before he could get down to business, he was taken aside by Mr. Gallagher, junior varsity soccer coach and French teacher.

“Oliver…” the coach told him, a silly smile spreading across his face. “I hope you’re a lot more focused on the soccer field than you are in a French classroom!”

Luckily, Dmochowski was one of the strongest players on the team, and one of the most beloved. Yet, he only managed to play five games as left center back before a preexisting injury that became tragic. By working through the pain, Dmochowski worsened the already severe stress fractures in his back, so much so that his doctor said the trauma was like “that of a major car accident.” Still, he remained a key player. What was it about this freshman that distinguished him from all the others? Why was he so crucial to the varsity operation?

When asked about his successes, Oliver accepted all the praise with grace and humility. “It’s a team sport,” he replied. “The seniors are really the incredible ones. They perfect plays down to every last detail, and all in all, have such a positive effect on the team.”

Dmochowski’s role was just as important off the field as it was when he was playing a match.