The story of HSE Boys Soccer cannot be told without taking note of the team’s culture. This culture is built on brotherhood, trust, and commitment, leading the team to success on the field.
When asked what values the team holds most high, Aiden Kornas answers with, “Family, commitment, hard work, and togetherness.” By highlighting family and togetherness, Kornas emphasizes the idea that the culture of the team is built on a sense of brotherhood. This is reinforced by the three words Michael Mueller used to describe the team: “All our brothers.”
The metaphor that compares teammates to brothers is especially worth noting, given the connotation that “brotherhood” holds. Brotherhood means a bond and relationship between people built on trust, loyalty, and shared experiences. Commonly in media, those belonging to a brotherhood are seen to always have each other’s back. For example, think of The Sandlot, Stand by Me, or The Goonies. In all these movies a group of male friends forms an unwavering bond built on loyalty and trust that can never be broken. This provides a visual of how the culture of HSE Soccer operates.
A key building block to forming a brotherhood is the sense of belonging. This is crafted through supporting each other. “We are always trying to push each other to be the best person we can,” Mueller says, “whether it’s helping each other in the classroom or with our playing on the field.” This desire to see each other succeed in all aspects of life further grows a supportive culture that fosters the sense of belonging to the HSE Soccer community.
Traditions and shared memories also contribute to the culture of the team. Both Kornas and Mueller credit the memories of their team’s summer retreat with inspiring the positive bond of the following seasons. “At Taylor Camp over the summer, we do skits on the last night,” Kornas says, “which are normally pretty funny and create good memories.”
Despite the team’s strong bond, they have faced challenges throughout the season. But it’s how they respond and pull themselves out of a rut that strengthens their team’s commitment. “We were not playing to the best of our ability,” Mueller says, “so we held a players-only meeting that really brought us together and helped us figure out what we needed to do to succeed.” Kornas also notes that the players’ reflections have led to growth in their success: “We still believe we could’ve done better,” Kornas says, “but the last few games we’ve seemed to be on a better path and we’re looking a lot better.”
The season teaches players important lessons that inspire the fundamentals of the team’s culture. “It takes a full commitment from everyone to be successful. All it takes is one person to bring the rest of the team down,” Kornas says, “so we all need to be together as one.”
Ultimately, building a team culture based on the values of support, commitment, and brotherhood is what fuels the HSE soccer team to succeed. As Mueller remarks, “Always trust your brother.”