The Enloe men’s JV soccer team is proving that next year’s varsity team is in good hands (AKA feet). With energy, talent, and a style of play that sets them apart, the Eagles are sharpening their skills and pushing each other to get better every game. Under Coach Dextré’s leadership, they aren’t just focused on winning games; they’re learning to play the “Enloe way” and growing on and off the soccer field.
Coach Dextré is our very own Food and Nutrition teacher here at Enloe, but after the final bell of the day, he steps onto the pitch to guide our men’s JV soccer team. For Dextré, his guidance reaches far beyond the scoreboard: “The biggest thing is to get the kids to understand is ‘what is the right decision?’ If you hit the ball wrong, that’s not the failure. The failure is if you didn’t make the pass.”
Dextré has been coaching for years; his style is focused on teaching the players to balance and learn. Watching that growth, he says, is the most rewarding part of his job. He shared, “We were just talking about one player — the difference from last year to this year, the confidence, the aggression. [His improvement] impacts the whole team.”
While many other high schools play direct long-ball soccer — when players kick the ball straight across the field instead of doing shorter kicks and more running — Enloe focuses on possession and teamwork. “We play like Barcelona,” Coach Dextré stated. “Tic-tac-toe, working it up the field.” This also contributes to how playing on the JV team prepares the athletes for varsity. “When they’re seniors, they’ve got it down, they understand how we play,” Coach Dextré explained. He emphasized how the style of play here at Enloe is different from most other teams the students have played with: “The kids have to know how we play at Enloe, and that this is how they’re going to play for the next three to four years.”
After speaking with a few of the team’s players, it was clear that the chemistry off the field is just as important as what happens on it.
When asked what makes the team strong as a unit, Chinedum Maduka (#16), the left back for the JV team, answered, “[The] bond. I mean, we talk all the time in and out of school.” Shedding light on how the team stays so well connected, Maduka said, “We text each other, eat lunch together, hang out after school.” That bond has helped the team grow tighter and play successfully on the field.
Hugo Escobedo (#10), the center midfielder for JV, said the team’s flow on the field is all about trust: “Chemistry — we’ve been playing, practicing, winning, and losing together.”
Both players said JV prepares them for varsity. They were asked how they balance playing soccer with their other activities, especially with the assumption that varsity will only add to the time commitment. Maduka responded, “If you’ve been playing your whole life, it’s not as difficult as it seems.” Escobedo added, “JV helps us learn how we play and how it’ll be for the rest of high school.”
Varsity also plays a special role in showcasing to JV how a higher level of soccer works. Maduka stated, “Sometimes we play with varsity and train with them. We also watch how those guys play during their games. They show us what to do.” When varsity and JV train together, JV has the opportunity to see how to operate on the field and exactly how they are supposed to execute certain plays.
Even after tough losses, the Eagles find ways to bounce back quickly. Escobedo shared, “You just have to come to each game with a fresh attitude, like you can’t hold onto that stuff from last game, you have to just get on the field, ready. Plus, your teammates will all help you with that because we share that loss, ‘cause we all lost together.” Coach Dextre also explained that the team watches footage of their games afterward to identify their strengths and areas for growth. This helps the team focus on how to improve themselves and look at what they did well so they can continue to build on that.
The Enloe Eagles are finding their rhythm and proving they can compete with anyone. Not too long ago, on Sept. 10, JV played South Garner and won 4-1 with ease. The team moved quickly and worked collaboratively; consequently, their extensive effort was evident on the scoreboard. On Oct. 2, they beat the Corinth Holders 1-0 in a long, difficult game where they came out victorious.
Coach Dextré set clear goals for the season: to win games and prepare players for varsity. He takes his coaching extremely seriously, even going as far as to say that it’s more important to him than cooking (Yet he’s the F&N teacher)! The coach gave the following words of advice to anyone trying out: “Be in shape. Every day, juggle the ball 100 times. Kick it 1,000 times.”
With the players making real friendships, handling setbacks, and preparing for the jump to varsity, the JV soccer team is proving that they’re more than just a stepping stone to the next level. They’ve already developed the fellowship, resilience, and skills that make Enloe soccer stand out, and are continually improving with every practice and game. For the Enloe men’s JV soccer team, every game is another step forward — and they’re making those steps count.
