The final Brooks School soccer season for Zach is upon us.  How fast the time has flown.  The talented, hopeful freshman is now one of the true team leaders.  Zach is a Senior!  OMG!  Encouraging (scolding) many of the newbies to put more effort into a run; to make a better pass; to track back and assist the defenders; to be more accurate with a shot....to put more passion into their game.

The beard has been carved to resemble the coach.  The Fisherman's chinstrap!  Not sure if this is a good thing. Not sure if Dusty appreciates it.  I think it is a sign of respect.  I hope it is.  The shy freshman who wouldn't say boo to anyone off the field is now either honoring or making fun of Coach.  Coach, who after 35 years of coaching at Brooks gets the respect of all by just walking into the room.  I sure hope it's honoring Coach!

The pre-season is done.  The scrimmages are done.  The last shirt awarded!  The ritual of awarding shirts is cool.  This year, I didn't get the excited call during the Maine camp.  For three years I've received the call; "Dad, I got my shirt!"  No call this year.  When he arrived home, I asked, "Zach, did you get a shirt this year?"  A very weird look came back at me.  "Got it on the fist day Dad.  Dusty threw it at me as soon as I got to camp!"  Like it was an automatic.  I should have know!  I guess I should have.  But I missed getting the call.

The first real game comes Wednesday against arch rival and 2011 Class A runner up, Phillips Academy Andover.  A team filled with friends.  A team Brooks has beaten twice and lost to once in Zach's tenure.  Zach scoring in the wins and not  scoring in the loss.  Each team holding serve on their home field.  This one will be at Phillips.  We will know soon enough.  Nine seniors on the Brooks squad. Only one on Phillips.  Will Brooks take a 3-1 advantage in Zach's years?  Will he have bragging rights for years to come?  Or, will it end  up 2-2?  No matter what, it should be a great game!!  After that, the real season begins.

The league games start with Roxbury Latin on Saturday.  The one team Zach has yet to beat.  I know he will be gunning for that win.  The whole group will for sure.  There are friends on that team as well.  At the Class B finals last year, there was a discussion between Zach and some of the RL kids who watched the Brooks loss to South Kent, about the very topic.  Both teams will be ready, but this is a game I know Zach and all the Brooks boys want badly.

So we wait for Wednesday.  We get the blog started (hopefully started properly) and off we go.  The final ride where we go and watch as often as we can.  Who knows where Zach will be this time next year.  Who knows if we will be able to watch.  We know he will play somewhere, just not sure where yet.  For now, let's just enjoy the season ahead and what little we have left on the Brooks sideline.