What exactly were the dust bowls and how did they affect the soil and land of Clermont County?

Director of Clermont Soil and Water Conservation District John McManus explained while at the annual meeting on Sept. 24. He said even though most of us think of the droughts brought on by the Dust Bowls as only affecting the Great Plains, they impacted, directly and indirectly, the entire nation.

Starting in 1931 there would be four major drought episodes that would occur over the next decade, one after another, without any time in between to recover.

An Associated Press reporter coined the name ‘Dust Bowl’ to describe the drought-affected areas secondary to the horrific dust storms. Some 100 million acres were affected by the dust storms resulting in droughts and soil erosion; 75 percent of the topsoil was eroded.

In 1934 a massive dust storm swept through the Ohio Valley. This resulted in layers of prairie dust found on the ground, in trees, inside and outside of homes and buildings, and generally all around. The sky had a yellow-brown tinge and mud droplets were dropping onto crops and plants, killing them.

The direct and devastating effects of the droughts were agricultural. Crops were ruined by insufficient water, high temperatures, high winds, insect infestations, and dust. The agricultural depression was a huge contributing factor to the Great Depression.

Crops failed to grow, livestock died of starvation and thirst. Thousands of families lost their farms and faced severe poverty. By 1937, 21 percent of all rural families in the Great Plains, parts of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas, were receiving federal emergency relief aid.

Poor land management, like land use patterns and planting methods, made the land more vulnerable to droughts. The agricultural potential of the Great Plains was greatly exaggerated in advertisements to incentivize settlers to move from eastern parts of the USA to the Great Plains. However, the settlers brought their farming experiences that were based on the climate and humid conditions in the eastern USA. These practices did not work well in the arid climate.

In the 1920s farmers were increasing their crop production. With new technology and new varieties of crops, farmers were able to produce more in less time. Their new equipment was expensive, so expansion was necessary to pay for equipment bought on credit. The expansion created record wheat crops in 1931, which sent prices lower, so in turn farmers had to farm even more land to make ends meet. Then came the droughts and depression.

Soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and moisture depletion were occurring at a rapid pace.

Williamsburg came into a week six matchup with Fayetteville-Perry as heavy favorites.

They wasted no time in this one, scoring a touchdown on their first two offensive plays. Troy Harris hauled in a 60-yard TD pass, while Kai Harris recorded a 53-yard rushing TD. The Wildcats cruised to a 42-6 win, improving to 5-1 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

It’s been a special last few months for Milford’s Rachel Morgan.

The talented junior committed to play collegiately at Miami, OH, carrying on a family legacy in doing so.

Her sister Emily, a 2022 Milford graduate, is a junior libero/defensive specialist for the Redhawks. Her dad also attended the school and briefly competed for the football team.

Morgan is flourishing in her first season as a full-time libero for the Eagles and recently reached a milestone every libero dreams of.

Week seven of the high school football season is here. Here are some games to watch for this Friday night. All games are at 7:00 p.m.

Batavia (5-1) at Wilmington (3-3)

Batavia’s 5-1 start to the season may be the coolest storyline in the SBAAC. They are one win away from securing a winning season, which would be their first since 2018.

They picked up a 45-7 win over Western Brown last week behind 304 yards through the air from Carson Harris. He now leads the SBAAC in passing yards with 2,037.

Let’s take a look at some notable storylines across high school sports in Clermont County. Please note that all statistics reflect games and matches played through Sept. 29.

Nick Henke, Milford Soccer

Nick is our athlete of the week this week, and for good reason. He currently leads the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in goals with 14 and ranks fifth in assists with seven.

No one does a summer reading bash quite like Marr Cook Elementary. Literacy Coach, Danielle Stiles, encourages all students to read or listen to stories throughout summer break. Incoming kindergarten students are screened in April and May and information is shared with families then. In fact, the new kindergarten class exceeded all expectations and had 91 students who listened to at least 30 books over the summer, wow! Marr Cook also had 78 first-grade students who completed the summer reading challenge as well as 64 second-grade students. On August 30, all 233 students were treated to their very own snow cone from Kona Ice! Everyone also received a reading certificate along with a fun grab bag that contained a special Goshen Warriors bookmark, a reading pencil, a fun eraser, reading stickers, a fun googly eye hand puppet to read to, and a scratch-and-sniff bookmark. This was their biggest summer reading bash yet! The fun doesn’t stop there. Marr Cook encourages nightly reading throughout the entire school year. Students can earn quarterly movie rewards for meeting their reading goal and they can also earn a gold token for the book vending machine. Goshen families - don’t forget! You too will get to share the love of literacy with Marr Cook’s annual Literacy Night which will take place on March 6, 2025. Congratulations to all of the summer readers! Have the best school year yet.

Vietnam Veterans of America, Clermont County Chapter 649 presented R.J Cinema and Tap Room in Eastgate with the Business of the Month award for September 2024. The award was presented for their support of Chapter 649’s mission and the Chapter’s Meet and Greets. VVA 649 board member Phil Dodge presented the award to Ric Welker, Vice President and General Manager.

Just in time for Halloween, the Cincinnati Museum Center will present a 2-part program about historical hauntings. The program will cover local citizens who were and are affected by the supernatural as well as local haunted places that still exist today.

The Miami Township Branch will host the Sad, Seamy, and Sinister Side of Cincinnati, which is about how serial murderers, grave robbers, epidemics, and even slime are all a part of Cincinnati’s history.

If you are a fan of Ruth Lyons, visit the Amelia Branch for a program that will cover her fascinating career as a broadcaster and TV pioneer as well as her life and legacy.

Learn more about the history of the holiday train display at the Museum Center and Cincinnati’s winter holiday traditions. It will be a great way to celebrate the many joyful times and faces of the winter season.

Space is limited so visit the Clermont County Public Library’s website, clermontlibrary.org, to sign up. You do not want to miss these opportunities to learn more about Cincinnati’s history this fall.

- Historical Hauntings Part 1, Bethel Branch, Saturday, October 12, at 2 p.m.

- Historical Hauntings Part 2, Williamsburg Branch, Tuesday, October 22, at 6 p.m.

- The Sad, Seamy, Sinister Side of Cincinnati, Miami Township Branch, Saturday, October 26, at 1 p.m.

- Ruth Lyons, Amelia Branch, Saturday, November 9, at 2 p.m.

- Cincinnati’s Winter Holiday Traditions, Miami Township Branch, Saturday, December 7, at 1 p.m.

- Holiday Trains, Batavia Branch, Monday, December 9, at 2 p.m.

- Cincinnati’s Winter Holiday Traditions, Goshen Branch, Tuesday, December 10, at 6:30 p.m.

Fall has arrived and scarecrows are appearing in the business district. The Williamsburg Garden Club sponsored the “Scarecrows in Williamsburg” contest, and the entries are on display along Main Street.

The contest winners were: Susan Givler, David Lewis (and Davy and Karlie), Toni Teague, Mary Jo O’Brian, Elaina Naegel, and the Williamsburg Methodist Youth Group. Prizes were awarded to the winners.

Be sure to enjoy the “scary” display.

The driver of an SUV crashed into the rider of an electric bike in Bethel over the weekend.

The Bethel Police Dept. reported that the crash happened on Sept. 27 at about 8:20 p.m. at in the location of 120 W. Plane St.

The crash involved a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe and a motorized bicycle.

Christopher Shouse of Felicity, who was driving the SUV, attempted to turn into a business and hit the bicyclist, James Jackson of Amelia.

The Bethel Police Dept. notes that according to witnesses and evidence at the scene, Jackson was operating on a motorized bicycle without proper lights and safety equipment.

“During the time of the crash, the power was out throughout the Village and there were no streetlights operational at the time,” states the report.

The driver of the SUV was not injured, and drugs or alcohol were suspected.

Jackson was transported to UC Medical Center via Air Care and is listed in serious condition but is expected to survive.

This crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bethel Police Department at 513-734-2256.

Storm relief is available following high winds and heavy rain caused by Hurricane Helene.

The weather event swept through the area beginning Sept. 27, blowing down trees and branches, structures and more, and leaving many without power. Many previously scheduled events were canceled or postponed due to the weather conditions.

On Sept. 29 at 10 a.m., Duke Energy shared that its OH/KY crews restored power for more than 100,000 customers, while nearly 21,000 continue to experience outages as a result of Hurricane Helene.

“With a significant number of lineworkers, tree trimmers and other support personnel on the ground working to restore service – the company expects nearly all customers to be restored by tonight. The company will communicate estimated times for restoration directly with any customers who, due to extensive damage in their area, may not be restored tonight,” read a statement from Duke Energy.

Duke Energy Midwest storm director Clint Carnahan was quoted as saying, “Despite the challenging conditions throughout this storm, our crews continue to make very steady progress on restoration. I want our customers to know we will continue working until every customer is restored.”

Schools across the nation have seen a dip in student attendance since the pandemic. That’s why here at West Clermont Schools, we are excited to launch a new partnership this month — Attendance Awareness Month — with FC Cincinnati and the Stay In the Game! Network. The partnership is aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of school attendance on student learning and development.

Here’s why being in school regularly is so important. Students with good attendance are more likely to:

- Achieve higher grades and test scores

- Graduate from high school

- Be accepted into college

- Get good jobs

- Earn higher salaries

- Live healthier lives

Students who are in school each day also have stronger character, integrity, resilience and adaptability, key tenets of West Clermont Schools’ Portrait of a Graduate.

To kick off the initiative we encouraged our students and families to take an attendance pledge, which shows their commitment to showing up to school every day ready to learn.

The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network was started in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Harvard’s Proving Ground, and is managed by Battelle. Collectively, they connect with experts and supporters to dramatically improve attendance.

We are excited about the many activities that will take place this year through this partnership and to see the futures that are unveiled for our students as a result of higher attendance.

To learn more about how you can partner with us, visit westcler.org/our-community/pie.

During a recent live virtual event performed by the Cincinnati VA with approximately 1,500 veterans in attendance, participants were polled about their knowledge of the PACT Act and COMPACT Act. The results of the poll are noteworthy. Less than 50 percent of responding veterans were aware of the specifications of either Act.

The following is my synopsis of the two Acts.

The PACT Act and the COMPACT Act are two significant pieces of legislation enacted to support US Veterans. These acts aim to address various issues veterans face, including health care, mental health, and benefits.

The PACT Act, also known as the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, is a comprehensive law that addresses the healthcare needs of veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances during their service. This act is named in honor of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, an Ohioan who passed away due to toxic exposure during his military service. The PACT Act expands health care and benefits for veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. It also includes provisions for veterans who served in specific locations and time periods, ensuring they receive the care and benefits they deserve.

One of the key components of the PACT Act is the expansion of the list of presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to toxic substances. This means that veterans who served in certain locations and time periods and who develop specific health conditions are presumed to have been exposed to toxic substances, making it easier for them to receive health care and benefits. The act also mandates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct outreach and education to ensure veterans are aware of the benefits available to them under this law.

The COMPACT Act, or the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment Act, focuses on mental health care and suicide prevention for veterans. This act provides veterans in crisis with access to free emergency mental health care, regardless of whether they are enrolled in the VA health care system. The COMPACT Act aims to remove barriers to care and ensure that veterans in crisis receive the help they need without delay.

One of the significant provisions of the COMPACT Act is the authorization for the VA to cover the cost of emergency mental health care for veterans in crisis. This includes care provided at VA facilities, as well as care provided by non-VA providers. The act also mandates the VA to establish a national program to provide education and training on suicide prevention to veterans, their families, and caregivers.

The COMPACT Act also includes provisions to improve the coordination of care for veterans in crisis. This includes the establishment of a national crisis line for veterans, as well as the development of a comprehensive plan to address the mental health needs of veterans. The act also mandates the VA to conduct outreach and education to ensure veterans and their families are aware of the resources available to them.

Both the PACT Act and the COMPACT Act represent significant steps forward in addressing the needs of US veterans. These acts provide critical support to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances and those who are in crisis, ensuring they receive the care and benefits they deserve. By expanding access to health care and benefits, and by providing critical support for mental health care and suicide prevention, these acts honor the service and sacrifice of US veterans and their families.

Lastly, the PACT Act and the COMPACT Act are essential pieces of legislation that address the overall health care and mental health needs of US veterans. These acts provide critical support to veterans who have been exposed to toxic substances and those who are in crisis, ensuring they receive the care and benefits they deserve. By expanding access to health care and benefits, and by providing critical support for mental health care and suicide prevention, these acts continue to honor the service and sacrifice of US veterans and their families.

Veterans with potential qualifications, questions, or general interest, should contact Clermont County Veteran Services and request an appointment to speak with a service officer or visit VA.GOV to locate articles on the two topics.

Steve Balczo is the executive director of the Clermont County Veterans’ Service Commission.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) projects that by 2035, the number of veterans aged 85 years old and older will increase by thirty-three (33%) percent and women veterans aged 85 years old and older will double.

This dynamic trend is based on statistics in the general population and will put a significant strain on the nation’s healthcare infrastructure to provide sufficient long-term care support for aging Americans.

Currently, the VA operates several long-term care programs, from providing intensive bed-based care to lower levels of home and community-based care options.

Most veterans prefer to remain in their homes as long as possible.

The VA offers several programs to support them including the Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care; the Home-Based Primary Care Program; Skilled Home Health Care Program; Respite Care; Adult Day Health Care and the Caregiver Program.

For disabled veterans who need the more comprehensive support offered at a skilled nursing care facility, the VA can place veterans in a VA-operated Community Living Center (CLC), a contracted community nursing home, or a State Veteran Home, such as the Ohio Veterans Home (OVH) in either Georgetown or Sandusky.

While it appears that the VA has developed an excellent overall strategy in long-term care programs for aging disabled veterans, there is a significant void which should be addressed.

This void is disabled veterans who are unable to remain in their homes due to physical, social, or financial reasons – but who do not yet require the full level of intensive support offered by a nursing home. For these disabled veterans, assisted living care would be an ideal option.

Assisted living allows veterans disabled veterans to live semi-independently in an apartment or room located within a larger facility, whether they are offered prepared meals, housekeeping, medication management, and personalized help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom.

Assisted living, such as described above, could fill a significant gap in long-term care, allowing the VA to provide a full spectrum of care to meet veterans’ needs as they get older and need greater assistance.

My Opinion: Congress and the VA should work together to fill this void of disabled veterans’ health care. Congress should enact legislation to require the VA to offer assisted living care options to service-disabled veterans.

This new Congressional legislation should include: (1) VA-operated assisted living; (2) State Veteran Home assisted living; and (3) contract community options for assisted living care. This legislation would fill the gap in the VA’s strategy for caring for our disabled veterans as they age.

Assisted living care would provide disabled veterans who are no longer able to live independently or at home with a less expensive option than skilled nursing care.

In developing assisted living care programs, Congress and the VA must work jointly for our disabled veterans.

The VA should consider the establishment of graduated care facilities that allow veterans to move seamlessly from independent living to assisted living to nursing home care as their needs change.

Two (2) other factors also enter the situation of caring for our disabled veterans. They are: (1) the physician/doctor shortage projected in 2035 throughout the United States; and (2) the existing shortage of nursing care professionals.

These two (2) factors will be discussed in future issues.

BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a retired 32-year Army veteran who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman and the Adjutant of Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be reached at: plahovinsak@msn.com.

I’m always looking for ways to grow new markets for Ohio farmers, and one industry where we see tremendous potential in Ohio is in biofuels – things like ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.

It’s why two years ago, we passed a tax credit to boost U.S. production of renewable fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, made from feedstocks like corn, soy, and other agricultural commodities. The goal was to make America more energy-independent and spur the production of biofuels made with American feedstocks.

But right now, we’re seeing a surge in imports of Chinese-used cooking oil that is being used to produce biofuels, displacing the use of domestic feedstocks. Brazilian ethanol and tallow have also become a problem.

These foreign feedstocks are crowding American farmers out of the biofuels market.

That’s why I teamed up with Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, along with Representative Marcy Kaptur here in Ohio, to introduce the Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act, to restrict the eligibility of this tax credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks.

We pushed the Administration to tighten the eligibility for this credit earlier this summer – and we’ll keep working to get them to do this before they issue a final rule.

American tax dollars shouldn’t be used to subsidize biofuels made with foreign feedstock. We need to make this clear in the law. We need to support our local producers and keep the playing field fair so that Ohio farmers and biofuel producers have long-term opportunities in these markets.

Our bill would also extend the credit for ten years, to provide farmers and fuel producers with the certainty they need to invest for the future.

With the ongoing drought in Ohio, farmers are dealing with a lot of uncertainty that’s beyond anyone’s control. Farmers should not have to deal with the uncertainty of whether their government will send their tax dollars to their competitors.

This is just commonsense: Whether it’s the steel in an infrastructure project or the corn in our ethanol, American tax dollars should support American producers.

The end of September is when most people start taking a serious look at the Heisman race. If the season ended today, these are the four players who I think should be the finalists.

Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado

Hunter is an electric football player, I don’t know how else to say it. This kid plays about 130 snaps a game, and he plays every one of them with all-out effort.

In addition to being a lockdown corner, he is the Buffaloes’ leading receiver, having recorded 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns through their first five games.

It’s no secret that Heisman voters have heavily favored quarterbacks, especially in recent years. Since 2000, only four non-QBs have won the award.

When I think about the Heisman I think about value, and I think about winning. Hunter has been invaluable to the success of Colorado. If they finish let’s say 8-4 or better, and he keeps impacting the game on both sides of the ball like he has, this award should be his.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

The matchup between Alabama and Georgia last Saturday was an instant classic, an all-timer. Alabama hung on for a 41-34 victory after Georgia erased a 30-7 halftime deficit.

Milroe showed his dual-threat ability in this one, recording 374 yards through the air, and 117 yards with his legs. Most importantly, he stayed calm through adversity, shining in key moments against a top-tier opponent. Milroe could easily win this award, and the Tide can easily win a national championship. It’s crazy to me the amount of people who slept on them going into the season.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Jeanty is hands down the best group of five players in college football, and he is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He leads the nation with 845 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. He is truly a nightmare to try and bring down.

I sincerely hope the Broncos are the group of five representatives in the College Football Playoff so that America can see this kid in primetime. His contact balance, elusiveness, and overall ability are special to watch.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Ward is the best QB Miami has had in quite some time. The thing I love about him is that the play is never really over, he is excellent at making something out of nothing. He leads the country in passing TDs with 18.

The only thing I don’t love about Ward is at times he holds onto the ball for too long, something he will need to sure up in order to be a starter at the next level. But make no mistake about it, he is an elite college QB.

Agree? Disagree? Email lservello@clermontsun.com

For the first time this season, the Bengals finally squeezed out a much-needed victory over the Panthers and ex-Bengal, Andy Dalton. It was a tough battle and from a defensive standpoint, it was quite ugly. However, ugly doesn’t matter in football when you pull out a victory. If you really think about it, Cincinnati is a fourth down and questionable call away from beating the Chiefs and honestly could’ve beaten Washington as well. Almost doesn’t count in football either though and if Cincinnati wants to save their season, another win against the Ravens will need to happen this week as well.

Positives

· Burrow continues to look like his normal self and outside of an interception that wasn’t all his fault, he has been phenomenal to begin the year. He is tied for fifth in yards and tied for third in touchdowns. His QBR ranks sixth in the league.

· Carolina failed to get a single sack against Joe and it is time we give Frank Pollack his flowers. As much as we criticize him, he deserves an ovation for what he has turned around to begin this season. The offensive line has been phenomenal.

· Is Ryan Rehkow the best punter in the league? He ranks first in his yards per punt average and has the longest punt in the NFL at 80 yards. Brad Robbins, you may have lost your job.

· Chase Brown had some electric plays throughout the game. 80 yards on 15 carries and two receptions – I hope to see him continue to get more opportunities.

· While Ja’Marr only had 85 yards, he had the most exciting play of the season as he forced three missed tackles to take a 63-yarder to the endzone.

· Trey Hendrickson hit Dalton on what turned into an interception for the Bengals to gain momentum. He is the only guy in stripes play after play finding a way to apply pressure on the quarterback. He is top five at his position in the league and I truly believe that.

· Evan McPherson looked back like his old self, drilling two field goals that were crucial in winning this game.

· The fourth down stop to begin the game was crucial. While the defense was horrific, this stop truly changed the momentum of the first quarter.

· Amarius Mims was phenomenal in this one. The block he made on the Chase touchdown was fun to watch.

Negatives

· Cam Taylor-Britt had the worst game of his young career. CTB is very good, but his talking isn’t matching up with his play currently on the field. He was burnt play after play. Dionatae Johnson made him look foolish all four quarters. Let’s try and stay quiet this week and be less Eli Apple-esque, shall we?

· Ravens week makes me nervous and if this team is without Hill, Hendrickson, and Rankins, Cincinnati might just be in for a record-breaking night on the ground from Henry and Jackson.

· Jordan Battle continues to not get any playing time. It can’t be any worse than what we have been watching for four weeks. Give the man some snaps. Include Jermaine Burton in this as well.

· It’s safe to say the defense is bad at this point in the season. For Cincinnati to win games, it will require 28+ points per game until proven otherwise.

Brennaman and I Disagree on Many Reds-Related Topics

I didn’t want to type this, but honestly, Marty’s comments have become enough for me to have to type out my frustration. Yes, Marty Brennaman was the voice of the Reds for years, specifically 1974 to 2019. Yes, he was a staple in the Cincinnati community. However, his baseball thoughts and mine couldn’t be more different more often than not. This week, he went on a rant about Elly De La Cruz not being a shortstop and needing to be moved to the outfield. Really?

In his first full year in the league, he ranks 12th in all of baseball in OAA at 22 years young. Among shortstops, he had the second highest fWAR in a single season All-Time in Reds history. If you just look at errors, yes he had 29. Nine of those happened in four games alone. Take away those and he had a .978 fielding percentage per Bryce Spalding. In perspective, Barry Larkin had the same number of errors as a 24-year-old, yet he is one of the best shortstops to ever play the game of baseball.

Let’s not forget that Marty hates Joey Votto and complained often of the contract awarded to one of the best batters in baseball history. Look up OBP and OPS leaders in the history of baseball before ever thinking for a second that it was a bad contract. He despised Joey and it was vivid as I attended multiple events that both were at last season. Marty also hated when Griffey would slowly jog to first after a homerun and even called him out for not stretching a double one time. He stated, “I was here before you were here and I’ll be here after you’re gone.” We can’t forget his comments on Adam Dunn either. Remember when he was “pretty close” to giving up on Adam Dunn? He thought the team waited one year too long to trade him, mentioned his weight, and talked again about him walking off the field. I guess in Marty’s eyes, you must run off the field at all moments, have zero fun in baseball, and just show up to work.

I love listening to those who aren’t afraid to speak their mind, much like Cowboy. There is a fine line between Cowboy’s approach though and the approach that I see from Marty. The older I get, the more I realize that Marty and I wouldn’t agree on nearly anything baseball-related and how much I appreciate listening to Sadak, Cowboy, Welsh, Thrall, and others. Votto, Griffey, and De La Cruz are once-in-a-decade type of players. Let’s appreciate them and hope that Cincinnati builds a team around Elly to be successful in his prime.

Milford senior Nick Henke currently leads the ECC in goals with 16 and is tied for fifth in assists with seven. He is just one goal away from breaking the Milford program record for career goals, a record held by his brother. He is your Clermont Sun Athlete of the Week!

Q: Favorite professional soccer player?

A: Lionel Messi

Q: What’s been the key to you and your team’s success this season?

A: Success comes from the whole team starting from our preparation both physically and mentally before each game. Then during the game we communicate, work together as a whole, and do what we can to control the game to the best of our ability.

Q: What are your goals for the rest of the season?

A: To finish our remaining games undefeated and attempt to break the varsity goal record currently held by my brother.

Q: What will you miss most about being a part of the Milford soccer program after you graduate?

A: After leaving Milford I’m going to miss the close community that our soccer team has developed, our team dinners, and competitive drills that all create a strong group of players on and off the field.

Q: Any future academic or athletic plans you’d like to share?

A: After graduating I plan to attend college and am still in the process of deciding where to go. I am planning to study something in the science field. As for soccer, I am still deciding what to do.