Midway through the regular season, several juniors on the quickly-jelling Jackson boys soccer team are wide-eyed about the possibilities for 2005.
Timberwolves coach Mike Bartley loves the enthusiasm, but he wants his players to make a major calendar adjustment.
“They’re all talking about next year,” Bartley said, “but I’m trying to get them to look at, ‘Why not now?’”
Just a few weeks ago the idea seemed ludicrous.
Jackson fields just four varsity-tested players from last year’s group that finished fourth in the Western Conference 4A South Division and advanced to the district playoffs.
For awhile Bartley was surrounded by more question marks than The Riddler.
But thanks to team-wide cooperation and the players’ rapid absorption of Bartley’s system, many of those questions have morphed into exclamation points for Jackson.
The Wolfpack exceeded Bartley’s expectations during its first few Wesco South games.
Jackson lost to second-place Shorewood 3-0 Tuesday night, dropping to 2-1-1 in league play and 5-4-2 overall, but remains well within reach of one of the league’s district playoff spots.
So what happened?
“The thing that’s helped us the most,” Bartley said, “is there is a core of fearless juniors. They made the transition and they work really hard. They all get along really well, and that makes it a lot easier.”
Leading that core are co-captain Greg Hnilo, Marcelino Dumpit, and Spencer Huffer. Also, defender Michael Dorsey has been “a great surprise,” according to Bartley.
“Most of that is his effort, and it rubs off on everyone else,” Bartley said.
Several previously inexperienced seniors have stepped up too, including defensive center-midfielder Nate Eney, Bartley said.
Other standouts include Nate Riley and David Bergley. Riley, a striker, is one of Jackson’s top target players.
“He controls the ball strong for us,” Bartley said. “I can’t say enough about the kid.”
Bergley, a senior co-captain, is an attacking center-midfielder. In a 1-0 victory over defending Wesco South champion Edmonds-Woodway April 14, Wiley fed Bergley for the winning goal.
Goalkeeping has been another unexpected bonus for Jackson. In four league games, goalies Joe Nigem and Nick McWhorter have combined for two shutouts, one apiece, and just four goals allowed.
Up and down the roster, Jackson is suddenly looking less like a project and more like a contender.
“All this is starting to come together now; it’s nice timing,” Bartley said. “Now the combinations are really starting to show through.”
The Timberwolves have adopted Bartley’s offensive schemes, speeding up ball movement and improving scoring opportunities.
“They do everything at a faster rate now,” Bartley said. “I think they’re into their offense. They understand what to do with the ball. Before, they didn’t know the pattern so well. Now it’s starting to flow.”
But a few hiccups remain. Bartley wants Jackson to improve its second-half offense. The Timberwolves have struggled to score goals late in the game.
Against Kamiak last week, the Timberwolves led 1-0 at halftime thanks to Riley’s goal in the 37th minute. In the second half Jackson sat back and lost its offensive aggression, Bartley said. Kamiak scored in the final minutes and Jackson came away with a 1-1 tie.
“We tend to get a lead and try to hold it instead of going after more goals,” Bartley said. “They’re fit, it’s just mentally something we need to change.”
Overall, Bartley still likes Jackson’s postseason chances. The Timberwolves came together faster than he expected.
“If we can win three out of the (final) six,” Bartley said, “I think we can make the playoffs.”
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