Orono Boy's Soccer Team Pauses to Remember Colton Gleason

by Jack Ellis and Sydney Reiners

On Thursday, Sept. 27, the Orono boy’s soccer team beat Glencoe-Silver Lake 5-0 in honor of Colton Gleason, a former Orono soccer player who recently passed away on Sept. 20.

At half time they retired the No. 15 jersey which Colton and both his brothers before him had worn. Colton like family to the team, and they are currently “celebrating the life of Colton, not mourning his death,” says head varsity coach Derek Engler.

“Colton was a great role model for all of us, and this event has only made our community and our Orono soccer family that much stronger,” Engler said.

Orono alumni flew in from everywhere to attend the game, and students, present and past, joined in force to support the family.

Click here to view photos from last Thursday's tribute.

Orono’s soccer team has set high expectations this year.

Currently ranked top-five in the conference, Orono is expecting to be a top-two team in the conference and a top-three team in the section.

“We set a goal at the beginning of the season to make it to the section finals, coach Engler said. "Once there, anything can happen.”  

As many of the boys on the soccer team do not play together in the off season, Engler explained his primary goal is to "teach my team to play together.”

“I think we have the hardest section in the state,” Engler said in regards to their goal of making it to sections, adding he and his team “fully expect to get there.”

This year’s captains are seniors Noah Schultz, Matt Heussner and Matt Larson. Engler describes them as “great role models and leaders for our young team."

"They really make my job alot easier,” he said. “Our three captains have really stepped up to make this team and season a success."

With six sophomores and a freshman, this is one of the youngest teams Orono soccer has ever had. Although they needed to adjust to the speed of the game, they have gotten to the point where, as Engler would say, “you can’t tell them apart from the seniors”.

In addition to the young players, the varsity team has three goalies—seniors Liam Sullivan and Silas Cleveland and sophomore, Gavin Payne. The excess numbers have actually become beneficial.

"The competition in practice drives all three of them to get better," Engler said.

The whole team has been working hard, and said it has shown in the past few games.

Orono has two huge conference games next week that will hopefully boost the team up a few spots in the conference rankings.