Written by Brianna Bobo
The boys soccer team knew this season would be different. With nine seniors set to graduate and longtime head coach Bryan Putnam preparing for his final year leading the program, the fall of 2025 became about more than wins and losses; it became about growth and saying goodbye.
“Technically, we have nine seniors, but only eight have really been playing significant time this year,” Putnam said. “It’s the third year in a row that we’ve had large graduating classes of eight or more, so going forward, our roster is going to be fairly thin.”
This year’s roster blended athletes who had been in the program for years with players new to the sport, creating unexpected challenges for both coaches and the team.
“In years past, most players we had on the roster had been playing together for years,” Putnam said. “It was more about getting them to learn a system, not the entire game. This year, we had to go back and explain very basic rules and teach fundamentals I didn't anticipate.”
For Blake Applegate, a senior who has been part of the team for four years, the season was a mix of pride and nostalgia. When asked what advice he would give younger players, he said, “Just shut up and listen to the coach when he’s talking.”
Applegate reflected on the bittersweet feeling of his last season.
“It sucks–nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
His favorite memory was “probably eating ice cream at Chillers two years ago. It was one of Salem’s biggest teams and it felt special.”
Fellow senior Finn Kritzer emphasized the importance of enjoying every moment on the field.
“As a person who’s played for almost all of high school, don’t be afraid to make risky plays,” he said. “Try the rainbow flick, attempt a bicycle kick. Once high school soccer is over, there’s a good chance that’ll be the last time you play organized soccer.”
Kritzer also shared some of his favorite memories with teammates: “Me and Blake always booty bump after a game, it’s honestly iconic - Blake’s a real one for that. Me and Axton have always been close buddies in soccer, always had fun passing and making plays to him. And last year, I was running for the ball and I fell on a girl and absolutely squished her.”
Reflecting on the team’s growth, Kritzer said, “This year was basically a new team, a lot of new players and a handful of OG’s. I’ve seen my senior class get better at their dribbling, shooting and displaying more motivation. Other than soccer, I’ve seen my senior friends becoming more passionate about their future plans in college and life. I’m proud of all of them.”
On the field, the team faced struggles that weren’t always reflected on the scoreboard.
“If you only watched them play out on the field and didn’t look at the scoreboard, you would think we were playing in a very close game from start to finish,” Putnam said. “It’s those three to five minute sections here and there in each half that we let games get out of reach. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect the game that was played out there.”
Despite the setbacks, the players forged stronger bonds.
“Over the summer and early into the season, we fought like siblings out in the backyard almost every day,” Putnam said. “But we’ve gotten stronger because of that. We’re finally working together as a team.”
Many seniors stepped into starting roles for the first time, taking on the responsibility of leading a team. Putnam said he is proud of how they handled it.
“I really am glad I stayed for this season because I really do enjoy these guys,” he said. “I couldn’t think of a better group to go out with. This is the first group of players I’ve actually taught in a classroom setting as well, so I feel I served a dual role with these seniors.”
Asked to describe the senior class in three words, Applegate said simply, “Loud, funny, and close.”
Putnam will step away from the high school program, but not from the sport. Beginning this spring, he will focus on middle school soccer.
“I’m going to focus on developing our middle school-aged players,” he said. “Getting them into the program at a much earlier age will allow us to develop the skills necessary to compete at the high school level right away.”
For the seniors, the future means graduation, new opportunities and life after high school soccer. For Putnam, it means leaving behind a class that meant more than numbers on a roster,
“They’re a chatty group,” he said. “Sometimes I’m not sure they actually hear half the words that come out of my mouth. But one thing we say to each other every day is ‘I love you.’ When you’ve had a season like we have, sometimes those are the only words that remind you why we’re doing this.”
Nine seniors. One coach’s farewell. A season that tested, challenged and bonded them all - and a memory that will last long after the final whistle.