During his drive to undefeated Free State High’s football game Friday night, the school’s boys soccer coach looked back on that team’s losing record of a year ago as inspiration for his team looking to next year.

“I’m not saying we have that kind of talent, but I’m hoping we can have a similar turnaround,” Jason Pendleton said a day after the Firebirds finished a 6-11-1 season with a 3-1 loss to Washburn Rural. “This was, for our standards, a very bad year in terms of wins and losses.”

That doesn’t mean Pendleton won’t miss coaching the six seniors who played their last game for him. He made it clear he would.

Pendleton’s comments about each senior:

Blaine Juhl: “This time last year we weren’t even sure he would make the team (as a senior), and he ended up being a starter and one of the most consistent performers. What I like about Blaine is his personal satisfaction for being part of the team, never taking anything for granted, always doing what’s best for the team. He didn’t have any selfish thoughts whatsoever.”

Drew Schelar: “He emerged as a nice leader during the offseason and really helped to organize a lot of things. He really had a passion and worked hard to make himself a better player. He knew he had some deficiencies, and he was constantly aware of trying to make them better.”

Travis Everett: “This was his third year on the varsity, and in his first two years he had lukewarm success. This year he was probably our most valuable player. He did everything we asked and did everything very, very well. He was rock solid this year. He brought a very quiet yet determined focus to everything he did.”

Mitchell Morrow: “Our utility guy. He played wherever I needed him to play, even as goalkeeper at different times. He’s very athletic and very cerebral to his approach in everything he does. My guess is multiple people will have to fill the job he was able to do for us.”

Kyle Ceesay: “He brought a strong amount of athleticism and speed. He played with a ton of passion for us. He typically played his best in big games. The bigger the game, the better he would play. He was the James Worthy of Free State.”

Todd Lee: “He was a four-year player in our program who was absolutely ecstatic about being in our program and in fact listed that as his career highlight, just being in the program. His desire and his sacrificing individual goals for the benefit of the program, that’s what we’re searching for. I’m going to miss Todd’s straight-forward focus. He’s a respectful, hard-working young man who brings the right approach to everything he does.”

First-team Sunflower League selection Andrew Heck, a midfielder who assisted fellow junior Erik Slan on the team’s final goal of the season, is expected to lead the way next season for the Firebirds.

“If we can sort a few things out defensively, we have a chance to be very good, maybe contend for a Sunflower League championship and a regional championship and take that (into the state tournament),” Pendleton said. “We have the athletes. It’s a matter of putting in the work.”