Eugene Heger: 

What do you think you bring to the team as a captain?

As a captain, I believe I bring a lot of soccer experience and intelligence to the team. I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 and I’ve played all around Houston as well as in Germany. I also feel like I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of the lads on the team.

What have you been during quarantine to maintain fitness for the upcoming soccer season?

I’ve been training and playing games with my club team, Houston FC, as well as training at the park by myself and with my mates. I’ve also been playing a lot of FIFA where I’ve been beating all of my friends.

What has changed because of the pandemic regarding your expectations this year?

The pandemic might make it tough to have a normal season with fans and a regular schedule. On the field, though, nothing changes and we’re still expecting to win district again this year and go further into the playoffs.

How do you plan on making the team feel comfortable for new players and freshmen?

We’ve got a very competitive, deep squad that wants to win which I think is fun to be a part of for any player that wants to get better and have fun. We’ve also got some quality banter if I do say so myself.

How did you feel when the state championships got canceled because of COVID-19 last year?

I was pretty disappointed when the state championships got canceled last year because of COVID-19 because we had a really solid team and I think we could’ve gone pretty far. It was almost as bad as when Gunnersaurus, the Arsenal mascot, got fired.

How do you want to transition those feelings into this year? 

The plan is for our team to use that disappointment as motivation for this upcoming season and to prove ourselves to the city and state.

What do you like about high school soccer?

I enjoy high school soccer because of the close camaraderie I have with my teammates since I see them every day at school and hang out with them so much.

Do you feel as though the pandemic has taken away some of that?

It’s definitely been tougher to see the lads with no in-person school happening but we’ve still managed to safely meet up as much as possible during the pandemic.

Jake Loor:

What do you think you bring to the team as a captain?

I continued playing for my club’s semi-professional team (made up of adults, D1 and D3 players, and a couple kids). I also spent a lot of time this off-season with Eugene in the gym, lifting weights and running. Through all these things I generally improved my fitness this summer.

What have you been during quarantine to maintain fitness for the upcoming soccer season?

While the pandemic has certainly and probably will continue to impact soccer, I tend to just hope things will be normal and prepare accordingly.

What has changed because of the pandemic regarding your expectations this year?

I think I bring a very competitive attitude that I hope will be infectious to the team. I also think that I have a lot of close relationships with members of the team and will be able to get messages through to individuals in unique ways they can best understand.

How do you plan on making the team feel comfortable for new players and freshmen?

I think Bellaire Soccer, always and especially this year, has a great sense of team and family. I think the most important thing for new players is to be welcomed into this culture.

How did you feel when the state championships got canceled because of COVID-19 last year?

The feeling was honestly that of a lost opportunity. Our team had so much talent last year and being unable to take that talent to its limits was very frustrating.

How do you want to transition those feelings into this year? 

We didn’t get our shot last year and so it’s now or never for us to really push ourselves as far as we can go. We have no choice but to put in the work so that we can feel good about this year’s postseason, as this is the last year of high school soccer for many of us.

What do you like about high school soccer?

The best part about high school soccer is the social aspect of it. As much as I love to compete, nothing beats those team bus rides.

Do you feel as though the pandemic has taken away some of that?

The pandemic made it hard to act upon the fun friendship of high school soccer, but the camaraderie was never lost.