SEBASTIAN — Kurt Bangert likes a challenge. As the educational technology specialist at Sebastian River High, there’s always the tough task of keeping up with the latest gadgets, improved computers and their peripherals.
Bangert faces some different challenges this year as the Sharks’ boys’ soccer coach.
“We lost nine seniors and another three players didn’t return,” said Bangert, who is beginning his sixth season as the team’s head coach and his seventh season as part of the coaching staff. “We have a lot of ninth graders and younger guys who have never seen this level of competition. The difference is astronomical and it will take them some time to adjust. I would have liked to bring them on slow. This team has talent; they just have to learn how to play together.”
The roster is full of players who have ball-handling and dribbling skills that would be envied by most teams around the state. But, there’s more to the sport than playing the game.
The Sharks miss Aaron Roberson, who totaled 20 goals and added six assists as Sebastian River finished 13-2-6 last season. Roberson also was potent on the pitch as a junior when he scored 17 goals as the Sharks finished 19-3-0. He now is playing for Anderson University in South Carolina.
“We’ll miss Aaron’s goal scoring and leadership,” said Bangert, 34, who graduated from Sebastian River High in 1997 and lettered in soccer for three seasons under coach Dylan Lewis. “We have to work on the link between our midfielders and our strikers. Once we get our guys to run into open space, we’ll be OK. Then, they will get more opportunities to score.”
While Sebastian River tries to figure out who will score the goals this season, the Sharks know who will halt the opposition.
Ramon Magana returns as the starting goaltender.
“Ramon is a really good leader,” Bangert said. “He makes the difficult save look easy. He’s the type of guy you want as your backstop.”
If needed, Magana could play anywhere on the field. That versatility makes him even more valuable in the goal, where his long passes up the field could trigger increased scoring opportunities.
“He’s got a lot of agility for a guy that size (6 feet tall and 180 pounds),” Bangert said. “You could put the ball at the kid’s feet and he can do more tricks than anybody on the team.”
Juniors Brandon Berg and Max Akers also are strong players at the midfield and on defense.
“Brandon is a guy that I know I can rely on,” Bangert said. “If he’s going one on one with another player, I know he can win the ball. Max is becoming that same type of player. They’re also friends outside of school.”
Besides Magana, midfielder and forward Ignacio Severino, defender Gilin Andrade, midfielder Alexis Cendejas, forward Ramiro Lopez and forward Garrett Munera are the other seniors on the squad.
Four freshmen – Osiel Vargas, Alex Acevedo, Leo Fuentes and David Rocha – will play a lot this season. Vargas is a forward, Acevedo is a midfielder, Fuentes plays on defense and Rocha is a midfielder.
“I thought we would struggle with all the younger players, but that’s definitely not an issue,” Bangert said. “We’ll tie a lot until we settle down. Then, we’ll see a better brand of soccer. I’d rather lose now than in the district or regional.”
Junior defender Scott Adams, sophomore midfielder and forward Johan Magana, junior defender and midfielder Daniel Osorio, junior midfielder and forward Casiano Santoyo and sophomore forward Chris Young round out the squad.
Melbourne, guided by veteran coach Jerry McCabe who has led the Bulldogs to three state titles during his tenure, has defeated Sebastian River in the district championship game in each of the past two seasons to send the Sharks on the road for regional play.
The two teams are once again district rivals – this time in Class 4A, District 6.
Viera and Heritage also are members of the rugged alignment.
“Melbourne continues to get great players even as they graduate players,” Bangert said. “Jerry has his roots in the area. They’re a powerhouse and open enrollment is a big thing. All of those schools in Brevard County are in close proximity to each other. We don’t have that luxury.”
Sebastian River will play each of the district teams just once during the regular season before the district tournament, which will be played on Jan. 21 and 23.
The Sharks travel to Melbourne to face the Bulldogs on Dec. 4, and they host Viera and Heritage on Dec. 13 and Jan. 8, respectively.
During the day at Sebastian River High, Bangert is a problem solver.
He hopes to eventually solve the Melbourne equation on the field.
“We want to push education toward the technical side, but we have to realize that there’s a budget,” Bangert said. “I try to read up as much as I can to learn about new things and practice them at home or at school. I want to stay sharp; I don’t want to be thrown a curveball. There are a lot of angles in mathematics and computers make those calculations.
“Soccer is also a game of angles. I try to watch a lot of international soccer, and the best way to learn is by watching. There’s always something that can be applied from the English Premier League, the Spanish League or the Italian and German. I watched the World Cup qualifying and what (Jurgen) Klinsmann is doing with the U.S. He’s doing things that none of us would ever know. It’s hard to break down.”