Currently the FC varsity boys soccer team is 3-5 overall  and 1-1 in league play as of Jan. 20, 2016.  The team captain and goal keeper for the varsity boys soccer team, Bailey Brogan, ’16, hopes to finish off his final season with the team strong.

Brogan aims to be the leader of the team, and coach Matt Markarian sees great leadership potential as well. After graduation, Brogan plans to play either soccer or baseball on a college level team. Brogan began playing soccer at a young age and was taught how to play by his parents and also his elementary teachers.

“I began playing soccer at a very young age,” Brogan said. “My elementary school teachers and my parents both helped teach me how to play soccer. My responsibilities as the team captain are being the leader the coach wants me to be and being able to play to the level I’m expected to play at.”

The team’s sweeper, Alex Rurik, ’19, is one of the seven freshmen on the soccer team. Rurik and Brogan bonded through Alex’s friendship with Bailey’s younger brother, Brandon Brogan. Rurik appreciates Bailey’s leadership on the soccer field.

“This is my first year playing with Bailey on an actual [school] team,” Rurik said. “But since I am best friends with his younger brother Brandon, we have played together for a long time. When I first started seeing him play he had just started playing goalie. Since then, he has become one of the best goalies I know.

Due to their long friendship, Alex and Bailey share many experiences and funny moments during their time together. Alex thinks Bailey could improve his confidence during soccer games.

“Bailey and I share many good stories,” Rurik said. “One time we were over at a school with just Bailey, his brother and me. We were playing soccer and having a good time and a lot of laughter. I think an area where he could improve is just keeping his confidence during the game”

Bailey not only plays soccer, but also a variety of other sports including football and baseball. Bailey played third base and shortstop for the varsity baseball team last year. During this year’s football season, Bailey played cornerback and receiver for the FC football squad.

I have played with Bailey for this year and last year, but we have played together during soccer, baseball and football season, so we are pretty tight. I like Bailey’s intensity. He goes hard in every sport he plays, but he also likes to play around and have a good time. Bailey is an unbelievable athlete. –Tyler Villines 

Multi-sport athlete, Tyler Villines, ’18, enjoys playing with Bailey Brogan. Brogan and Villines have played together for two years during the seasons of soccer, football and baseball. Villines likes Brogan’s game intensity and his ability to have fun while he plays.

“I have played with Bailey for this year and last year, but we have played together during soccer, baseball and football season, so we are pretty tight,” Villines said. “I like Bailey’s intensity. He goes hard in every sport he plays, but he also likes to play around and have a good time. Bailey is an unbelievable athlete.”

Villines and Brogan both really bonded during the 2015 football season. Brogan helped Villines work through problems with his mindset and got Villines back into a football mindset.

“During football season with him being my receiver and me being his quarterback, we grew really tight,” Villines said. “He has helped me build up my confidence on the field because whenever I was going through a problem with my mindset he was able to bring me back into the game.”

The coach for the varsity boys soccer team, Matt Markarian enjoys Brogan’s attitude during soccer practice and games. Markarian appreciates Brogan’s willingness to show up to every practice and having the ability to have fun while playing his position.

“I have coached Bailey for six years,” Markarian said. “When Bailey started playing, he was not a goalie. He was very athletic and not afraid to be physical. We identified him as a goalie candidate. Over that time he has turned into somebody who is a goalie to be reckoned with, I assume as this is his senior year,  and has been a three year running candidate for best goalie in the league, he will undoubtedly receive this honor again.”

Amassing many stories from all of the time devoted to soccer, Bailey Brogan remembers many amazing plays and comical moments during his past soccer seasons.

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“Last year we had our first league win in five seasons, so that was really nice,” Bailey said. “There was a game where one of the parents counted and told me later that I had 46 saves in one game, so that was pretty intense. I am looking to play sports in college. I am not sure if it is going to be soccer or baseball, but soccer is definitely one of my options.”

Markarian appreciates Brogan’s willingness to come to practice every day and work hard. During stressful situations, Markarian knows he is able to rely on Brogan to be able to defend the goal and prevent the other team from scoring.

“Bailey understands his position now and he knows how to play it,” Markarian said. “He shows up everyday and works hard. Bailey is one of our leaders in effort and vocally which has helped him become this raw athlete and into the best goalie in the league. Just knowing as a coach, that having peace of mind that when things break down, I have a goalie that is going to stop the ball when he needs to, giving us a chance to win every game we play.”

Bailey strives to be the leader his coach, Matt Markarian, wants him to be on and off the field. For three years Bailey served as a cabin leader at Calvin Crest. Each year Terry Richards, the junior high science teacher, takes the eighth grade class up to the outdoor school. According to Richards, Brogan has done a phenenomal job of setting an example for the junior high boys and also giving them a positive influence through participation.

Bailey’s mother, Dr. Amy Brogan loves his work ethic and leadership skills while he is on the soccer field. She has seen Bailey become more confident in his abilities over the span of time she watched him play.

“I like Bailey’s aggressiveness, leadership skills, athleticism and work ethic when he is playing soccer,” Amy said. “Bailey was taught by his dad and various coaches over time that he has played soccer. Before seventh grade, Bailey played forward, but Mr. Fontes moved him to his current position of goalie.

Amy also witnessed many amazing plays that seemed impossible at first for Bailey to pull off, and yet he still managed to stop them. Amy enjoys watching Bailey grow in confidence and sharpen his instincts as a goalie.

“The longer he has plays goalie, he becomes more confident in his abilities which is making his instincts even better,” Amy said. “I have watched Bailey make many incredible saves that seemed to be impossible to stop. Bailey can keep improving at soccer by working on eye coordination and footwork and also just keep working hard.”

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