The Battle Ground boys soccer program has made strides in becoming more competitive this year compared to years prior.
The squad is headlined by senior Kingston Gaither — a Clark College commit. After a 4-1 loss to Union High School, which was 3-1 until stoppage time and a competitive second half with a few goal opportunities for the Tigers, Gaither highlighted the team’s camaraderie as a major key to their upped intensity and playing together as a team.
“Battle Ground this year, we want to fight, we want to win,” Gaither said. “The past couple of years haven’t been as amazing, but we’re here to go higher. We’re here to win league. We’re here to do something. Go to districts, go higher, that’s our goal.”
He said the upperclassmen on the Tigers’ varsity squad have made it a focus to be leaders and establish a mentality for the younger players with years ahead of them to bring the program to league-title-chasing success.
“I think we are a lot more focused on bringing up the younger players, making sure that they have a path to win,” Gaither said. “How we’ve been doing this season, I think that’s a big thing. We only have a couple of seniors, and a lot of our players are younger this year. So, getting them prepared for the next year and the next season with themselves — it’s been doing really good.”
Gaither said the Tigers’ freshman goalie has bloomed into a star as of late. The ninth-grade goalkeeper Ronan Ryan has kept Battle Ground within reach in almost every game this season.
Gaither committed to play college soccer for Clark College, despite higher-level offers. He said being able to play at the next level means a lot to him and his work ethic.
“I’ve always been close to the Clark coach and he’s brought me up from club and just being able to stay local … some of my players from club and my high school team are also coming to Clark,” he said, adding that playing college with familiar faces will build a strong team. “So keeping that team strong and keeping us together … I kind of know a lot of guys and I’m really confident in the Clark team. They’ve been really successful in the past couple of years.”
Gaither plans to build off of two years at Clark College in order to continue his soccer career and further his education, as well.
“They give a lot of chances out to better, higher colleges, and that’s my plan to start off there, build myself, build my team, and go higher.”
