WICHITA, Kan.—
The Northwest soccer team got the perfect ending to its undefeated season on Saturday when the Grizzlies won the Class 6A state championship game against Olathe South 1-0 in Topeka. “Winning the state championship was a goal our seniors had from the start,” Coach Bobby Bribiesca said. Bribiesca has been the coach at Northwest since 1979, and coached the team that won the state championship back in 1995.
“A team like this doesn’t come around very often. They really bonded together like a family,” Bribiesca said.
“Our boys just put it all out on the field. The momentum from the season just carried over to the state tournament,” Bribiesca said.
Bribiesca said the teams at state said Northwest was the best team they had seen in quite a while.
“We kept hearing all season how everyone thought we had a shot at the state title, so there was definitely a lot of pressure on us. It really means a lot to be able to bring that title back to the city of Wichita and USD 259,” Bribiesca said.
The game was scoreless up until the very end, when senior David Lucio scored on a penalty kick with two seconds left in regulation play.
“Getting that game winning goal was like a dream come true. The set up made it seem like it was straight out of a movie,” Lucio said.
Lucio said it’s hard to put into words what the win means to him.
“It was just a great season, and I am so thankful for winning the title for Northwest and the city of Wichita, Lucio said.
Bribiesca said his team had great team chemistry, and had several players that scored over 20 goals each this season. Northwest only allowed 10 goals the entire season.
Bribiesca said Jonathan Lane is one of the best keepers in the state.
“When he is on, our whole team is going to be on. He had some great saves during the championship game,” Bribiesca said.
Northwest is very proud to bring the 6A state soccer title back to Wichita.
“Coach Bribiesca always believed in us. He found something each game that we needed to work on. He just kept driving us, and it paid off,” senior Austin Clifton said.
Clifton said it was just the most perfect season any soccer player could ever ask for.
“This win means everything, because no one in the Northeast part of the state thought a school from Wichita had a chance. But we proved them wrong and brought the title back to Wichita,” Clifton said.
Senior Addie Pauler said Northwest was prepared both mentally and physically.
“We came into the state tournament not only as a team, but as a family. We had an undefeated season and won the state championship, there’s nothing else I could ever ask for from a team,” Pauler said.
Pauler said ending the 15-year drought for Wichita 6A soccer proves that Kansas City teams are no longer the only teams capable of winning a state title.
Senior Broc Cramer was a leader for the Grizzlies all season.
“This team is like a family. Every team member played a part in our success,” Cramer said. Cramer said that he has dreamed of winning a state soccer title since he was a little boy.
“The way it happened, the dramatic finish, and the perfect season is almost surreal to me. It is an absolutely amazing experience that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Cramer said.
Cramer said Coach Bribiesca is an extremely experienced and talented coach.
“This title is for him, he means so much to me as an individual and as an athlete. He is an icon for Northwest soccer and soccer in the city of Wichita,” Cramer said.
Cramer said every piece of the puzzle just fit together this season.
“This team was an amazing family of talented athletes that were guided by one of the best coaches in the state of Kansas. We proved that by bringing the state title back to Wichita,” Cramer said.
“This team all worked together for a common goal this season, and that was to win the 6A state title and bring it back to the city of Wichita,” Bribiesca said.
