Midfielder brings leadership for Wausau East
WAUSAU - How much different is the Wausau East boys soccer team compared to last year's squad?
Just two starters are playing in the same position that they did last season.
Junior keeper Sam Petralia is back this year, as is senior center midfielder Nick Lange.
Lange is one of six seniors for a young East squad and one of the team's three captains.
"He's a smart kid and a little fiery, too. I kind of like that in captains," Wausau East coach Jeff Sorenson said. "He has a great ability to hold onto the ball and keep the ball under pressure He does a really good job at that."
Lange, who also is a middle distance runner for the East boys track team, has been battling some tenderness in his Achilles early this soccer season. The injury has forced him to sit out a half in two of the Lumberjacks four games though last week.
"It's tough. We definitely miss him," Sorenson said. "It's kind of the cascading effect where you have to pull (Isaac) Westberg from up top and put him (at midfield) so we lose a little bit offensively and conversely maybe have to switch what we are doing (with the offensive attack). Any time you have an injury it is going to effect the defense."
Give me a sense of the team and how things have gone so far: We are young (as a team) so there is a lot to learn definitely and experience to be had. We only have five seniors and three who start. We played SPASH the other day and they kind of handed it to us. They are a veteran team and that experience (difference) showed.
What is the one thing that has really stood out about this group so far? I think our chemistry. We all get along really well on and off the field. Basically this entire team, we played together in Wausau City (league) and we were able to develop and see how we would fit together as a unit.
What is going to be a key for this team to be successful this year? One thing is confidence. It might be that a ball goes into the air and some of our younger guys might not feel confident to get to it in the air and fight someone for a header. (Confidence) is just a huge thing to have as a team and that definitely showed against SPASH. They were a lot more confident going after the ball in the air and they beat us to every single header. That is something that comes with playing time and getting more experience.
You are one of the veterans on the team and as a captain, one of the leaders. Talk about being a veteran voice for this team: It feels like there is a little more pressure (this year). I would like to say I'm (a vocal leader) but I suppose everyone would like to say that they are, too.
What is it about soccer that made you really feel this was your sport? I think its the whole team aspect. I love all the guys on this team and just hanging out and having fun with them. That's a big thing — if you don't like the players on your team, you're not going to enjoy what you do.
Outside of soccer what are some things you like doing in your down time? I like to play the guitar. I've been playing for about eight years.
What musicians or guitarists do you like? I like Jack Johnson and Mumford and Sons.
Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter@timmyjo11
NICK LANGE
School: Wausau East
Year: Senior
Sports: Soccer, track
Family: Father, Ross; mother, Vickie; brother, Alexander; sister, Rachel and Marissa.
Favorite subject: Biology
Favorite soccer player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Favorite movies: "Harry Potter" series
Favorite cartoon or comic character: Batman