Boulder High Boys Soccer’s 2025 season was certainly one to be remembered, as it wasn’t solely defined by big wins, but also by the team culture and the unbreakable team bond referred to as La Familia.
According to the players, the most challenging part of the season came early on. After a decent start to the season, the team lost to Fossil Ridge, which put them at a 4-4 neutral record, after previously having a 4-2 winning record. “We felt like we were getting into a groove and then lost it that game, so it was super difficult to dig ourselves out of that hole,” said midfielder James Quesenberry, 26’. Furthermore, striker Hayden Neale, 26’, confessed that the team’s “chemistry on the field wasn’t there at all at the beginning of the season.” Overall, the team had a rough start early on.
Throughout the season, however, it seems like the chemistry of La Familia continued to strengthen. “We weren’t just a group of players; we were a family,” argued midfielder Misio Usher, 27’, highlighting the bond that grew within the soccer team. As winger Roger Shen, 26’, put it, “Team dinners, early-morning practices, and locker room meetings all strengthened the brotherhood.” After the Fossil Ridge loss, Boulder High went on to beat their rival, Fairview High School, 4-3 led by Neale, who scored two goals in the match. This win improved Boulder’s record and, more importantly, their momentum.
After this, wins piled up quickly. The team then won their next six games in a row, and didn’t concede a single goal in each of those wins. This signaled that the team’s chemistry had vastly improved. “Team chemistry and culture is so amazing it can’t be described in words. Every year it is great at Boulder, but it felt different this year,” said Quesenberry. Then, came time for the playoffs. For seniors, this was their last chance to make a playoff run, and this year the team was composed of almost all seniors. Because of this, John Crowns, ‘26, highlighted that “everyone was working even harder to give everyone the longest and best possible senior season.”
In the playoffs, Boulder High played Thunder Ridge, Fairview, and Ralston Valley. Led by Neale’s 2 goals, Boulder was able to defeat Thunder Ridge with a score of 4-1.
After this, Boulder beat Fairview 2-1. Joey Schwab, ‘26, demonstrated excellent goalkeeping during this game that included saving a penalty kick, which requires great skill and anticipation. “I will always remember the halftime talk with the coach improving our skill in the second half,” he stated. “It was a deserving win,” he pointed out, “but I wish it wasn’t as stressful.”
Unfortunately, La Familia’s season came to an end in a controversial game against Ralston Valley. During this game, there was widespread outrage amongst the fans over the officiating, and Boulder only lost 1-0. While this was a sad way to end La Familia’s season, the team continued to celebrate that it happened. “Even though it was painful to have our season end that way, it helped me realize how much this team means to me. I learned how strong our bond truly is and that the connections we built go far beyond the field” stated Usher. “I will never forget my experiences with these brothers, and I hope to keep in contact with them through all aspects of my life,” asserted Schwab.
For many players, La Familia doesn’t mark the end of their soccer careers. Schwab plans to try and become a walk-on player in the future. Quesenberry has already committed to playing Division I soccer at American University. Furthermore, Misio Usher, ‘27 and Hayden Neale ‘26 both intend to play Division I Soccer. It’s exciting to see what the future holds for these promising players.
