In recent school memory, the Greenville High School Hornets and Honeybees girls and boys teams are having the best season in history of the sport. Both teams began the current season with a perfect 6-0 record . To add, neither team has given up a single goal during the six matches. With each team’s biggest two wins being versus Coahoma County, they combined for 40 goals total in just four matches.
When asked about the culture of the GHS soccer boys varsity team, head coach Sean Henry revealed that “the team’s strong organizational culture is the powerful talent attractor. It has afforded us access to some of the best talent in the district and has been the cohesive agent which helps us retain our top players.”
Over half of the players on each team combined have been playing the sport of soccer at the tender age of 4. Henry says the highlight of the season thus far is witnessing the dominance that they have worked for since they were just in the 7th grade. They have learned the game and have learned to also love the game as they got older.”
A host of the players have been participating and getting reps with the GHS league since junior high school. Their involvement with and around the program has been the glue. They are finally witnessing all the things that they worked so hard to accomplish.
Last season, the boys soccer team won the 5A Region 2 district tournament and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The girls soccer team did not short stop as they finished third in the district and advanced to the first round of playoffs. No team in GHS’ school history has ever made it to the playoffs. Head coach of the girls soccer team, Broderick Lance, believes that his team’s “work habit during the off season is what has contributed to the early success in the season. They make sure that they work hard so that during the season they can be prepared for other teams and different levels of competitions”.
This season both teams have defeated a number of schools including Riverside, Provine, Canton, and Strayhorn. Coach Henry, gives much credit to the players for their hard work, discipline, and dedication. Henry also couldn’t go any further without mentioning one of the most important agents in the development of the team’s culture: “the heavy parental involvement” of Prentiss Smith, Will Wilson, Sr. , Benjamin Davenport Sr., Christye Kyle-Lance, Broderick Lance and Monica Turner. They have all had an integral part to play in the development of the overall success of the sport’s turnaround program.
The parent volunteers have spent more than ten years around the GHS soccer program. Wilson, Davenport, and Smith agreed that they have a strong passion for assisting with the student-athletes as they can witness them groom into better students of the sport. The three dedicate their time in the off-season months coaching a number of the players in a travel league. The athletes also participate in the school's cross country program which keeps them in shape while also strengthening their bond. The parents all confirmed that the athletes began playing soccer with the local league, Greenville Youth Soccer Association (GYSA) which has been the foundation of the basic fundamentals.
The boys team currently does not have any seniors this year and all players are expected to return next year to continue the legacy. The girls will lose a few key players but the coaches and parents still have high expectations. They are on the road to finish what they started at GHS.
