For Andover Central seniors Jack Sizemore and Jax Van Hiel, the upcoming season is about more than wins and
losses. It is an opportunity to make the most of their final season in a Jaguars uniform, grow alongside their teammates and leave the program better than they found it.
Sizemore, a four-year varsity player, is especially looking forward to one final opportunity to compete with the
teammates he has shared the field with throughout his high school career.
“I’m most excited for my senior season and getting to play with my teammates one last time,” Sizemore said. “I’ve been on varsity for four years, so I want to make this last season one to remember and give it everything I have.”
Sizemore will have an added reason to make the season memorable. His younger brother, Auggie, is a freshman on the Jaguars’ team, giving the senior a chance to share his final high school season with his brother.
Van Hiel is also looking forward to the competition that comes with the season, particularly the Jaguars’ biggest games. He wants to see the work put in during the offseason translate when Andover Central faces its toughest opponents.
“I’m most excited to compete with my teammates during the season and see how much we can grow throughout
the season,” Van Hiel said. “I’m looking forward to the big games we have against our rivals, where we can test ourselves against good competition and see all of our hard work we put into the offseason translate to the field.”
Van Hiel will also have a unique source of motivation when the Jaguars take the field. Several of his club teammates attend other high schools, creating opportunities to compete against players he already knows well.
“We all keep in touch during the high school season and of course push each other with some playful back and forth about who’s high school team is better,” Van Hiel said.
Both seniors have spent the offseason working to become more consistent players.
Sizemore has focused on workouts, training and skill development, putting in extra time in the areas where he wants to improve.
“One thing I want to improve this year is being more consistent,” Sizemore said. “I worked on that during the offseason by getting extra workouts in and putting more time into my skills.”
Van Hiel has taken a similar approach. He plays club soccer on an ECRL team during the offseason, giving him additional opportunities to work on his game while also developing his strength, speed and conditioning.
He has also focused on the small details of the game, including technique, footwork and passing.
“One area I want to improve this year is my consistency,” Van Hiel said. “I wanna be able to step on the field and know my teammates and coach can rely on me no matter what.”
Van Hiel believes consistency is built through the little things, which has led him to emphasize fundamentals and extra repetitions during his offseason training. He has also worked extensively on one-touch passing and accuracy.
“I don’t want my teammates to ever have to come back to get a ball,” Van Hiel said. “I want to get better at predicting where they will be and lead them there.”
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