McCallie's Drew Viscomi (19) takes a shot on the goal around Notre Dame's Conner Henry during their soccer match at McCallie School on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.Players to watch
1. Will Boyaton, Boyd-Buchanan: Boyaton finished last season with a whopping 30 goals while helping the Bucs reach the Class A/AA state sectional.2. Churrui Huitanda, Dalton: The Catamounts are a perennial Georgia power, and Huitanda was their top goal scorer as a junior. What will his final year hold for him and his team?3. Milan Card, Notre Dame: Card’s swiftness at midfield is always an energy boost for the Fighting Irish and his creativity always poses danger for the opposing squad.
Teams to watch
1. Baylor: Until last year, the Red Raiders had advanced to at least the state semifinals every season since 2011.2. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish lost a tight match to the eventual state champions in the first round of state last year.3. Calhoun: Like Dalton, the Yellow Jackets are often in the hunt for a Georgia state title with strong teams.
As the whistle blew to start the Division II-AA soccer state title game last spring, McCallie was left to watch, ousted in the semifinal match by Nashville's Montgomery Bell Academy.
It was the second year in a row MBA put a sudden halt to a season in which the Blue Tornado had climbed into the top 10 nationally, and watching Christian Brothers hoist the 2016 trophy left an extra-painful sting.
"You know, we've been close the past two years," said senior Drew Viscomi. "My sophomore year the only games we lost were our first game of the season and the state semifinal. And then last year we lose to MBA again in the semifinal. We beat the eventual state champion 3-0 in the regular season, so it was a little bit bitter."
Although it was a bitter end, don't expect anyone on McCallie's side to call it a disappointing season, including Chris Cushenberry, who heads into his third year as coach with a butterfly net in hand. Figuratively.
"In sports in general, 'catch the butterfly' is one of the analogies we use," Cushenberry said. "You might miss a couple of times, but then you get it on that fourth or fifth try, and that's the year where everything comes together. So once every handful of years you can be good.
"Well, we want to be good every year, and if you want to catch the butterfly every year, you need a net. For us, our culture is our net. Organizations that have the right culture produce consistent success."
As the TSSAA boys' soccer season begins this week, the Blue Tornado have built their proverbial net around the pursuit of excellence, whether it's on the pitch, in the classroom or even showing discipline in the lunch room.
As for that elusive state title, the players will worry about that when it comes.
"It's really about shifting your focus to the season and not recognition, because the season will bring recognition," Will McGregor said. "It all boils down to every little decision you make to get ahead."
McGregor and Viscomi have embraced the word excellence and have set a positive example of it for their teammates.
Viscomi, who has committed to Northwestern University, was a prep All-American last year. He also was an all-state selection, along with McGregor, who recently received the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship.
The senior leaders echoed Cushenberry's excitement regarding having the key pieces from last year returning, and they are eager to enter their final season with high expectations and the right culture in place.