Hornets Celebrate after Shoot Out Win over LeBlond in 2011

When you start a new sports program from scratch, you can expect to pay some dues. After five seasons of dues paying, the Hornet Boys Soccer team is looking to reap some rewards this season.      Second year head coach Tim Cunningham's program is overflowing with possibilities. "We're hoping that we will be able to make this a really memorable season" said Cunningham.      Chillicothe graduated three seniors last year including two starters, but 23 players return along with 8 freshmen for the 2012 season. Cunningham is looking to build on a record setting season last year that set new marks for wins (10), shutouts (9) and played in their first ever district championship, falling to Lafayette.      Opponents can expect to find it difficult to score against the Hornets this season, thanks to the return of last year's

All-Conference and All-District goalkeeper Troy Toedebush.
     "There is a lot of talent coming back" stated Cunningham. "We'll be led by a good group of seniors that have played for us for years." Just some of the long list of key contributors returning this year includes Chase Reeter, Brice Griffin, Grant Peterson, Wade Dietz and Junior Alan Kline plus many others.
     If the team is successful this season, it will be because of the players off season work ethic. "Our guys did a tremendous amount of work this off season" stated the Head Coach. Around 20 players formed two teams that played in a winter indoor league in St Joseph, plus attended summer camps, played in a summer outdoor league in St Joseph, had a College Coach work with the players and several Hornets played in an elite club team against high end talent in the city.

      New this year is their new home. The team this year will play their home matches at the New Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium and Bob Fairchild field. Coach Cunningham says, it's a source of pride for his team.
     "It's nice to have a place you can make your home." Cunningham says playing on turf will be a huge benefit. "It plays a lot quicker, which we like because we have some team speed. Plus the field is a lot truer. If you make a pass, it's not going to hit a clump of grass and go another direction."

      The Hornet Soccer Team hopes to be in the mix for a conference championship, but knows the going will be tough. Smithville is a perennial powerhouse in boys' soccer, St Joseph LeBlond returns all 11 starters from a team that played in the district championship, and Lafayette and Maryville are expected to once again have strong teams.