Taiwo Adeshigbin is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover BASIS Phoenix for AZPreps365.com

Two years ago, BASIS Phoenix had one soccer team filled with boys and girls competing in The Canyon Athletic Association.

“It was a rec type of league with very few players with club soccer experience,” said Sebastian Verstraet, parent to junior forward Liam Verstraet. “Now, it’s more competitive and a completely different level.”

Before joining the AIA's 3A Conference in 2019, the Firebirds did a lot of recruiting and convincing to get enough boys to join the team.  

Athletic Director Christopher Guyll mentioned how, aside from the pandemic, it was an uphill battle making such a big jump from the CAA to the AIA. But in spite of the challenges, he said the kids were up for the task and believed in the program. 

Before the boys team was formed, there was a lot of communication among the parents to get their sons on board. 

“A lot of times club players may be reluctant to play for a program that’s not proven, coach Jules Veloria said.

Veloria said because many of the parents knew each other from club soccer, it was an easier sell to get their sons involved.

Although Veloria has one son on the team, he offered to coach not out of obligation but to help the program reach higher levels given his previous club coaching experience. 

Last year, the Firebirds played as a 3A independent. They made the playoffs, but lost in the play-in game. 

“The first year was getting acclimated to a new coach, new system and a new team, and there were some rough patches,” Veloria said. 

Even this year, Veloria said he wasn’t so much concerned about the outcome but wanted the kids to put in the effort, support one another, and hold each other accountable. 

That togetherness has led them to another playoff appearance after finishing third in the 3A Central Division with an overall record of 10-2. 

Their two losses came against conference opponents -- Veritas Prep (7-1), the defending 3A state champion, and Phoenix Country Day (7-1) – who are ranked first and second in 3A. 

Verstraet, the team's leading scorer with 14 goals and seven assists, said even though his team lost a lot of seniors from last season, the team’s chemistry and confidence should help them go further in the playoffs. 

One of those graduating seniors was Arnav Deshmukh, who was the goalie for three seasons. He said he wasn’t sure how the team would do losing so many seniors and with no one to fill the goalkeeper position. 

“I volunteered to become a graduate assistant to mentor the new keepers, show them the ropes and build their confidence,” Deshmukh said. 

Assistant coach Robert Campbell, who offered to coach this year with a son on the team, added that at the start of the season the team wasn’t so sure of themselves, but that has changed. 

“Watching kids progress in the sport is great,” Campbell said. “The most fulfilling thing is watching their confidence improve. "

Veloria said the chemistry from a personal perspective has always been there considering many have been going to the same school since middle school, but the on-field bond organically grew with the time spent on the field. 

“I demanded a lot more from them this year now that they know how to play the way we want to play,” Veloria said. “In order to reach the highest level, they need to have a certain amount of accountability to the team and themselves.”

A Firebirds team that has scored 62 goals in 10 games hopes to go further in playoffs by sticking to their possession style of play and trusting one another. 

All can agree that the benefits of playing in a competitive high soccer league goes beyond the sport. 

“Since people aren’t going to classes in person, the practices are a way to get out of the house and releasing energy,”  Liam Verstraet said. “It’s really exciting and freeing to have somewhere to play soccer with my friends.”

While BASIS Phoenix may be new to the AIA, they are a nationally known for their academics. 

Guyll agreed that having a strong academic and sporting program school will benefit the kids in the long run. 

“If our athletes can leave our school being able to work with others, respecting others and working hard to accomplish a goal, that determination will serve them well going forward,” Guyll said. 

As the playoff begins this weekend, the BASIS Phoenix boys are gearing up for their play-in match Saturday when they host Scottsdale Christian (6-5) at 2 p.m.

Regardless of the results, the BASIS Phoenix boys soccer staff knows the experiences will teach them life- long lessons. 

“The things that they learn on the soccer field such as hard work and effort, and being able to critique oneself and analyze to be successful, and then playing under pressure,” Veloria said.

“Those things really translate in life after BASIS or college, whatever they do.”