Seventy players kicked the soccer balls across the green last Thursday afternoon.
Charles Lawhorn watched the players as he did every August for the last five years. But this year was different he was looking for varsity players.
Lawhorn was named head coach for the Clarkston High School Boys Varsity Soccer team in June when Adam Bican stepped down from the position for family.
During the last four years he coached the JV team. He came to Clarkston when his sister said the position opened.
‘I met with Adam. He liked what I had to say and hired me,? said Lawhorn.
Being with the Clarkston Soccer Program has allowed for a smooth transition over the last few months.
Lawhorn isn’t a stranger to the varsity team. He helped throughout the last four seasons being on the bench and assisting when it was needed.
He also already knows the players from coaching them on the JV team. He admitted only a few he hasn’t coached but knows them.
Lawhorn noted it does help knowing the programs and the players.
‘It has been a smooth transition,? he said, adding he has no plans for changes to the program. ‘We have been a winning program for years and we will continue it.?
Another dynamic helping him and the players in the transition is the family closeness in the program.
‘One thing we do stress is family,? he said. ‘Between the coaches, the kids and the parents everyone is close.
‘We have an opportunity to be very competitive this year,? said Lawhorn.
The boys are aiming for the OAA Red league title and a district title.
‘Our expectations are always high in Clarkston and after districts we aim to do the best we can,? said Lawhorn.
The boys begin the season on Saturday at the Traverse City Invitational. They host their home opener on Tuesday against cross town rivals, Lake Orion.
JV begins at 5:30 p.m., varsity follows.