Wareham High and Bishop Stang students came together this summer for a combined team in the South Mariners soccer league, and despite a rough season with no wins, players said the experience was a positive one.

The league was open to players in grades 9 to 11 from the South Coast. But there was a lack of athletes from Wareham and thus, not enough players to complete a full team. That’s when Bishop Stang High School stepped in and provided extra players so the Wareham team could play.

Mariah Whitney, a sophomore from Wareham, said, “I thought it was a challenge at first to play with girls from a different school because we have never played with them before. But I also thought it was a good experience to meet new people and learn from them.”

Nicole Ferrell, a Bishop Stang sophomore, said that she felt playing with girls from Wareham was stressful, but in the end, it all worked out.

Having the advantage of being able to participate in a full season before school starts gives these girls a head start for the fall season.

“I personally think summer league has benefitted me by allowing me to play throughout the summer, improving on different tricks and skills we don’t practice during fall season,” noted Aria Conway, a Wareham High sophomore,

But summer league isn’t the only advantage Conway gets during the off-season. She also participates in indoor soccer during the winter and on a travel team during the spring. She says the summer league is good because it allows her to play continuously.

One athlete this summer particularly stood out. Zoe Mutton played as the team’s goalie for the first half of the season.

After playing her best for the first half, Mutton was recruited by the Bishop Stang varsity team, and finished off her season there. Mutton, a sophomore, said summer league definitely helped her earn her a varsity spot.

The team’s second goalie, Michelle Wedge, a Bishop Stang sophomore, faced a challenge of her own.

Joining the team more than halfway through the season, she had to adjust to the two different teams quickly in order to play her best.

“Joining the team late was strange because we don’t normally play together,” Wedge said, “but it wasn’t hard to adjust because of my position.”

Unfortunately for team captain Sydney Johnson, her summer league season has ended for good. Going into senior year at Wareham this year, Sydney will be too old for the league next July.

Reflecting on this season’s progress, Johnson said, “Although we didn’t win, it was good for us to get in shape and ready for our high school season. It wasn’t something I looked at for competition. It was more of conditioning and seeing what we needed to improve on as a team.”

Walking off the field for the last time, Johnson left on a good note.

“I’m kind of bummed that this is the last year of summer league,” said Johnson. “But I will still come back to watch my friends play, so this won’t be my last time coming to these fields.”

Kate Cunningham is a student at Old Rochester Regional High School and a South Mariners Summer League participant. She is interning with Sippican Week and Wareham Week for the summer.