SHS Girls Volleyball Look to Serve Something Special in 2026

The Southington Blue Knights Girls Volleyball team. MAX PREPS PHOTO

“Winners fail, losers hide,” is a phrase written on one of the Southington high school girls volleyball team’s whiteboards. It serves as the Blue Knights’ guiding mantra, and a reminder of how head coach Richard Heitz wants his team to play.

Mistakes are going to happen. Heitz not only anticipates it, he welcomes those miscues. For a team to achieve their loftiest goals, the head coach acknowledges that sometimes you have to push the envelope. All members of the Blue Knights must be prepared to take risks and learn from any mistake, not dwell on it

“It’s okay to make mistakes,” Heitz said. “You have to make mistakes in order to get better. You have to make aggressive mistakes. If you try to play so you don’t make a mistake, you’re not going to be successful. It’s just the way the game is.”

“Some kids coming in have a hard time with that, it’s a challenge,” he continued. “Statistically, the team that makes the most aggressive mistakes in a match will win. When they’re not making a mistake, they’re dominating.”

While the Blue Knights graduated six lettermen, they also return six players who saw significant playing time in 2025. Also, Heitz has been serving as head coach for nearly three decades. Southington’s expectations have been made clear, and are understood by everyone around the program.

Entering their 2026 campaign, Heitz and company are looking to find a bit more consistency. While the Blue Knights stayed competitive in 2025, at times they fell short in tense moments. For Southington to return to their past heights, this year’s team must continue to mesh and learn how to play under pressure.

“We want to have a measured intensity, we don’t have the peaks and valleys that we had at times last year,” Heitz said. “You’ve got a bunch of different players and some haven’t played together. You’re trying to develop a team. We’re trying to learn about each other and connect. They’re good kids. So far they enjoy playing together.”

Southington Relying On Serve

When the Blue Knights step on the court, their serving ability is expected to draw the spotlight. Southington returned a litany of strong servers, and Heitz said he saw numerous Blue Knights drastically improve in that regard over the offseason. Now, the team is just trying to fine tune their serving approach in an effort to maximize their strength.

“We’re a very strong serving team,” Heitz said. “We’ve just got to find the happy medium between being aggressive and not causing errors. Serve receive passing, we’ve realized as a team we need to get a little higher quality of pass to be where we want to be. The analytics out there nowadays are pretty good. The stuff they feel on the court they can actually see on paper.”

As they prepare to serve, Southington is looking to take their opponent, “out of their system.” The Blue Knights don’t want them to find their rhythm or have any easy response to the attack. If they can consistently keep those opponents out of their system via the serve, Heitz is confident Southington will find success.

“To be successful, you’re trying to make the other team do things they don’t want to do,” Heitz said. “When you serve tough, they don’t get that first pass so they can’t run their middle hitter against you, which is the hardest to defend. They can’t run their system if you’re serving tough. You want to make the other team do things they’re uncomfortable with, makes your life a lot easier.”

In terms of standout servers, Heitz was quick to rattle of the names of four seniors, Meredith Barry, Grace Zehnder, Lauren Warych and Angelica Stavidlo. The head coach is expecting the quartet to lead the way in the serve department. Across the board though, Heitz has been impressed with the team’s ability to collectively develop their biggest strength.

Southington isn’t trying to send the ball over the net lackadaisically. They want to be strategic in how they serve. The Blue Knights know their point of attack could be lethal.

“Statistically, the worst thing you can do is miss a serve,” Heitz said. “The second worst thing you can do is just get the ball over. If you just get the ball over, the other team has an easy pass, they’re swinging, you’re playing defense. It’s a hard balance between the two.”

Blue Knights Off To Hot Start

Southington’s 2026 season started off with a 3-0 loss to Greenwich. However, the Blue Knights got back on track in a hurry and have won their last three games. They’ll take their 3-1 record into matchups against RHAM at home on September 23 and Glastonbury away on September 4.

In the opener, senior Lily Eidukaityte led the way with 10 kills while Barry and Warych contributed six and five respectively. Sophomore Emme Steindl put up 19 assists and six digs as Zehnder contributed 11 digs. The Blue Knights won a hard-fought battle in game two, knocking off Maloney 3-2: 22-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-27, 17-15. Eidukaityte again led the team with 37 kills and two aces. Steindl had 60 assists, 12 digs and three blocks as Zehnder recorded 17 digs. Barry had 11 kills, Warych eight and Stavidlo five.

Southington began an official winning streak when they defeated Berlin 3-0: 25-17, 25-15, 25-16. Eidukaityte had 13 kills, eight digs and three aces while Barry had seven kills and five blocks. Warych put up six kills and two aces as Steindl notched 29 assists. The Blue Knights won their second-straight 3-0 victory over Farmington: 25-21, 25-20, 25-20. Eidukaityte (17 kills, five digs) and Barry (seven kills, three aces, three blocks) continued their hot streaks while Steindl had another massive showing with 34 blocks and six digs. Warych had six kills and three aces as Zehnder registered six digs.

Southington’s three-game win streak shows this team could battle through adversity after losing the opener. To keep winning, Heitz wants to see the Blue Knights continue to practice rigorously and stay determined to improve.

“You’re going to have to push yourself in practice,” Heitz said. “We have such good servers it makes it harder on our passers. We’re giving ourselves at times the best practice around. It’s like baseball in the spring, pitchers and catchers report. Pitchers always seem to have that advantage when spring training starts up. Right now our servers have the advantage over our passers. Got to get our passers to catch up a bit.”

Southington Roster Features Experience, Depth

With six lettermen graduated, the Blue Knights certainly have a different look on the court compared to their 2025 version. One key difference is that there are no team captains, a system Southington has used in the past. But the upperclassmen have fully grasped what it takes to succeed in the program while the underclassmen are itching to leave their mark.

In the senior class, Eidukaityte is a reigning All-Central Connecticut Conference selection, having led Southington with 232 kills. Heading into her final campaign, Heitz and the coaching staff encouraged the outside hitter to get physically stronger. Eidukaityte took that challenge head on and has succeeded, looking more physically dominant in 2026.

Barry was another All-Conference selection in 2025 after she led the team with a .398 hitting percentage and ranked second with 175 kills. Heitz called the senior already physically strong and sees her only bulking up further. He’s also excited for the advanced work she has put in with Steindl.

Warych ended her junior season with upward momentum and entered 2026 on a similar track. She is poised to work opposite Eidukaityte with Heitz expecting big results due to a rise in confidence. Zehnder is taking on the role of libero after Paige Raines’ graduation. While she’ll have plenty of expectations on her shoulders, the senior’s head coach thinks she’s more than up to the task.

Stavidlo was mainly a reserve in 2025 due to the players in front of her. But she stayed ready for when her name was called. Heitz was impressed with her improvement over the offseason and has high hopes for her ability all over the court.

At setter, Steindl will be holding down the fort. She gained plenty of experience playing the role as a freshman. The now sophomore has gained the trust of her team and will be tasked with setting up the offense.

Behind Steindl is sophomore Ryleigh Robinson, who made the leap from freshman to varsity volleyball. Beyond just the duo, Heinz sees plenty of talent at setter throughout the program. He’s hoping it creates a pipeline of talent.

“We have four setters on JV that are good players,” Heitz said. “We’ve never been this deep at the position. It's been kind of a challenge, but a good challenge.”

Alongside Robinson, sophomore Lila Caputo - who Heitz says has the highest vertical on the team - also made the leap from the freshman to varsity. She is among numerous underclassmen Heitz expects to make an impact.

“You had some underclassmen who were chomping at the bit, they were close,” the head coach said. “They understood the role at the time and are willing to step in. The starters that we had have certainly come back stronger.”

Outside of those already listed, Southington will be expecting juniors Alexa Garcia and Kaylee Miglietta to have feature roles. Heitz stated he could turn to the JV team for extra help at times. Ultimately, the Blue Knights want to field the team that gives them the greatest chance to win.

The 2026 Southington girls volleyball roster features seniors: Grace Zehnder, Lauren Warych, Meredith Barry, Lily Eidukaityte and Angelica Stavidlo; juniors: Kaylee Miglietta and Alexa Garcia; alongside sophomores: Emme Steindl, Ryleigh Robinson and Lila Caputo,

Coach Heitz is joined by assistant coaches: Lindsey White, Kasia Kalinowski and Julia Tinyszin.

Girls Volleyball Ready to Grow as One

Heitz has coached plenty of successful teams in his two decades plus with the Blue Knights, holding a career 431-128 record as head coach entering the season. As recently as 2023, Southington advanced to the finals of the Class LL State Tournament. The program is trying to reach those heights once more. Heitz is confident this year’s team will remain competitive throughout.

But however far girls volleyball goes, the head coach doesn’t want Southington’s growth to only come on the court. Being a member of the Blue Knights means more than just aces and digs. If Heitz sees each player strive to be the best version of themselves, Southington has succeeded.

“It’s education-based athletics,” Heitz said. “The whole reason I coach is to teach life skills through a common interest in the sport of volleyball. Ultimately, did they grow individually as people? Representing the community, learning how to be in a team construct. Your whole life you’re going to be in a team construct. That’s how you look at success.”

“We do things the right way,” he concluded. “If we touch the ball and it goes out of bounds, we fess up. Not every other team does that. If you work hard and play the right way, you’re going to generally like what you see on the scoreboard.”

“Small but Mighty” SHS Girls Cross Country Ready to Make Mark

SHS Girls Cross Country Captains Fiona Gilbride, Jenna Tartarelli. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JACLYN SULLIVAN

Judged solely by their numbers, Southington girls cross country’s team might look small. But head coach Jaclyn Sullivan is confident the Blue Knights’ size won’t put a ceiling on their potential. The 12 members of this year’s group are united in their goals, and plan to run as one until the final finish line.

Sullivan calls the Blue Knights’ roster “small but mighty.” The title is a testament to the effort Southington put in over the offseason to prepare. It’s also a signal to opposing teams to watch what happens as the Blue Knights mature and grow.

“It’s mighty in the sense that they are driven,” Sullivan said. “They’re putting in the mileage, they’re putting in the work. If they can put all that energy, positivity and work together, that is a very strong force to be reckoned with. They are small, but they can be mighty if they’re willing to continue challenge themselves and hold each other accountable. Who knows what they can do.”

Many of this year’s runners have worked with Sullivan through indoor and outdoor track & field. But cross country opens up a very different avenue to grow and bond. Athletes aren’t spread out between numerous events – everyone is on the same course, chasing the same brass ring.

To succeed, Southington must stay together. Through every trial and tribulation, the Blue Knights believe they get stronger as a team. That mentality has laid the groundwork for the girls cross country program and will continue to define their success.

“The girls have an opportunity to really connect,” Sullivan said. “They spend so much time running together,” Sullivan said. “They’re out there running for an hour, an hour-plus at times. They build different connections and relationships with each other. The team culture builds differently. It’s all one goal.”

“Even though they’re individually racing, competing, training and they have their individual goals to go after, they have this team environment where they’re all working for the same goal,” she continued. “In indoor and outdoor track, you have field events, or you might try something as a jumper or thrower. These girls are all running the same event, doing the same thing with the same goal to see how they can move forward, how high they can finish as a team. That provides a different level of motivation. It’s cool, the camaraderie they build around that.”

Runners connect to their teammates.

'Summer Foundation' builds Blue Knights

“Championships are won in the summer,” is a common cross country cliche. Sullivan calls it ‘Summer Foundation,’ adding, “The larger the foundation, the higher the tower can be built.”

As Southington was starting that building process, they met a bit of a speedbump when construction at the high school forced a change to their usual course. The historian in Sullivan is bummed that the times she records will be for a different course length, making it difficult to compare them to previous seasons. Still, she acknowledges that the adjustment was not too hard. Boys cross country head coach Nick Migani helped with the measurements, and the Blue Knights weren’t thrown off too badly by the change.

Following individual training over the summer, Southington had a clear plan once practice began. Sullivan wanted to concentrate on, “a little bit of everything,” from the aerobic to the mental side of cross country. The focus was on efficiency and finding proper race pace. Southington used all the metrics that were available to improve their endurance and maintain higher speeds consistently.

Along with their work on the course, Sullivan wanted the Blue Knights to set some team goals. The head coach was pleased to see they already had some in mind, and they didn’t just involve winning.

Of course, the Blue Knights want to compete in the Central Connecticut Conference South and make noise at the Class LL State Championship, if not beyond. But they also want to cultivate a positive team culture. They want to always encourage and support each other. They are all eager to hold each other accountable. To Sullivan, Southington’s team environment is what will set them apart from the pack.

“We’re a small team, but most of them were running over the summer. A lot of them ran over 400 miles. They were all working towards something,” Sullivan said.

“After the first week, it was time to create team goals. They were able to come together and set quite a few different goals for themselves this season. Not just postseason goals, but what does the process look like for them. Can they build a team where they’re all good teammates and there’s a positive culture as well? It’s cool they were able to come together and work on that together.”

Preparation leads to season opening wins

Southington opened their season with a tri-meet at home against Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. Entering the campaign, Sullivan wasn’t overly concerned with the clock. She mostly wanted the Blue Knights to prove they were ready to compete at the highest level.

“I’m not worried about your time, I’m not worried about what it says on the clock,” Sullivan said. “I really just want to see you execute your race and compete to the best of your ability. Can you compete? Can you go out there and throw down when asked? Can you be strong and be comfortable being uncomfortable?”

This year’s team passed their first test, earning a 21-37 win over Wethersfield and 18-41 victory over Rocky Hill. Sophomore Madeleine Canner-O’Mealy led the way, winning the race outright with a time of 19:52.49. Fellow sophomores Emily Phipps (21:26.23) and Giada Pagnucco (22:00) finished third and fourth, respectively. Senior Fiona Kilbride (23:12.57) who finished seventh, and sophomore Giuliana Angieri (23:24.99), who placed seventh, rounded out Southington’s top five.

Madeleine Canner-O'Mealy on the course.

Sullivan wanted to see a high level of competition, and that’s what she got. The Blue Knights were able to swat away any early season cobwebs. Southington now knows they can compete. Still, the head coach says it’s just the beginning.

“A lot of the girls were pretty pumped with how they performed. It was the first time we were able to run on this course,” Sullivan said. “To go out and execute and feel strong, feel powerful and confident throughout the race, really challenge themselves to try something and know that it’s okay to make a mistake because they’re only going to grow from it. They had a lot of insightful reflection.”

Moving forward, Sullivan wants the Blue Knights to focus on what she calls the “little things.” Southington will continue to work on their mental and physical endurance. But ultimately, each runner must look inside to see what they’re truly made of.

“Learning to be tough and working through and with the pain. Continuing to prepare before races,” Sullivan said. “Really visualize, bring confidence and work with nerves, not against them. Everybody gets nervous. Within races, continuing to move up, trusting in each other. Trust in yourself. Be strong when it gets hard.”

“Finding that grit and tenacity is so important in racing,” she continued. “You have to develop that and continue to practice it. Those are little goals to work towards big goals to see what they can do.”

The Blue Knights continued their winning ways in a quad-meet against Platt, Middletown and New Britain on Sept. 15. Southington stayed undefeated, earning 15-50 wins across the board. Canner-O’Mealy again led the way, winning another race with a time of 20:10. Pagnucco (20:58) and Phipps (21:16)  were right behind, literally, finishing second and third respectively. Sophomore Emily Blankenship (fourth, 21:56) and Kilbride (fifth, 22:52) rounded out the top five.

They’ll compete in the Wilton Invite on Sept. 19.

Southington captains lead young roster

Girls cross country uses a rigorous process to find their captains. Interested candidates must fill out a Google form. Then, Southington votes using a weighted system. The players get 50 percent of the vote while the coaches get the other half. Sullivan wants to ensure that it isn’t just a popularity contest, but values the player’s opinions, as coaches can’t see everything.

In 2026, senior Fiona Kilbride and junior Jenna Tartarelli emerged as the team’s captains. Kilbride has been on the team for three seasons and has run at the State Open. Tartarelli is still new to the sport but already competed at Nationals for Indoor track. Between their championship accolades and communication with the team, Sullivan thought both captains fit the role perfectly.

“She brings experience at the championship, postseason level,” Sullivan said of Kilbride. “She brings dedication. She’s one of the athletes who ran over 400 miles, you can tell that she’s driven. She really is just friendly with everyone on the team. She gets things going and is really an asset in that regard.”

“It’s her second year of cross country so she’s a little bit newer,” the head coach said of Tartarelli. “When she joined track as a freshman, she’s someone who jumped into everything. Right from the get-go, she grew into someone who was a postseason runner. She brings a lot of that varsity, championship experience. She is also one of the most positive people I know. She may have a hard day, but she tries so hard to be positive. Not just for herself but for her teammates.”

Alongside the captains, Sullivan is excited to see the development of numerous underclassmen. Sophomore Madeleine Canner-O’Mealy operated as the Blue Knights’ No. 2 runner in 2025, going on to finish ninth at the outdoor track State Open in the 3200. Sullivan has watched her continue to take great strides as a runner and is expecting her to strive for lofty goals as a sophomore.

Fellow sophomore Giada Pagnucco was Southington’s seventh runner at the Class LL State Tournament in 2025. In her first race of 2026, she set a new personal record. Sullivan sees her confidence growing in all aspects, which she expects to translate to even more success.

The same goes for sophomore Emily Phipps as she comes off her third place finish. Along with being a great teammate, Sullivan notices how much Phipps enjoys the distance of cross country. That passion for the sport and improvement will only create a brighter future in the head coach’s eyes.

Emily Blankenship marks the fourth sophomore on Sullivan’s watch list. While she didn’t compete in the opening meet, Blankenship did run over 400 miles in the summer. With a fourth place finish in her 2026, Sullivan knows the sophomore is primed for a strong campaign.

The youth of Southington’s roster can’t be ignored. Of their 12 players, seven are underclassmen. They will have to get used to competing at the varsity level. But Sullivan sees it as a blessing, rather than a curse. This group will grow in the program together. They’ll face the same highs and lows. The Blue Knights will be built in their vision.

“It is nice to have a young squad coming in and having similar goals,” Sullivan said. “They’re together longer, they get to know each other, they get to build that camaraderie. They grow together. It’s exciting to see what’s going to happen. I'm excited for the season and future.”

“Don’t get me wrong, having lost Katie [Cavanaugh] and Jenna [Hebert] from last year for example, that’s a lot of experience lost. But they were able to be on a team with them and learn from them too. My hopes are, as we go from year to year, they become those experienced athletes and are able to share that with newcomers as well.”

Southington girls cross country’s 2026 roster features seniors: Addison Deputa, Brooke Flugrad and Fiona Kilbridge; juniors: Anna Janowski and Jenna Tartarelli; sophomores: Giuliana Angieri, Emily Blankenship, Madeleine Canner-O’Mealy, Giada Pagnucco and Emily Phipps; alongside freshmen: Adriana Cal and Fiona Doran.

Blue Knights crafting own line of success

When the postseason rolls around, Southington will be putting their ‘small but mighty’ mantra to the test. Sullivan admits that having a bit more depth could help the team in the long run. But there is nothing stopping this year’s 12 from making an impact in the CCC and state at-large.

“It’s hard to not have depth. But seven girls are your varsity runners and five score,” Sullivan said. “Despite being a small squad, I don’t think anything is impossible. If they all stay on the same page, keep their goals in mind, all do what they need to do, anything is possible.”

In terms of success, the Blue Knights have found plenty recently as the reigning CCC South champions. Everyone involved with Southington girls cross is aiming to reach those elevated heights once more.

But whether or not the Blue Knights succeed in 2026 won’t be exclusively determined by wins. Hundreds of miles are racked up by each runner as they try to reach their personal peak. It’s the journey, and lessons learned along the way, that will remain in the minds of Southington’s mighty 12 long after their fall season.

“Are they achieving their individual goals first and foremost,” Sullivan asked. “Are they showing growth, challenging themselves? Are they growing not only as athletes but as human beings? Are they learning about themselves in a way that’s going to be conducive to being successful in life? Are they achieving their team goals, are they good teammates and friends?”

“But can they go after a CCC division win? Can they do something at LLs that’s going to qualify them for State Opens? Reaching or not reaching those goals wouldn’t qualify it as a success,” Sullivan continued. “As long as we try and put our best effort out there, that’s what I want to see. I want to see them dig deep, be tenacious, I want to see them be competitive. If they do that, that’s success.”

Madeleine Canner-O'Mealy, Giada Pagnucco, Emily Phipps, and Jenna Tartarelli on the field.

Tyler Turner Named Southington Boys Soccer Head Coach

SHS boys soccer coach Tyler Turner. PHOTO COURTESY TYLER TURNER

Tyler Turner’s life has played out on the pitch. He says he was brought into this world with a soccer ball on his foot. Now, Turner will be using his experience to help foster the next generation of players as Southington High School’s boys soccer head coach.

Turner is entering his fourth year with the Southington Soccer Club, currently serving as their Coaching Director. He has seen the program grow from 220 players to more than 550 over that time. When the Blue Knights head coaching position opened, many of those players encouraged Turner to apply.

Still, he waited at least four days after the listing was posted before he applied, unsure whether he would even be on Southington’s radar. Ultimately Turner did submit that application, and land the Blue Knights lead role. The reality that he is a head coach may not have fully set in yet, but Turner is already planning what he wants to bring to the boy’s soccer program.

“Still getting used to that title. It has been eye opening,” Turner said. “High school soccer is different from club soccer, even collegiate level. It’s pride, playing for your community. It is everything to me at the moment, I’m very excited. I wanna show a more competitive level. When coaching soccer players at the youth level, I’m not the coach that’s advocating you need to win, win, win. Now, stepping into the boat here, wins and losses at the high school really matter.”

“My first objective is always to have a helping hand in raising mature, young adults. If that’s the case, it’ll trickle onto the soccer field,” he continued. “But for me to have this opportunity to bring a different culture, bring my experience and mesh it all together in my ultimate game plan - I couldn’t ask for anything more. I am super excited and I just hope that the players, parents and community is going to be understanding of that and have our backs. I am fully bought in and 100 percent committed to this.”

Athletic Director Bob McKee shared Turner’s eagerness. Given the ties he already has to the community, he’s confident in the head coach’s ability to move Southington boys soccer forward.

“We are incredibly excited to have Tyler lead our program,” McKee said. “He brings an exceptional background, having played at the highest professional level and coached at the professional, collegiate and youth levels. Tyler is already planting deep roots here by working with the Southington Soccer Club, which will bridge the gap between our two programs and strengthen the entire local soccer community.”

Turner’s Coaching Transition

Throughout his playing days, Turner served as a coach for many different clubs. He spent time with MLS teams like Orlando City and the LA Galaxy, Rollins College in Florida and indoor teams in both Iowa and Milwaukee.

The transition to being a coach forced Turner to look in the mirror. He had been so focused on improving his own skills. Now, it was his time to give back and share everything he knew.

“It made me self-reflect a lot, step back from myself and see the whole soccer world,” Turner said. “Not every player wants to reach the level I wanted to reach when I was younger. It’s better that I had the experience of reaching the highest level. No matter what, I’m still able to give the players exactly what they need to my fullest capacity.”

“I’m not going to come out here and do something 50 percent. How much I was invested in this, in the transition to coaching, the players can feel that,” he continued. “They know this is my life. They know this is what I do. I don’t have a safety net. Regardless of on-the-field stuff, it’s about how I can relate to young players. They feel the realness in my messages and emotions that I dedicate to them.”

Turner wasn’t exactly sure how his professional journey would start after hanging up his cleats at 25-years-old. He wanted to stay in soccer, but his opportunities were running dry.

“I did not know what I wanted to do with my life,” Turner said. “I know I wanted to stay in soccer, but I had no job opportunities. I signed my first contract at 17-years-old, left high school. I didn’t have a diploma or GED at the time. Going from the highest ups, I was turned down from McDonalds at one point.”

Then came the Southington Soccer Club. Once he saw an opening, he joined the program for a spring trial. Turner shone in that role, and has been with the club ever since, rising up the ranks. He saw the opportunity as the universe pushing him down the right avenue.

It also allowed Turner to put some of his plans in place. He had an idea of what he wanted youth soccer to look like in Connecticut. With the SSC community welcoming him warmly, Turner found his place in the coaching world. His time with soccer was far from over.

“I did not know I was this good, respectfully, at working with youth. To go from two-year olds to the high school job, that was eye-opening for me. I was more hesitant and nervous. But with the reassurance, relationships and connections I have with these families, they have welcomed me completely,” Turner said.

“The welcoming was the biggest hurdle and milestone. They made it so easy for me to hop in and trust what I’m doing. All credit goes to the kids, players and families. I would not be who I am if they didn’t treat me with the warm welcome and keep giving me that reassurance that they’re on my side and have my back.”

Now, going on four years with the Southington Soccer Club, Turner has had the opportunity to work with many current Blue Knights. Their growth has happened right before his eyes. Those players are well aware of Turner’s expectations. And it shouldn’t be long before any new additions get the message.

“The biggest eye opener for me is how much they have grown and changed. I have no kids myself, but it felt like a proud father moment,” Turner said. “To be able to work with them before I had the intention or desire to take over at the high school was super beneficial. They got to experience the raw me as a coach, who was trying to bring that professional experience.”

“Nothing has changed from club to now in my expectations or standards,” he continued. “A lot of respect from me to the players and the players back to me. It was a good foundation to start off with. It’s just how the universe works. I couldn’t ask for a better environment to step into with these boys.”

Ironically enough, the idea of coaching was something of an insult to Turner when he was a player. Every coach he had from U14 on told him he would be a better coach than a player. He didn’t understand it at the time. But Turner now gets the message those coaches were sending clearly.

“Now stepping into the coaching world, I know exactly what they meant,” Turner said. “To say that out loud, I get goosebumps. I have the same fulfillment as they did seeing my teams play.”

On the Pitch

Turner began his soccer career when he was three years old. He says he “had no choice,” as his mother was a member of the USA Women’s National Team pool alongside players like Mia Hamm. His entire family was filled with soccer heads from his uncles to his godmother. They all told Turner that he started kicking a ball before he even started walking.

At age 13, Turner was scouted for the USA National Team from the former South Central Premier Soccer Club. Ironically enough, he wasn’t the player scouts came to see - it was the opponent matched up against him. Turner always tells his athletes, “every time you step on the field, treat it like it’s your last.” That mentality earned him the eye of the USA National Team and jumpstarted his professional career.

Turner played on the USA National Team from U13 to U23. He was teammates with numerous USA players in the most recent World Cup such as Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams. For many of those years, Turner served as the team captain.

Along with his time on the National Team, Turner played in Major League Soccer for Orlando City. When he signed his contract in 2014, he became the youngest player in club history at the time.

Every step of the way has prepared Turner for his new role as coach. He has seen everything the sport has to offer and understands the sacrifices each player makes. That experience has played a direct role in how Turner now sees the game.

“Whatever team that I coach, we are a family,” Turner said. “You’re there three, four days a week, training for hours. Games during the week, tournaments. You treat everyone with respect. There’s no favoritism, everyone is on the same level. You are the advocate for how you’re going to be treated. If you can create a culture everyone believes in, that is the sign of a great coach. If your team can conform into one unit, the ceiling is non-existent. You can push through.”

 

Turner Building Southington Culture

One clear tenet of Turner’s vision for the program is community. He wants his players to volunteer their time and give back, helping grow the younger generation. Furthermore, he wants playing for Southington to be a badge of honor.

At the same time, Turner understands the importance of winning at the high school level. Coming off of a 3-11-2 season, the Blue Knights are trying to get vastly better in that department.

Their new head coach is expecting them to play with a chip on their shoulder. Plenty of nervousness and tense moments are to come. But if Southington is prepared to face every obstacle, Turner knows they’ll succeed.

“Nerves are okay. I’m expecting you to be nervous coming into the season because you have something to prove. To have nerves shows you care,” Turner said. “But I promise you, preparation is the key ingredient to that equation. If you are prepared, and I will prepare you, you should not be worried. Nerves are appropriate, but if you can rely on how much work we’re doing this summer going into the season, you guys are fine. I will prepare you for whatever the game is going to throw at you. Trust in the process, trust in the system.”

After helping build the Southington Soccer Club, Turner is now embracing his next challenge. Helping the Blue Knights reach new heights will take time, but it's a project Turner is eager to tackle. Eventually he wants Southington boys soccer to be hoisting the state championship at the end of their season. But to start, Turner is looking to build a new foundation for the Blue Knights.

“I would love to win a state championship. Any coach in any sport, if they’re not telling you that, they’re lying,” Turner said. “But my immediate goal is implementing that family culture environment. I’m expecting these boys to develop that relationship with each other throughout the rest of the year. How are you going to keep each other involved outside of the season?”

“It’s not going to be a one-year process. If they can create that culture, that standard throughout the year, it translates on the field,” he concluded. “We’re more cohesive and more of a family fighting for each other.”