Watterson Using Last Soccer Season as Motivation

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(September 24, 2023 7:33 AM ET) Two things have always been a constant in the soccer career of Roarke Watterson.

He is nearly always the smallest guy on the field, but his quick feet and relentless pursuit of goals will always be there.

The 5-foot 3-inch Western High School sophomore is leading the Panthers to another successful season after going 18-1 last season.

Watterson has 10 goals and seven assists as the Panthers have stepped up their competition in 2023.

Last year the Panthers started the season with 18 wins and advanced to the district final before losing to Richland Gull Lake, 1-0. Gull Lake went on to win a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state title in boys soccer.

“The way last year ended made us mad … this is our revenge tour,” Watterson said. “We knew where we could have been (at the end of the playoffs).”

Watterson has been playing soccer since he could walk at the urging of his two older brothers – Sawyer and Wittaker. 

“For a number of years, I played up on my brother’s team … I was always five or six inches and 50 pounds smaller,” Watterson said. “With two older brothers, I am used to being thrown around.”

But Watterson has learned that being quick and having dribbling skills higher than most, he could be successful.

“I am always dribbling a ball all around my house,” Watterson said. “God gave me some skills and I have put in the work.”

The sophomore has attended ID camps – camps with college coaches scouting – the past five years. Players are grouped into regional teams and the best head to a national tournament.

“I spend most of June at soccer tournaments, take two weeks off, and then head to camps,” Watterson said.

Western has not been on the winning streak from a year ago – 18 consecutive wins – but has stepped up its opposition. The Panthers played Kalamazoo Central, Portage Northern, Mason, and Detroit Country Day in a month’s worth of road contests.

“Last year we didn’t play the better competition,” Watterson said. “It is good for us to learn how to play against tough teams … especially when the playoffs start.”

Western is 7-3-1 so far this season.

Watterson feels the sport has taught him how to be mentally tough.

“In the last 10 minutes of a 1-1 game your legs are tired and you can’t feel them, but you know that you have to dig in and give that extra 10 percent to win,” Watterson said. “We can be really good again this season using last year’s results as motivation.”