DCHS soccer embarks on first state berth

    They won't settle for just making it to the state tournament.
    After a 2-1 win over the Maize High School Eagles Tuesday night in the Class 6A quarterfinals, the Dodge City Red Demons are headed to the state tournament for the first time in school history in soccer on Friday.
    But just making it to state isn't enough. They want more.
    "It's a pretty sweet feeling," DCHS coach Virgil Hutchcraft said. "But I've said it all along, we're not done. We have a lot of business to take care of.
    “ We want to get that ultimate goal that we set for ourselves of getting first place at state, not settle for just showing up, but getting that first-place trophy."
    Even some of the team was overwhelmed with the thought of going to state.
    "I just can't really explain how it feels," junior Joel Gallardo said. "It feels great."
    Sophomore Alan Rojas is happy about making it to state, and looking forward to what it means for future Dodge City teams.
    "Actually good," Rojas said. "Because although we're the first ones, we can show the incoming players that you can achieve more. You pretty much give them an excuse that they can be better than us."
    The Demons, (16-3) take on the Lawrence Free State Firebirds (15-4) in the first round of state on Friday at 6 p.m. The tournament is being held at the Overland Park Blue Valley District Soccer Complex.
    "On paper, we should be better (than Lawrence Free State), but we've still got to play the game," Hutchcraft said. "I just got done telling them that from now on, we've got to consider every opponent a Maize-type opponent. We've got to bring our best game and our best level to each of these remaining two games."
    Gallardo and sophomore Alan Rojas say they are confident about the match-up.
    "Confident," Rojas said. "We're good, they're good. It'll be a good game. There's no reason to be worrying about how they play."
    Gallardo agreed, going on to say that he feels the Demons have the ability to beat anyone right now.
    Victor Millan will return after a one-game suspension, which Hutchcraft is happy about, although they are a team with or without him.
    "It'll help having Victor back, but you know what, we did it without him last night," Hutchcraft said. "Not to sound pretentious or proud or anything, but I think we just have the kind of team that we can deal with any situation that's thrown at us. If we miss a player, then we've got enough that we can fill the spots it seems like so far, we're fortunate that way."