As the team prepares for their playoff season, they know they’ve only reached this point due to the community they’ve built—one of mutual respect, generosity, kindness, and collectivism. Soccer has long been a popular sport, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, so for Lakewood students from different countries or backgrounds, the team becomes a unique space. The players come from diverse backgrounds but are united by a mutual love for the sport.
“Oh my god. We’re all about community,” soccer coach Andrew Toth said.
The team’s sense of community is what keeps them strong and drives their improvement. This community keeps them accountable and creates a cycle of constant growth.
“Are we perfect? No, we’re not,” Toth said, “Just like life isn’t perfect, and we do make mistakes but then we work hard to reflect on them right away and to improve on our actions, on the field and off the field.”
It’s all about respect and love—the two traits that build trust among team members, who may not share common ancestry. Bridging those gaps can be challenging, but that struggle is what makes the team unique.
“We want to care about our teammates,” Toth said, “We want to love our teammates. We want to make relationships and friendships that’ll last a lifetime…If we do that, we know we’re going to play the right way and play with energy, enthusiasm, creativity and imagination and with a certain toughness that’s real, not fake.”
It’s our differences and that common goal which makes teams strong. Because that common goal is real, our differences are real, the importance of diversity is to prepare those for a world outside of high school.
“Reality is what it is,” Toth said. “It’s reality because that’s what life is like. Life is full of different people, different actions, different things you have to adjust to. And it’s just so beautiful.”
This learning environment isn’t everywhere—Lakewood is an incredibly lucky space. Rocky River, Westlake, and Bay Village don’t have the same diversity. For Lakewood, diversity is an edge on the competition.
“We’re just different from a lot of schools,” teammate Ayodele Adigun said, “A lot of schools [don’t have] as much diversity. So it’s kinda what makes us special, with the flags up there; it’s kind of beautiful…[Other schools] only got one person of a different ethnicity, or a different country. But here, we have 10 people not even born from this country.”
The benefits of diverse spaces aren’t limited to players from other countries. Players who were born on home soil also benefit from the collective life experience of the team. You learn to love, and you learn to care.
“You learn to accept everyone for who you are,” Adigun said. “It is another level of appreciation for it.”
Acceptance takes many forms. When teammates can’t make it to practices, around five soccer parents (and other students) are willing to help with rides. The team culture emphasizes accessibility for new members.
“I feel like everyone could get into it,” teammate Thayklu Plar said. “You don’t necessarily need to be good. You just play along with the others, and then they’ll help you as you progress.”
The team brings together young, talented people from all walks of life and encourages their growth. By providing community, it fosters gratitude, teamwork, and results.
“I grew up here, but I never knew that I’m gonna be part of a team when I came here,” teammate Bukuru Bafukamire said. “I played by myself in the street, but then I met these guys, and then they dragged me here…I’m grateful for being around them.”
It’s more than a team; it’s a family. They not only provide a supportive space for teammates but also push each other to be better.
“Teamwork is accountability and having your teammate’s back, and for anything that goes wrong, you could always be there,” teammate Quincy Zuomuya said.
Lakewood’s teams embody the spirit of the school. They aren’t just a team, community, or culture—they’re a symbol of what the world needs more of: support and care.
“[I’m most proud of how] they buy into our culture,” Toth said, “the way they work hard in the off-season, the way they care about each other. And of course, I love the way we play…when we’re on, we’re a special group of kids.”
