As Constantinos Christou and his teammates on the WVU Men’s Soccer Team lace up their cleats and step onto the field each season, they are fueled by dreams to not only win matches and entertain their fanbase but to inspire the next generation of Mountaineers who see them as role models.
So that next generation doesn’t stay on the sidelines, the WVU Men’s Soccer Team has developed a mentoring program at Brookhaven Elementary School that teaches them the skills they need to fully participate in a match.
Christou said the team teaches those skills in stations and split the students into groups so they can learn everything from finishing drills to goalkeeping and everything in between.
“They go around and engage with us and we try to teach them some basic skills of soccer, advise them, just for them to have fun and meet some of us because one day, you never know, they might be in our shoes, especially the locals of West Virginia,” Christou, the team’s co-captain, said.
“A lot of these kids come to our games in season and support us. They give so much support to us, so just being able to go see where they spend their time on a day-to-day basis — where they practice, where they eat, where they have fun with their friends — is great.”
The Brookhaven efforts exemplify the University’s dedication to service in the community.
“I feel like not only do they enjoy meeting us and training with us, I feel like it’s good for us as well to give back and enjoy some time with them, they might find a passion for the sport,” Christou said.
For Brookhaven principal Sara Kane, the Men’s Soccer Team’s involvement has been a meaningful experience for students, not only because they learn soccer skills, but also important values such as teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship.
“A lot of these kids look up to these students who’ve committed themselves to hard work and discipline and perfecting what they love. That is so valuable for children to have those models and to be able to talk and interact with them,” she said. “They play a leadership role, and this really builds something strong for the community of kids that we have here at Brookhaven.”
Kane emphasized that the program has increased student engagement and interest in physical activity, which aligns with the school’s commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles among young learners. “The WVU School of Education has been instrumental in making sure programs like these succeed,” she said. “Their support has allowed us to provide a structured environment where students can learn and grow through sports. We utilize their expertise and what they know about teaching to improve our teaching here.”
“We are always interested in getting passionate people who are passionate about their craft to come in and share that with kids, whether it’s sports, academics [or] medicine, and we’ve had parents [who] serve at the University come in and show kind of basic things about how they function in their jobs,” she added.
On a personal level, Kane earned her reading certification through WVU and taught as a reading specialist at the WVU reading clinic. “So not only is the University great for us, but we also pipeline our kids toward college, for them to see all the great things that WVU has available for them when they grow up.
“Either they come play or study at the University; at the very least, this connection that we have in Morgantown with our public schools and WVU — it’s priceless,” she said.
Brookhaven students are getting instruction from some of the best.
Under Coach Dan Stratford, the Mountaineers went 17-3-4 this season to set a program record for wins and advanced to the College Cup for the first time in program history in 2023. The Mountaineers finished the season ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, and Stratford was named the TopDrawerSoccer National Coach of the Year. West Virginia earned No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.
For Christou, the success reflects the support they get from West Virginians, including those Brookhaven kids. “Every single day we feel their support, especially in-season. It’s great that we have such a good community that is supportive and they care about us both as athletes and as people; on and off the field, we feel the love. We encourage them to continue to come and watch our games.”
