Lang Wedemeyer elaborates on the character that makes his team great

What is a team without raw spaghetti, marshmallows, book clubs and spring trips to Costa Rica? According to the Lady Flames soccer team, nothing. The team’s dominance has been evident, entering the week at 11-1 after just its first loss of the season Sept. 30 against New Mexico State. The team has scored more than one goal in nine of those games, while only allowing five goals all season.

The hot streak has been too magical to be random. So, what is the secret? 

“We have a great group of young women,” Wedemeyer said. “They’re very humble by nature. There’s an athletic, maybe even a school mantra that says, ‘humble and hungry’ and we kind of put that in front of them every day.”

Staying focused amidst all the success is important to Wedemeyer, who still believes people have not seen the team’s best soccer — a scary proposition. The Flames have been dominant both on the attacking and defensive ends and seem to be gaining confidence with each passing game.

But how do you stay focused amid success? The answer is in the pages of a book. Wedemeyer explained that the team read one book for preseason and will read another in the spring. The first book, “Chop Wood Carry Water” by Joshua Medcalf, highlights the beauty of the process over results and outcomes, something Wedemeyer spoke highly of.

When choosing books, Wedemeyer tries to think of what the team needs most and what lessons will last them through the season. 

One of this team’s biggest strengths is their unity, a trait that is not accidental. Wedemeyer elaborated on the steps taken to foster a selfless environment, saying it took years to build.

“One of the big things we did is we took the team to Costa Rica this past March for 

a mission trip,” Wedemeyer said. “And it was great for them, too — many of these girls had never traveled out of the country or done anything of that nature — (so they) not only grew closer together, but they also got to serve together, and I think that was a big part of helping the culture grow.”

For the trip, the team partnered with LU Send and Push the Rock, a sports ministry based in Pennsylvania. They helped run PE programs and spent time with the children there.

Outside of serving, Wedemeyer also emphasized activities that were not sports-related, to bring the girls together and to take their minds off the pressures of being athletes. While on the road against Middle Tennessee, the girls were tasked with making structures out of marshmallows and raw spaghetti — a challenge they took on wholeheartedly, building such elaborate structures as a giraffe, a carnival and even Osborne Stadium.

To add even more depth to this squad is the balance between experience and newcomers who bring fresh energy to the team. The Flames have plenty of both and are utilizing it well.

Wedemeyer praised his upperclassmen’s character as a key factor in the success of the team, stating how impactful it is for the underclassmen to witness. 

According to him, accountability has been coined by the team and coaches as “our superpower” and it is definitely one of the driving forces of this group.

The Flames will make the trip to FIU Oct. 7 before traveling back home for an evening clash against Jacksonville State Oct. 12. Both will be conference matchups and the Flames may get an opportunity to catch up to New Mexico State, who is unbeaten in conference games so far this season.

While not all can be a part of this incredible team, onlookers can certainly cheer them on as they play for a higher purpose.

Moore is a sports reporter for the Liberty Champion