What started as just talk a few years ago might just mean a bright future for Powell’s soccer teams.

And it will start at Powell Middle School.

Assistant Principal/Activities Director of Powell Middle School Chanler Buck said the discussion to start a soccer program has finally been acknowledged and approved by the School Board and boys and girls’ teams will be fielded for the first time this spring.

Buck said that in order to initiate the new program, two major components are required. 

“First, we need[ed] to assure that we had a strong student interest and commitment,” Buck said. “Second we needed regional competition. Once these two factors revealed themselves, we pushed for implementation.

“Long term we will strive to build a program which supports our high school girls’ and boys’ soccer teams, giving our kids the fundamental and competitive advantage to be successful in their future years.” 

Buck added that several other middle schools in Powell’s conference have expressed interest in initiating a soccer program for their students. This would lead to more soccer teams PMS could potentially compete against. 

As of now, the middle school has a five game schedule against Buffalo, Worland, Sage Valley (Gillette) and Twin Spruce (Gillette). 

The soccer sponsor for PMS will be Mr. Juston Waterworth, who is a seventh-grade English teacher at the Middle School and has a strong background in playing and coaching soccer for several different levels. 

“He also has strong relationships with our kids and is excited to take on the new challenge,” Buck says. 

Sophomore Reece Bauer said the addition of soccer at the middle school will significantly benefit the PHS soccer team because the kids will get a chance to play more soccer and therefore prepare them for their freshman year. 

“I feel like it will [especially] be good for the kids that don’t play on the Heart Mountain [United Soccer Association] club soccer team,” Bauer said. 

PMS student Will Jackson expressed enthusiasm when he found out that the middle school was introducing a soccer team. 

“I am interested because I have played soccer since I was little and I just love the sport,” Jackson said. “I will take any chance I get to play soccer and I also love being able to help a team out.” 

Buck also said the PMS soccer program will have little conflict with the local club soccer program and students will be able to participate in both if they desire.