Junior Gavin Vichengrad was named RHS October Athlete of the Month for his incredible contributions to the Boys Soccer team. The goalkeeper recently celebrated 200 saves on varsity but has since surpassed that milestone with a running total of 216.
This esteemed honor is awarded to one male and one female athlete per month and drawn from coaches’ nominations. All athletes’ resumes are reviewed, and the winner is awarded a certificate and acknowledged on social media.
“Gavin is an integral part to our team through his academic and on-field performances,” said head coach George Mousis, who nominated him for this honor. “He is an exceptional teammate, and his ability as a goalkeeper provides us with the trust needed to go forward, knowing that we have somebody that can protect our goal.”
As a three-year varsity starter, Vichengrad has established himself in Morris County as a standout goalie and player to watch. “A personal highlight so far this season has been reaching 200 saves,” Vichengrad said. “It’s not something I could have done without my team.”
While teammates and coaches unanimously recognize Vichengrad’s dedication to the game and drive to improve, the squad has undeniable chemistry, which has also contributed to its success. “Everyone’s always laughing and is excited to play together,” Vichengrad said. “I think we all play the best when we are happy.”
RHS Boys Soccer currently stands at 9-4-3, only falling to Delbarton, Kearny and Chatham, with two ties against Mendham and one against Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Out of nine games Vichengrad has played this season, he has 69 saves. This includes 21 saves against Mount Olive on Sept. 4 and 10 saves against Chatham on Sept. 21, with both games resulting in victories for the Rams, 5-1 and 3-0.
“I think our record can speak for itself, and the matchups we’ve had this season have been hard, but we’ve been able to work past them,” senior co-captain Bryan Garcia said.
Despite being knocked out of the Morris County Tournament by Chatham in the quarterfinals, the team still looks to finish their regular season strong. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with the team and winning some titles with them,” Garcia added.
With four games left in the season before states, all eyes are on the prize of becoming sectional and state champions.
The RHS Boys Soccer team plays next @ Ridge, today, Saturday, Oct. 26.
