When Jake Wallace was hired as the Wright City girls soccer coach in 2022, he and the coaching staff set a clear three-year plan for the program. 

The first year focused on building a solid team culture, while the second year aimed to show marked growth. 

Having accomplished both goals, the Wildcats are now in the final stage of their plan: striving for the program's first winning record and advancing past the first round of districts.

“We are right where we expected to be,” Wallace said. “Our numbers are bigger than they’ve ever been and we’re more competitive.” 

Last season, the Wildcats finished with an 8-12 record, but this year, they are determined to make significant strides. Senior captains Paige Kirn and Paige Rees noted they are committed to helping the team achieve a winning season. 

“Usually our first week of tryouts, everyone is just kind of getting into it but this year, everyone came in hard,” Kirn said. 

“We have really good communication this year and we work well as a unit,” Rees added. 

Wallace lauded the two captains as key players to their team. Rees stepped into the goalkeeper position for the first time last season and will remain in goal, while Kirn is often busy scoring goals on the other end of the field. 

“I would have colleges come up to me and say, ‘Hey, does (Rees) have an interest in playing? I would tell them she’s more of a softball player,’” Wallace said. “(Kirn) has an incredible skill level but also a relentless drive to continue to improve.” 

Kirn broke two school records last season for single-season goals and career goals.

As her final high school season unfolds, Kirn is focused on surpassing her own records. 

“I definitely want to beat the single-season record and hopefully it can add up,” Kirn said. “The goal is (to reach) 75 and just keep pushing forward.” 

Wright City will return many familiar faces and a significant increase in program numbers. With 41 girls on the roster, the program will have a C-team. 

“I’m very excited to see our junior varsity team play this year because historically it has always been half of people who have played and half who haven’t played,” Wallace said. 

While Wallace has not settled on a concrete formation yet, he plans to utilize a back four on the defensive side. 

In practice, the Wildcats have been focusing on increasing competitiveness and improving their conditioning. 

“Any 50-50 ball, we want to win and win with a little bit of toughness too,” Wallace said. “With the conditioning aspect, the biggest thing has been trying to get our fitness in gear and in a spot where we can go for a full 90 minutes.” 

Wright City is slated to begin its season at 4:30 p.m. on March 27 against Veritas Christian at home.