By Joe O’Leary, The Mountain Times
When Sandy senior Dahlia Kappers moved up to the wing from her normal position of center back in a September game against Dallas, a simple “ugh ” could be heard from the defender that was then tasked with guarding her. Kappers is close to the last thing you’d want to see on a soccer field. Whether she’s defending or attacking, Kappers’ possesses solid strength and aggression that makes her a piece SHS girls soccer coach Greg Pfleger can put anywhere and feel confident in.
“As a new coach to the program, having Dahlia has been invaluable. She knows the players well and has been a tremendous resource in helping me get to know them too,” Pfleger said. A four-year varsity player and two-year captain, Kappers has certainly developed a clock-in clock-out mindset over the years when it comes to the dynamic of the Sandy girls’ soccer team.
“We’ve discussed it. We need to keep the drama off the pitch. We’re a family, if there’s something going on at school we know it doesn’t matter once we go out there,” Kappers said. Making a consistent impact as both a leader and a playmaker, Kappers is making her fourth and final run with the varsity team in what looks to be, ultimately, a transition year for SHS. With quite a few sophomores and even freshmen getting extensive playing time, someone like Kappers is absolutely crucial in rounding the team out, as not only is she dominating now, she’s preparing her teammates for the future of the program under Pfleger.“It’s been really different [this year], I’ve had three coaches my whole high school career. I’ve had Greg as my coach before and he’s a really awesome coach, probably one of the best I’ve ever had,” Kappers explained. Three coaches in four years is an objectively bad hand that not only Kappers was dealt, but all of her senior teammates as well. You’re not likely to hear any complaints from the player, however, who has spent her time with the team caring exclusively about the their product on the field, as well as the family they have built along the way.
“Since my freshman year all of the seniors have been really nice. They’ve always given me examples of how to be a leader. They’ve always been a good example of how to treat people, on and off the field,” Kappers explained. So as the SHS girls soccer team turns the page and looks towards the future, it’s unlikely that the consistent contributions of Kappers will be forgotten by underclassmen. They will certainly not be forgotten by Pfleger, who is a constant preacher of building and looking towards the next step to climb the mountain, no matter the circumstance, a sentiment embodied more by Kappers than anyone else.
“Whether she’s on the field or leading by example, Dahlia’s energy is contagious, inspiring the entire team to push themselves further,” Pfleger said.