Dynasties have forever left an impression on sports, as the dominance of legendary athletes echoes throughout the immortal halls of history. It is the dream of every competitor to reach the level of performance and the eternity that comes along with attaining sustained success. Brady’s Patriots, US Women’s Soccer Team back to back World Cup triumphs in 2015 and 2019, Brazil’s back-to-back World Cups in 1958 and 1962, Real Madrid’s Champions League Three-Peat, and Barcelona’s Women Squad completing the Quadruple in 2023 are all examples of stories of greatness across sports. Players become legends, legends become icons and icons become immortal. However, as publicized as these outstanding athletes and their stories are, not many know the inside process to achieving greatness. In Graded’s athletics, this translates to sportsmanship at its deepest levels: the role of upperclassmen athletes in guiding and inspiring the younger generation.
Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new normality being established, Graded’s Boys and Girls Varsity soccer teams have been unstoppable in all competitions, accumulating a historic three-peat in Big 8 (2021, 2022, 2023), along with several Final Four (2022-2023), SPHSL (2021, 2022, 2023) and SAAC (2022) first place finishes to accompany the dominant run. This article will be an inside look to reveal what makes Graded’s boys and girls team the dominant force they are, as the school reminisces the conquest of Graded’s third consecutive double sweep in Big 8 Soccer nearly one year later. Exploring how the Varsity Soccer teams transform Graded’s core values of intellectual curiosity, respect, kindness, and integrity into their own version of the four core values, creating a dynasty that represents the greatness of the school among its peers.
Day One (Arrival):
One year ago today, Graded’s Varsity team embarked to participate in another edition of the Big 8 Tournament. The tournament is composed of eight schools (Graded, Chapel, EARJ, ISC, PACA, EAC, Sant’Anna, and EAB) competing for the coveted soccer trophy.
To start the journey, the teams step off the bus and go straight into the chalet which is the farthest from the fields, isolating the team from the rest of the schools, and the medical and dining facilities at the camp: a cheap trick from competitors which leaves Graded with the worst room, no wifi, broken bathrooms, and a good deal of insects. After setting up the equipment and beds, the girls and boys make their way to the courtyard next to the restaurant to talk with coaches and joke around with teammates. As defending champions, Graded receives what goalkeeper Henrique Hotz (‘25) likes to call “friendly stares,” the consequence of being everyone’s number one enemy. Small talk with people from the other schools leads to the presentation ceremony where highlights from previous tournaments are projected. The team heads to sleep as early as possible. At 9 pm, the team wishes girls vice captain Clara Oliveira (‘26) good luck on her games tomorrow, and that the boys’ team will be present to cheer on the girls during their game. According to her, that is the secret to success, “our team is not a few individuals bundled together, but a tight-knit family.” Graded’s strength comes from within, it is the team against everyone else. In this group, the core values of kindness and respect merge into loyalty and love for each other.
Day Two (Group Phase):
It is 7 am, and the boy’s game is the first of the tournament. Yasser (‘24) has the speakers blasting with music, a longtime tradition. Breakfast and Coach Paraventi’s tactical meeting pass by fast and soon, the team makes its way onto the pitch. Captain Lucas Gorios (‘25) and Yasser close the circle on Graded’s side of the pitch as the traditional chant “Raça, Raça, Raça Graded” echo into the air before the initial whistle blows. Seconds before the game starts, Gabriel Gomes (‘25) locks eyes with his midfield partner, Eduardo Serpa (’25) no words need to be said, they both know the task ahead. Trust in instinct is the team’s version of intellectual curiosity. The trust is so strong, that there is a bond between everyone playing which unites into one conscience. With no fear, each player runs up and down the field, constantly disrupting EAB’s possession. All is said and done, the first game was successful, a 4-0 victory to establish the tone and send the message that Graded is still as strong as ever. The same occurs in the second game, a resounding 9-0 victory against ISC. The girls have a difficult first game, but bounce back to full dominance in their second one. Before going to bed, teammates and old friends from different schools hang out. Clara converses about the tournament, making a few jokes. To the surprise of the other teams, Graded students resist any ill-intentioned attempt at harming us through comments or illegal play throughout the day. Integrity in soccer is not only being down to earth, but rather maintaining resolve in situations that tempt us to use our powers to our own advantage. A breach of the use of power is the most severe mistake, only the team united can use this power, and it can only be employed to attain the good of the group. Despite opponents attempting to cheat, every Graded student athlete has always kept the values of sportsmanship at their heart. That means that the members of the team will never minimize the ability of opponents, brag about dominance, and put themselves on a pedestal.
Day Three (Group Phase and Semi-Final):
As the final group stage game wraps up, a 4-1 win against the Sant’anna, news that EARJ will face the boys in the semi-final and the girls will have a difficult obstacle against EAC reaches both teams. A lot was at stake, especially after the controversial semi-final in the last Big 8 which saw Graded lose. With the boys’ game being first, Captain Gorios played a message from former captain Leonardo Wainstein (‘23). Tears were shed and the team was locked in, that game was the chance to immortalize the special family that was constructed over the years – the team was in a flow-like state of mind, where instinct hyper-processed every movement. The team doesn’t remember much from the game to be honest, but some fragments stayed in the collective memory. Every touch was automatic. The cheer and screams every time a Graded player touched the ball, goal celebrations, bloody uniforms after various slide tackles, and most of all the relief-filled hug as teammates Deco Lima (‘26), Henrique Hotz, and Yasser Taha embraced. At night, the girls’ team took on the EAC team, a game filled with thrills and physical play. To the relief of everyone, the girls came away with a difficult 2 to 1 victory, which saw the coaching staff and boys team invade the pitch and jump in celebration at the full time whistle.
Day Four (The Final):
As the boys took the pitch for the final, the cold morning silence was abruptly interrupted by buzzing anticipation. No nervous energy, just the burning desire to play soccer, as if it were just another game. In the back of everyone’s minds, the idea that we were 70 minutes away from becoming one of Graded’s most accomplished teams of all time seemed to create a bubble of radiant energy, another chapter in the dynasty. The team had already won 4-1 against Sant’anna in the group stage, yet it never let its guard down. Painful losses have taught both teams that arrogance is the equivalent of downfall, and if Graded wants to achieve the highest level, the teams should not make the same mistakes again. Perhaps, respect is the only core value that is not translated from the team’s united conscience. Respect is universal, and perhaps the column that keeps Graded’s sports Pantheon afloat, yet it is not given its due importance. Respect taught the team harsh lessons, to be humble at all times, to respect teammates and opponents, and to stay hungry for the next game. An intense burst of attacking soccer had the boys winning 4-0 before the end of the first half, and at that point, Gabriel Gomes and Dudu Serpa’s legs had given out to exhaustion. As the final whistle blew the boys celebrated, hugged, and later got ready for the girls’ final. They would play EARJ, which handed them a tough loss during the tournament’s first game. The final was a stalemate until the very last second of injury time, which saw a last ball from a corner be slotted home. In the final seconds, tension froze time, only to be undone by the referee’s whistle. A massive pitch invasion and celebration followed. In that large circle, the family shouted into the air, a phrase that is now immortalized in Graded’s history, “Tudo nosso e nada deles” (All is ours and nothing theirs). The smiles were a reflection of all the unseen late nights, early mornings, and fatigue, but also the happiness and comradery of participating in such a great journey.
That is the essence, it is not only the meticulous preparation, training, commitment, and talent that makes up the dynasty. To one’s surprise, it actually stems from the bond between teammates, both boys and girls, and the will to play and defend that family spirit. It is the jokes during bus and plane rides, the post-win hug, the tears after a loss, and everything in between. A blueprint that will be followed for countless generations of Graded Student Athletes.
