By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
OTSEGO—It’s been said that to be the best, you have to beat the best.
And in a Division 2 district final on Wednesday, Oct. 18, the Plainwell boys soccer team beat the best.
Goals by Gage Truitt and Nolan Edgell lifted the Trojans to the 2-1 win over defending state champ Gull Lake, which was ranked second in the state.
The district title was the first for Plainwell since 2016.
“I knew we had a lot of potential when we came into this season and the boys really rallied around each other and found ways to stick together through the adversity we’ve faced,” first-year Plainwell coach Ryan Beauregard said. “And we did have adversity. It wasn’t a perfect season by any means, but they found a way.”
Although the Trojans entered the game as the underdog, they didn’t necessarily feel that way.
That’s because Plainwell beat Gull Lake 1-0 during the regular season, which was one of just two regular-season losses by the Blue Devils.
“When we beat them early in the season, the boys really started to believe in themselves,” said Beauregard, who started his coaching career at Gull Lake several years ago before coming back to his alma mater. “We weren’t the better team that night. (Gull Lake) controlled a lot of the action, but we found a way to capitalize on one play.”
Plainwell’s first goal came off a corner kick from Logan Beauregard that Truitt headed past Gull Lake keeper Evan Kaiser with 10:01 remaining in the first half.
The score remained at 1-0 until, with 22:33 left in the second half, Edgell scored off of Luke Johnson’s free kick.
Gull Lake narrowed the gap to 2-1 four minutes later as Tre Reiner poked the ball past Plainwell keeper Andrew Eldred following a free kick.
And while Gull Lake had additional chances, they were never able to score the equalizer.
“We played well, taking away a lot of through balls,” Plainwell defender Connor Wilson said of the Trojans’ defensive effort. “We were forcing them down the field and letting our mids do their thing.”
Plainwell forward Zach Holtman had a difficult time putting the win into words.
“This means everything,” he said. “We beat the defending state champs. It feels amazing. I don’t know what else to say.”