Andrew Levensalor knew when he first stepped foot on the Dexter Excessive Faculty soccer subject as a freshman that he wished to ultimately be a soccer coach.
After serving as an assistant coach at Dexter Excessive Faculty the previous seven years, he’s lastly getting his shot at being a head coach.
Levensalor will now lead the Tigers because the crew tries to defend its small college eight-player soccer state championship title. The Tigers went 7-2 final season and beat Maranacook of Readfield 34-30 within the state title sport on Bryce Connor’s last-second 14-yard landing cross to Avery Gagnon.
It was the crew’s first state soccer title since profitable an 11-player Class C championship in 1987.
“I’m excited. It is a good alternative. We now have a terrific group of children,” mentioned the 27-year-old Levensalor, who can be the top wrestling coach at Dexter.
Levensalor mentioned being the defending state champs will put a goal on their backs however his gamers know what to anticipate.
“The youngsters know everybody will likely be out to beat us,” he mentioned.
Levensalor returns an excellent senior class and a few high quality gamers like quarterback Connor, “however we misplaced quite a lot of proficient gamers. We now have some holes to fill.”
He feels the offense will likely be stable however “we’re nonetheless attempting to determine issues out on protection.”
The soccer crew has had anyplace from 19 to 26 gamers concerned in the summertime exercise program, which Levensalor is completely happy about.
One trademark of his crew will likely be its work ethic.
“The youngsters are going to work exhausting. Whenever you work exhausting, good issues occur,” mentioned the Husson College of Bangor graduate and sixth grade math trainer on the SeDoMoCha Center Faculty in Dover-Foxcroft.
Levensalor is changing Andy Shorey, who’s the brand new athletic director and assistant principal at Piscataquis Neighborhood Excessive Faculty in Guilford.
Dexter Excessive Faculty athletic director Roy Pelotte mentioned there have been three or 4 candidates for the place.
“Andrew has been with us for seven years. We’re excited to have him as our new head coach,” Pelotte mentioned.
He had been the particular groups coordinator for the Tigers lately and he additionally labored with the defensive backs and operating backs.
Levensalor was a operating again and robust security in his taking part in days at Dexter beneath Tim Wilson (three years) and Kevin Armstrong (one 12 months).
He has employed two assistant coaches in Kyle Lockhart and Mike Wallace that he feels will likely be priceless belongings to this system.
