State finals for both girls and boys soccer was on Saturday, May 18 at Mercer University. The girls played first in a rematch of last year’s loss in the state championship against Whitewater. The Lady Chiefs came out on top 7 to 0. Freshman Bailey Wagenknecht and senior Tariah Miller both scored two goals each to lead the team. Junior Katelyn Galbraith, junior Morgan Yocom, and freshman Keara Collins also had a goal each.

“It felt so good to absolutely destroy Whitewater,” junior Katelyn Galbraith said. “They beat us in penalty kicks last year so it’s really a feeling that cannot be described or recreated.”

Junior Skylar Dzenis, who has played varsity soccer for three years and celebrated her birthday on the same day as the championship, has been to the state championship the last three years, winning the first and losing the second.

“Winning the state championship is one thing, but destroying Whitewater 7 to 0 is a completely new and satisfying feeling,” said Dzenis. “It was the best birthday for sure.”

The boys’ team also was looking to avenge a state championship loss from last year as they took on the rival Starr’s Mill Panthers after the girls game. The Chiefs started the game falling 1 to 0 against Starr’s Mill before senior Baba Agbaje scored to tie the game 1 to 1. Sophomore Jack Gentry followed him scoring 7 minutes later to put the Chiefs up 2-1 at halftime. Agbaje then scored again in the second half and the Chiefs held on for a 3-2 victory to reclaim the state championship.

“After losing to them at home in the regular season we changed some things,” said junior Alex Zanebis. “We worked really hard at practice for the next following weeks and ultimately it paid off.”

“It was amazing because I grew up watching McIntosh teams play and win games,” said freshman Jackson Johnson. “Now that’s me and it’s crazy.”