Over the last couple of years, the Mount Greylock boys soccer team has had a high turnover rate of coaches. This year, Chris Kapiloff is the new head coach.
Kapiloff was involved with the Williamstown youth soccer program for years, but also has intimate experience with specifically the Greylock team. He was a member of the Greylock soccer team that won the State Championship in 1995, and was an assistant coach when the Mounties won States again in 2008
The team, back-to-back Western Mass Champions, had high expectations for the season. Mounties finished the regular season with eight wins, six losses, and one draw, winning first in the Western Mass Tournament.
Senior captain Will Apotsos credits Kapiloff with the success and unity of the team: “[Kapiloff] has been great at fostering a connection between the team.”
Apotsos says consistency has been important and has “anchored [their] ship” after three coaches in the past three years.
The player-first coaching style Kapiloff has employed is adding to the positive environment around the team. Apotsos said, “He’s great at taking feedback… and [listening] to us”. This has helped the team understand what they are being asked to do and increased their buy-in.
His methods seemed to work as Mounties won the first two rounds of Western Mass with a grand total of ten goals.
During the Western Mass finals against Smith Vocational and Agricultural School on Wednesday, October 29, the boys team won an impressive victory with a score of 3-1, crushing the final test before heading into the state tournament.
