Not so well-known to sports fans, or even movie fans, is that Sylvester Stallone, in between filming the boxing classics Rocky II (1979) and Rocky III (1982) starred with not only famed Brit Michael Caine, but also Brazilian fútbol immortal Pelé in 1981's Victory.
Sharing top billing via their leading roles, the three shared the soccer pitch onscreen as part of a plot to escape from a World War II prisoner-of-war camp at halftime of an exhibition match versus a team chosen by their captors.
But in order to appear a credible crew, the Allies must first, well, become a "team," with squad captain Caine requesting of the ranking German major, 'I'd want special conditions, special rations: The team would have to live together, eat together...'
This summer, Bayfield High School head coach Chris Zoltowski had the chance to test out a similar scenario as he and numerous Wolverines, attending a camp hosted by 4A Broomfield Holy Family, all played soccer and lived togther.
"We all stayed in one house together. And I've got to tell you, this team now-there's maybe 19 or 20 of us-is so, like a family," the second-year coach recalled last Saturday evening.
"I love the bond that we have, that cohesion, that we didn't have last year. And I think this year, them getting to know me now and spending that week in Denver...that cohesiveness and that willingness to work hard for the guy next to you has really...got me really excited about this season."
In preparation for Saturday's 11 a.m. opener at Kirtland Central in New Mexico, Bayfield's new-built unity was challenged last weekend in preseason play at Durango. The Wolverines endured unscathed as senior Tilden Berriman's hat trick and a "beautiful" redirect by junior Berman Abdallah-Boehm beat the Demons 4-nil.
"Last year we didn't get any scrimmages, so this year it was exciting to actually have that opportunity," Zoltowski said. "It was their JV - what we've usually played during the season - and we learned a lot about, like, holes in our formations and things like that."
"They're fourth in state - their varsity team is fourth - and a quality team," he continued, noting DHS' place in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 4A poll. "It was awesome just to have the opportunity to even go play them, even their JV. They taught us a lot out there."
Berriman, who netted eight goals as Bayfield finished 4-7-4 overall (3-6-3 in the 3A Intermountain, a.k.a. Southwestern League) in 2016, returns as the team's top finisher and will share captaining duties with senior Colton Fine (three goals), according to the boss.
"Tilden, he's a fourth-year starter, been doing it for years," Zoltowski said. "No matter where he goes he has a soccer ball at his feet, and I'm excited to have him kind of command the attacking front."
Zoltowski continued: "Colton, he's a returning Second Team All-Conference player, and to have him controlling the defensive line and Chad Winkler between the posts...It's good knowing we've got control in the back."
Five goals to his name last fall, scoring threat Marcus Isiordia is also back for his senior season-giving Zoltowski and assistant Zac Keeler a solid core around which to continue construction for the imminent present and distant future.
"It's funny," said Zoltowski, "because if we talk about last year, I was learning the team and learning the players. And now that I know the players, spent a year working with them, I'm able to put them into positions that they belong. I think now we have actually found a perfect formula for success."
"It's tough," he conceded, sizing the Wolverines up against the circuit powers, "because Ridgway and Pagosa both made the playoffs last year, and our very first home game (4 p.m. Sept. 1) is against Ridgway. I really think the game with Ridgway is going to set the tone for our entire season."
But first up will be Kirtland Central, which BHS blasted by six goals last year at Bronco Field. The team then regrouped under head coach Noel Camacho to finish the season 9-8-0 overall and a fourth-place 5-5-0 in NMAA District 1-5A.
"Last year was seven-to-one, but I'll never underestimate Kirtland," Zoltowski stated. "They will show up, so we need to be prepared for that."
Already with their 2017 slate underway, Central will enter the contest standing 1-2 after last weekend's Aztec Invitational, with an impressive nine goals for but a whopping 22 against. Bayfield, meanwhile, will host Ridgway next, with Telluride visiting the morning after at 10 a.m. The Wolverines' first league matches then follow on the road, with Montezuma-Cortez awaiting them for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff Sept. 5, and Ridgway welcoming them for an 11 a.m. start four days later.
"I want to take this on a game-by-game basis," Zoltowski said. "I told these guys we need to work on our conditioning, our cardio; right now I think that's my primary concern. We do have the talent, but I'm more interested in being prepared for the conference games."
