Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle
Winning the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) championship has become second nature for the Mason High School (MHS) boys varsity soccer team. With a 1-1 tie against Sycamore on October 14th, the Comets clinched another GMC title, their seventh in the past eight years and 12th overall since joining the conference in 2007. Undefeated in regular-season play with two ties against St. Xavier and Sycamore, Mason once again proved why the road to the GMC championship runs through them.
For junior midfielder Eli Benne, the championship represents more than just a trophy. Benne said the team’s culture makes every season special and pushes players to grow together, both on and off the field. The expectations are high, but Benne knows that pressure is what drives the Comets to perform at a consistently elite level.
“It is not just some random program where I am playing soccer,” Benne said. “It is building a family [and a] culture that likes to win and wants to win, which makes it so special.”
That unity translates to the field, where a legacy of GMC titles has crowned Mason as the team to beat. That mindset keeps the Comets focused, even in games that other teams might consider routine.
“Our coach will point at the badge and the Mason logo and say it’s a target on [our] backs,” Benne said. “Everybody wants a piece, whether it is a normal game against Colerain or a big one [against] Sycamore. We have to treat every game like it is our last one, because in the GMC, every game matters.”
Senior Edward Zha prepares for a throw-in after an out-of-bounds ball during Mason’s 1-1 tie against St. Xavier on September 13th, where he assisted in the Comets’ lone goal.
Senior captain Edward Zha has helped define that standard. With six goals and 13 assists on the season, Zha understands the importance on winning the conference for this team. The Comets’ tradition of winning sets the bar high for every player who wears the Mason jersey.
“At this point, the GMC is not really something we look at as a dream,” Zha said. “It is more like a standard we have to set for ourselves each year. It is our responsibility.”
Zha said varsity head coach Garrett Szabo keeps the team motivated by reminding them that every opponent comes ready to challenge Mason. Players are encouraged to push their limits in practice and maintain focus throughout the season, knowing that preparation is key to maintaining success.
“[Coach Szabo] always tells us to play with a chip on our shoulder, because everyone is out for us,” Zha said. “So during training, we have to push ourselves as hard as we can and not let chances go. The season is so short, and it means so much to us, so we have to really lock in.”
However, the Comets’ success comes from more than talent. Zha believes the team’s chemistry and mutual trust make all the difference when it comes to winning close games and maintaining focus during high-pressure moments.
“In the past years, we had a lot of individual talent, but individual talent can not really get you anywhere if we do not all work together,” Zha said. “This year, everyone is really tight. We all actually enjoy being around each other, so it makes the experience a lot more worth it and memorable.”
With two undefeated regular seasons in a row behind them, the Comets are gearing up for another postseason run. The team’s focus remains on working together, pushing hard in every game, and maintaining the standard that has kept them dominant in the GMC.
“This season, we have three major words: legacy, family, and determination,” Zha said. We have built something bigger than ourselves, and the GMC title just proves we are living up to that standard.”
