DANFORTH, Maine — It has been a difficult season for the East Grand boys soccer team, but not in the way one might think.
The struggles the team has had stem not from a win-loss record, but instead have centered on dealing with the loss of their former longtime coach. Andrew Latvis, 49, died Dec. 9, 2014 in his sleep at his home in Orient of a heart attack.
To honor his memory, the Viking boys’ soccer team have worn black jerseys on the road all season and had his name placed on the sleeve of their shirts. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Vikings wore their black jerseys for the first time at home in a game against Katahdin.
East Grand played Katahdin competitively, resulting in a 4-4 tie at the end of regulation. In the second overtime, Katahdin was able to push past the winning goal in a rain-soaked game.
Two soccer shelters were erected on the field and Young said the school plans to rename the field the Andrew Latvis Soccer Field to further honor his memory. The boys’ and girls’ soccer teams also raised $600 for the Andrew Latvis Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was created this year. Two teams presented Latvis’ widow, Louise, with the check in between the boys’ and girls’ games.Latvis was a beloved middle school math and science teacher at East Grand School for 23 years. He began at East Grand School as a high school science teacher in 1988 before switching to the middle school level. He coached many athletic teams in several sports during his tenure with the Vikings, including a 12-year run as the boys’ varsity soccer coach.
“He coached many teams over his 23 years here,” Athletic Director Chris Young said. “He started out as a varsity girls’ soccer coach, taking the team to the Eastern Maine finals in the 1990s.”
Latvis then switched gears and spent many years coaching at the middle school level. Many of this year’s upperclassmen on the varsity team played for coach Latvis throughout their middle and high school careers.
“His death took the whole school by shock,” Young said. “It has been a tough year for these guys.”
“He was a great coach,” said junior Wyatt Oliver. “I had him for six years. Everyone loved him as a coach. He always knew how to keep things light.”
“My first year with him, I was in fifth grade as a peewee soccer coach,” added junior Philip Farley. “He always told us to ‘Do your best and try hard.’ This year, every game is for him.”
Despite his passing, a little piece of Latvis remains with the team. Every game, when breaking the huddle, the Vikings utter the phrase “Yawp!”
“That was coach Latvis’ rally cry,” Farley said. “We say it for him.”
