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Sixteen years is a long time anyway you look at it. It was an especially long time between state final four appearances for the Park Hill boys soccer team.

The Trojans had not made the trip since 1993, but there was something special about this Trojan squad. Between the early season setbacks, the talented players and the payoff that came from the team’s hard work one person has been stirring the drink the whole season — coach Dustin Sollars.

For his work this season, Sollars has been named the Sun News All-Northland Coach of the Fall. The Trojans won the Suburban Conference Big 6 title, the Park Hill South tournament title, the Class 3 District 16 title, became the first team in 13 years besides Rockhurst to represent Kansas City in the final four and finished third in the state.

“There was a certain level of surprise making it as far as we did,” Sollars said. “I think a lot of the kids expected this to happen last year. They didn’t think it would materialize. They thought last year was their year.”

The Trojans made it their year though and Sollars played a part in it.

“It is exciting. Every coach works to ensure success for his teams,” Sollars said. “It is great because you get to see everything come to fruition. You see all that work pay off. We started last December with some workouts, and to see them rewarded for it is gratifying.”

It has also been a gratifying journey for Sollars. In his fifth year as the Trojans’ head coach, he said former coach Carl Calcara has helped him find his way.

“I was lucky because Carl was fantastic,” Sollars said. “He was a great mentor. His last year the district gave us and Park Hill South an extra coach, so we each got four coaches. I was picked as the varsity assistant, so I got to see what he did. It made the transition a lot easier.”

Calcara credits Sollars with being able to spot the strengths and weaknesses of the program when Sollars assumed the head-coaching roll. The biggest thing was offseason workouts — something not happening at the time.

“He did a lot of offseason stuff that was new to the program since I had taken it in the past five years,” Calcara said. “I think his ability to analyze where the program needed to go and make the changes for more consistency in the guys getting together was invaluable. It was something I never did, but I see the benefit of it.”

Just like Calcara praising the job Sollars did as an assistant, Sollars said none of this would have been possible without his assistant and girls varsity coach Manny Catano.

“Manny has been here longer than any of us,” Sollars said. “He was an assistant with Carl before I got here. He has a brilliant soccer mind, and it really helps having him around. I don’t have to worry about running practices if I am running behind. I know Manny will have them set up and going if I get caught in the classroom and come to practice 15 minutes late.”

Much like the Park Hill family, Calcara was happy to see Sollars and Catano lead the Trojans to state.

“I chased state entries as a player and coach and it never happened,” Calcara said. “It doesn’t happen for most people. To be able to see them involved in that and take a group of kids to that experience and that level is like a dad who is proud of his kids. I can’t tell you how proud I am of them.”

Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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