Last season (2025) was one of the most successful seasons in the history of Spartan soccer. It brings up the debate, what was our best season ever? Winning conference for the first time in 2001, our first playoff victory in 2005, 15 wins and hosting our first playoff game in 2022? Several options to argue...but what about our worst season? No one wants to remember that!
There have been some bad ones. Only 2 wins in 2008, losing 10-0 in the playoffs of 2003/2012/2013, and the list goes on. But if you look at the season record only, our worst season was 2009. The team finished with a record of 1-20-1. That's right. One win, twenty losses, one tie. OUCH!
The head coach of the 2009 Spartans was our very own Coach Bush, currently our JV coach. Bush began his first stint in our program as the JV coach in 2007. After two seasons with our JV, Bush took over the varsity from 2009-2011.
The 2009 team had a lot of potential and some very solid players. The biggest issue became goals given up in the first and last five minutes of the half. Many of the games were decided on goals given up during this key time frame. There were some close games, including two overtime affairs. This was during an era when regular season high school games had a 10 minute overtime period. The Spartans tied Hibbing at home 0-0 after having a free-kick goal overturned. And a devastating loss at Two Harbors ended 2-1 in overtime.
The highlight of the season came in the very last game of the regular season. The Spartans went down to Chippewa Falls for a quad and were still seeking their first win. The final game was against Rhinelander, a team ranked higher than Superior. But the Spartans dominated from start to finish, finally securing that elusive first win with a 4-1 victory. They may have been the worst team we ever fielded, but they made us proud that day! Pictured above is one of the team captains that year, Kyle Ilenda (Class of 2010). Ilenda was the starting goalkeeper that season, but also played on the field when necessary. Kyle and fellow captain, Kevin Olson (2010), each scored two goals in the lone win of 2009.
Every once in awhile we will take some time to look back on the past history of boys soccer at Superior High School. If you or someone you know played for the Spartans and has a story or pictures to share, let us know!
