Bertsch’s Right Foot Leads Him to Starting Spot

Ryan Bertsch, senior midfielder for the boys soccer team, played his first set of meaningful minutes on Oct. 3 against Cranford on senior day. 

Senior day is a day dedicated to high school seniors, meaning they get to play and show off their abilities while the underclassmen sit out. Bertsch, a player who to this point had been overshadowed by the immense depth in the team’s midfield, had an opportunity to prove himself to both the coaches and fans. 

“To start in front of everyone that came out for senior day was awesome,” Bertsch said. Bertsch would end up playing close to 60 minutes in the game, and he capped off the evening scoring his first two varsity goals. 

Bertsch’s first goal came on a corner kick, from a ball whipped in by junior David Savransky. Bertsch started his run at the top of the 18-yard box and darted toward the ball. Simply redirecting the ball with his head, Bertsch had scored his first varsity goal, and the crowd went wild. 

Bertsch’s second goal came with just under 17 minutes left in the match. Bertsch checked into the game due to an injury and immediately made an impact. With the girls soccer team chanting his name, Bertsch got the ball at the top of the penalty area and banged it into the top right corner, scoring his second goal of the match. All of the fans for the remaining minutes of the game chanted for Bertsch to get a hat trick, as they wanted to see their star of the night add on to his amazing performance.  

Senior captain Noah Fischer said, “Senior day is great because it gives the senior guys who don’t play a lot a chance to show everyone why they made the team.” Bertsch seized his opportunity to the fullest, as he started in the following game against St. Joseph (Metuchen), and he will also be starting tomorrow in one of the biggest matches for the Blue Devils, against rival Scotch Plains-Fanwood.  

Just a few weeks ago, Bertsch was looked at almost as an afterthought to even get into a match, but now, he is starting in one of the biggest matches for the boys. As Anthony Buoscio, senior forward, said, “Bertsch is him.”