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And of those, not many get to celebrate not one, but four state champs, as well as a handful of individual titlists as well.
The boys soccer team is one of two Somers High teams to win a state title this fall (also football), and as coach Brian Lanzetta took in last Saturday's celebration parade and ceremony, he couldn't help but smile.
"This is just amazing," Lanzetta told Daily Voice. "It's the best feeling in the world. And at such a young age you just appreciate this so much.
"It also kind of humbles me a little bit," he added. "The respect of coaches who have been chasing after this for 20 years or so. ... My respect goes out to every coach who puts in the hard work. Because this is the best feeling in the world."
Lanzetta was asked about the many ingredients that go into winning a state championship.
"You really have to develop a philosophy, a really good relationship with your players," he explained. "If you can get them to believe in what you're doing and teaching them - and they believe in themselves - then you can achieve anything."
It also takes a special group of athletes.
"Our 12 seniors were unbelievable," Lanzetta said. "A great group of kids. Four or five of them were real impact starters, and the rest of them played really key roles. They respected the younger guys, pushed them, helped them. Everybody just got along. Never fighting, never arguing. In that state final, when we went down 1-0, we worked on getting scored on - and what should we do when we get scored on. We go right back at that team - catch them off guard once they're relaxed.
"Everything we did this year just went our way," he added. "It was amazing. I can't wait for them to come back in five or 10 years, and I'm still coaching, and they come back, help out, and relive these memories."
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