In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the East High School Bears from Kansas City, Missouri, triumphed as the Class 3 State Champions in soccer for the 2023 season.
This past Saturday, East High School matched up against the Ladue Horton Watkins Rams in Fenton, Missouri for the Class 3 State Tournament Championship.
The Bears of East High School came into the matchup having only lost two games in the regular season with a record of 15-2. En route to the State Tournament, The Bears also placed first in the Class 3 District Tournament with shutout wins over Winnetonka, Smithville, and Platte County.
Notably, the soccer team at East High School predominantly comprises Black athletes, a testament to the school’s rich diversity and talent.
The path to the State Championship was not without its challenges. The Bears secured their place in the final after a hard-fought overtime victory against Rockwood Summit the previous Friday. This final match marked the inaugural competition between the Bears and the Ladue Horton Watkins Rams. Known for their offensive firepower, averaging over five goals per game, and a defense conceding less than one goal per game, the Bears were a formidable opponent.
Under the expert guidance of Head Coach Gerzo Guerrero, the team was prepared to avenge their second-place finish from the previous year. The game’s deadlock was broken at the 65:37 mark of the second period when senior midfielder Msafiri Ebumbe netted a spectacular 25-yard goal. The momentum continued as Ebumbe set up junior forward Jackson Twizerimana for the second goal, culminating in a brilliant give-and-go play from 5 yards out.
Twizerimana, in an interview with The Defender, expressed his elation: “After scoring that goal, I was so excited. I felt incredibly happy because we’ve overcome many challenges to become state champions.”
The Bears defense held on for the closing minutes to clinch the first place victory with a final score of 2-0.
Congratulations to the East High School Bears Soccer team on winning the Class 3 State Championship.
