Comets look forward to upcoming season

by Bill Althaus, Special to Grain Valley News

This past Saturday morning was like a whirlwind for No. 1 Kansas City Comets fan Caffrey Courter, a freshman at Grain Valley High School.


Her father Flip led the Eagles softball team in the annual Blue and White game and then had a parents' meeting.

Soon, they were off to Perkins American Food Co., in Independence, where coach Stefan Stock and players were participating in a meet and greet at the restaurant.

“I was so afraid I was going to miss all the players,” said Caffrey, who is her dad's manager at most softball events.

“Dad promised we would get there in time to meet the players, and he lived up to that promise.”

A few players were still mingling with the fans when Caffrey and her father arrived.

“We missed a lot of them, but it so cool to get to meet any of the players,” she said. “I don't think any other team does meet and greets. And they are so much fun for the fans.”

And Sousa is quick to add, “We love them too. We wouldn't have jobs if it weren't for our fans, and we have much fun as these meet and greets as they do”

Flip made a point of thanking the Comets front office staff and the players for making Caffrey's morning complete.

“Tuesday is her first day of school as a freshman at the high school, so she has a lot going on,” Flip said. “But all she's been talking about was the meet and greet, and I know she had a great time.”

Stockic was revived and ready to head into the upcoming season at the meet and greet after spending seven weeks with his family in his native homeland, Serbia.

“We were there seven weeks, and that didn't seem like enough time to do everything we wanted,” Stokic said.
“We hadn't been back since 2019, and it was wonderful. And now, that we are back home, I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about the upcoming season.”

The way the Comets battled through injuries and found a way to make the playoffs was a plus, but they received a brutal first playoff game losing to longtime rival Milwaukee 11-7.

“We've all been thinking about last season,” the veteran coach said. “And our priorities for the upcoming season are – stay healthy and to never lose that mental toughness that comes with competing.”

Stokic did have some good news when asked about the upcoming season.

“We are going to miss (midfielder) Nacho Flores, who retired because of an injury (torn meniscus).

“He is going to have surgery and we wish him the best.

“Other than Nacho, we are expecting everyone back from last year's team – (forward Zach) Reget, (MASL Defender of the Year Chad) Vandegriffe, (goalkeeper Phillip) Ojimadu – everyone.”

And midfielder Lucas Sousa agrees with his coach.

“And if we stay healthy, we have the chance to have a great season.”

Midfielder Lucas Sousa agrees with his coach.

“I am going to miss Nacho,” Sousa said. “He was a leader, a great teammate and a good friend. But we all understand why he made the decision and we look forward to seeing him at our games.

“The off-season has been long. The end of last season, all the injuries, left a bad taste in our mouths – and we want to get rid of that taste and give our fans reason to celebrate this season.

“When we are healthy, we are an elite team in the MASL. And believe me, we are working in the off-season to make sure we are healthy and ready to go once the season starts.”

The Comets finished in fourth place during the regular season with a  15-7-2 record. And key players like forward Rian Marques, goalie Nicholas Neto, Ejimadu, Sousa – and the list goes on.

“Nothing is worse than sitting, watching your teammates compete when you cannot play,” said Sousa, who had two MCL injuries. “Then it ended, and we're like what do we do now?”

Stokic had a ready answer: “Get healthy and work hard.”

And that's what Sousa has done.

“We are all working hard. We are two days where we have kick arounds and practice will start before you know it,” Sousa said. "And we love the opportunity to thank our fans."

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Kansas City Comets defender Chase Peterson, left, and midfielder Lucas Sousa visit with their No. 1 Grain Valley fan Caffrey Courter, at a Saturday morning meet and greet at Perkins American Food Co., in Independence. Photo credit: Bill Althaus