Tecumseh is 9-2-1 overall and 6-0-0 in Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division play — and the Arrows have done it with a new coach and a new look on the field.
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Tecumseh grad Chase Budurka was hired last winter after spending three seasons at rival Northwestern, taking over for longtime coach Craig Lindsey. Budurka won two CBC Mad River titles in 2017 and 2018.
“I’m super excited to be back,” Budurka said. “It’s really been a welcoming experience, the high-fives in the hallways. It’s been fun.”
After graduating four key seniors, the Arrows have also moved some players to new positions to help maximize the lineup. Budurka knew exactly how much talent Tecumseh had coming back, he said.
“I was stepping into quite a program,” he said. “Obviously conference champs last year, so trying to figure out the pieces of what we lost defensively and who we had to fill those spots. We really looked at the make-up of the team, where the girls were playing and really shuffled it all up. We’ve got girls who played defense playing midfield or offense and vice versa. It’s nice to see the versatility of all of the girls.”
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Arrows junior Taylor Sisco is second in scoring in the CBC with nine goals and 11 assists. Three other players have scored three or more goals — Mackenzie Chinn (7 goals), Shannon Calmes (6 goals) and Bridget Harris (three goals). The Arrows attack has been balanced with sixteen different players having scored goals this season.
Tecumseh had won five straight games before falling to Xenia 4-3 on Monday at Spitzer Stadium.
“They haven’t had that (losing) experience too much this season,” Budurka said. “We’re getting the hardest part of the conference now. We’ve really solidified working as a team. At the start of the season, it was a little rough. … Being able to listen to each other and have trust in each other has been the key to our success so far.”
The Arrows have four key games remaining, including three on the road. Tecumseh travels to second-place Jonathan Alder on Monday and Bellefontaine on Wednesday. The Arrows host Kenton Ridge in their home finale on Oct. 7 before traveling to Indian Lake on Oct. 9 to end the regular season.
“It’s been a fun ride,” Budurka said. “The fans are fantastic. We’ve got it firing on all cylinders. Even with the loss (to Xenia), I’m excited for these last few league games.”
With three victories in its last four games, Tecumseh can clinch at least a share of its second-straight league title. The Arrows haven’t won back-to-back league titles since winning three straight from 1991 through 1993.
The key for Tecumseh will be coming into match ready to play, Budurka said.
“We’re a second half team,” he said. “We’ve got to compete in the first half. To really win these last couple of games, it’s going to take us executing offensively like we know how to do and not falling into our own ways of being too direct and playing kickball. We’ve got to be able to possess more. If we can get the teams to settle to our pace, we should be OK with our style of play.”
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