‘Keepah Kepplah’s’ final season as an iron

curtain comes to an end

By Sam Walker, Reporter

As the whistle sounded to end the boys’ run at state, senior goalkeeper Evan Keppler’s final soccer season at VHS came to an end. Over his four years at VHS Keppler has found a soccer family on Vashon that will miss him dearly when he graduates.

Although Keppler now plays for Vashon, he started his soccer career in the West Seattle Youth Soccer Club in first grade.

“I started playing goalie in first grade. I got nut-megged [and] I have spent the rest of my career trying to redeem myself for that moment,” Keppler said.

From that moment on, Keppler has been dedicated to perfecting his craft. He made varsity his sophomore year before the season came to an abrupt end due to COVID. Junior year he was the starting keeper and played well, winning Nisqually League Goalkeeper of the Year. Now in his senior year he has put everything he has into helping his team win.

“Evan is a team captain, one of the backbones of our VHS boys soccer team,” said VHS head coach Scott Nicolino. “He’s a leader in the back, commanding our stifling defense with on-field tactical instructions. As our keeper, he did a great job of keeping the ball out of our net, he averaged less than half a goal per game this season. It definitely [won’t] be the same without him next year.”

Along with being a standout goalie, many find Keppler a standout team player and many of his teammates have nothing but good things to say about him.

“Evan is a great friend and a great teammate; he is an awesome leader,” fellow senior co- captain Levi ‘The Wall’ Stahl said.

This year, both as a senior and co-captain, Keppler has assumed a greater leadership role as a mentor for younger players.

“Evan has helped me become a good goalie and an even better person,” freshman goalkeeper Ozzie ‘The Blizzard of Oz’ Tanner said.

The impact Keppler had on Tanner was unique but he also touched the whole squad.

“Evan has been a great friend to me and has made this season so much fun,” Italian exchange student Enrico ‘Italian Stallion’ Trevisan said.

Needless to say, VHS soccer will greatly miss Keppler. In the future, Keppler hopes to keep his soccer passion alive by playing club or intramural soccer at Washington State University. He will also be playing club tennis and majoring in business.

Keppler is sad to be moving on from the team but he will always cherish the epic highs and lows, the epic triumphs and defeats of high school soccer.

“I love this team and this island, I am forever thankful to the teammates and coaches that I have met along the way and I will miss it all dearly,” Keppler said.