Cupic feels that tight bonds are crucial on the soccer pitch

Published 8:30 am Thursday, March 26, 2026

During his years playing soccer on the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) squad, Kyle Cupic has learned that perseverance is key and victories will come easier when a team forms tight bonds.

This year’s senior captain and center back was part of the Islanders’ 3A state championship winning team last season and likes what he sees on the soccer pitch so far this spring. At press time, MIHS had defeated Redmond, 2-1, and tied Vashon Island, 1-1, to kick off the season.

“Obviously we’re early in the season, but I think that we have a bunch of talent and I think we do work well together as a team, obviously, but I think we can get one step further with team chem and that could really put us ahead of all of our opposition,” said Cupic, a first-team all-state player last year along with earning all-KingCo Crown/Crest Division second-team honors.

Cupic, who was a team captain on his first year of varsity last year, feels he’s got natural leadership traits that he can fully put into play this time out alongside fellow captains Tyler Shelton (senior midfielder) and Noah Zenden (junior defender).

The former Mercer Island Football Club member later moved on to Eastside FC and will continue his soccer career next season playing for the Fighting Saints of Carroll College in Helena, Montana. Cupic chose to attend the school, whose teams play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) division, because he has family roots there and relatives who live nearby. Also, it’s a peaceful, outdoorsy and beautiful place, he said.

“I’m excited to go there and be a part of a winning organization and work hard for my playing time,” said Cupic, who will probably focus on business administration at first and might pursue aviation later.

Delving into this year’s MIHS team, Cupic noted that junior midfielder Eli Bell, sophomore Dylan Hall and senior forward Mattias Perrenoud scored goals in the Islanders’ opening matches. Cupic assisted on Bell’s netter with a long throw-in and Shelton had two assists.

Cupic also listed the following players as standouts on the squad: sophomore goalkeeper Adam Kiviat, junior defender Oliver Pong, junior midfielders Bridge Gerry and Zach Hyman, junior forward Hudson Curnutt and senior forward Jake Wyss.

The Reporter asked Cupic a series of questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

If you could go to dinner with one person, who would that be?

My mom. (Jennifer Gray.)

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

I really enjoy “Interstellar.”

What’s your go-to snack before a big game?

I really like RXBARs. They’re very good at nutrients. I’d say RXBAR and a beef stick.

How do you spend your spare time?

I like to golf and play Spikeball with my friends.

What’s a special skill that you’d like to learn?

I’d say I want to learn how to fix my car. I feel like that’d be something that’s really important in life if I’m ever in a pickle or something like that, instead of having to pay a bunch of money for mechanics.

If you’re having a tough day at school, what’s a good way to break out of it?

A good way to break out of having the bad days (is) to go on a walk, maybe go to the gym or something like that. If you’re having a bad time, just try to have a neutral mindset, understand the past already happened. You can’t change the past, but you can only control what’s going on now and in the future. So just kind of have that positive mindset for the next tasks.

What’s a binge-worthy TV series that you would recommend?

I really the Netflix series “Cobra Kai.” It’s kind of like a remake of the old “Karate Kid” movies and I had a good time seeing all the old actors return.