Expectations never waver for the Mercer Island Islanders boys soccer program.
The Islanders, which year in and year out are contenders for a state championship, will have a new face leading the program this spring. Mercer Island High School 2009 graduate Forrest Marowitz, who played collegiate soccer at Colorado College, is thrilled to lead the high school soccer program at his alma mater.
“I grew up here on the island and played varsity soccer here in 2007, 2008 and 2009. I have always followed the program, even when I was in college. It was always a dream of mine to lead the program. I’m happy to take on the responsibility. It means everything to me,” Marowitz said.
The Islanders soccer program is a well-known soccer powerhouse in the Class 3A division. Marowitz doesn’t expect that reputation to change.
“The bar is set high here and we’re excited for the challenge. This team loves to compete. It is what they love to do. Each year a team gets a chance to form its own identity. We’re excited to go out and make our mark,” Marowitz said.
Marowitz said the Islanders varsity roster possesses a plethora of skilled returners and talented newcomers. Islanders senior goalies Adam Braman and Blake Robertson are proverbial brick walls between the posts.
“They have been fantastic the first couple of days in practice,” Marowitz said of his two keepers on March 4. “They’ve been putting on a show. If you want to put the ball in the net, it is going to have to be a really good shot. They are not letting anything in that is soft. That is fantastic and just makes us better.”
Marowitz said senior midfielder Dakota Promet and defender Josh Chansky have dominated early season practice sessions.
“Dakota is showing a lot of energy and pace. Josh is holding down the back line down well. He has such positive energy and has a great work ethic. Our senior core is just a really fun group of guys to be around,” Marowitz said. “The sophomore class is very exciting. We’ve got a lot of technical players. It is a great mix of senior leadership and young new talent.”
The Mercer Island Islanders boys soccer team will be led by new head coach Forrest Marowitz this spring on the soccer pitch. Marowitz, who graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2009, coached the Lake Washington Kangaroos boys soccer team during the 2018 season. Shaun Scott, staff photo
