And accompanying the biggest day in the Elks’ season is another piece of knowledge they have never doubted. The opponent, if the Elks could get here, was always going to be Cleveland St. Ignatius.
The Wildcats are playing in their 15th state tournament since 2000 and their 11th final. They are 10-1 in finals and most recently won it all last season
There’s more. The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in the state and nation.
Monbeck played in a state final loss for the Elks in 1996. This is his first as a coach, and he’s had plenty of time to think about the significance of what it would mean to win state and beat Ignatius to do it.
“The big prize at the end of this is a state title,” he said. “It’s in sight but knowing that we have to climb the tallest mountain to get there – it’s an exciting challenge. But at the same time it’s a daunting challenge because you know that all your decisions are going to be scrutinized. Game planning and prep is on the coaching staff and ultimately me. I want to make sure the boys are prepared the best. We don’t take the challenge lightly I can tell you that.”
The teams meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lower.com Field in Columbus in the Division I final.
“The two best teams in the state are meeting in the state final, and it doesn’t always end up that way,” Monbeck said. “I think these two teams are going to put on a show Saturday night.”
Centerville isn’t a “Hoosiers” story despite this being the first state trip since 2010. The Elks are the all-time winningest program in Ohio with 720 victories. They won state in 1984 and are playing in their 14th final four and eighth final.
Monbeck knows what winning a second championship, especially against Ignatius, would mean. The legacy board in the team room that lists each year’s accomplishments would add 2021 to the column for state championships.
“To write your name in history in a program like Centerville to be considered the best, if this team beats Ignatius on Saturday, it will hands down be the best team in the history of Centerville soccer,” Monbeck said.
Already, Monbeck says, the 2021 Elks are near the top of all-time great Centerville teams. “It has every piece of the puzzle. It’s got a bench, it’s got a goalkeeper, it’s got dynamic strikers, dynamic midfielders, a solid good back line.”
The goal and assist leaders are seniors Jack Drabenstott, Drew Boettcher and Quinn Hafner. The midfield is patrolled by seniors Caleb McComas and Kaden Combs and junior Colin Gottron. The defense is manned by junior Jude Rindler, senior captain Will Hoffman and sophomores Josh Cline and Drew Gaydosh. The goalkeeper is sophomore Luke Shrivers.
This group is why Monbeck is game-planning to play the attacking, ball-control style that has gotten the Elks here. Other teams have turned defensive against Ignatius to keep the game close and maybe make it to a penalty-kick sudden death.
“I honestly don’t think they’re going to see a team with the attack that we have,” Monbeck said. “We’re going to go out and play the game that we know how to play. We’re going to be us and play Centerville soccer. Win, lose, whatever happens, we’re going to go down fighting and know that we gave our best effort.”
That strategy is for his team, everyone at the school, the die-hard fans and the community.
“Sometimes we forget what it means for a community to come together,” Monbeck said. “The support has been nothing but great. The alumni reaching out to me on social media, the text messages from unknown numbers that I just have to respond thanks to, it means the world.”
Monbeck’s thoughts have drifted back to that 1996 team when he and assistant coaches Kevin Terrell and Chris McAlpine wore the Elks’ jersey. In 1996, the Elks were ranked No. 1 in the nation and lost 2-1 to North Olmstead, the No. 20 team in the nation. On Saturday night, the nation’s No. 20 team, Centerville, plays the No. 1 team in the nation.
“I’m not going to say this is fate or anything,” Monbeck said. “I’m just saying we’ve got a pretty good feeling about this.”
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