LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — For the first time in school history, both the boys and girls soccer teams at Prestonsburg High School won districts and qualified for the state tournament.
After winning their semi-state games in Lexington on Tuesday night, both teams now advance to the quarterfinals.
Part of what’s so special about the teams’ success this season is the family connection that’s also a first.
The boys team is coached by Brad Burchett and the girls team is coached by his brother Paul Burchett.
The boys team is led by Brad’s son Matt Burchett, who is the 2019 15th region player of the year and also is 6th in the state of Kentucky in assists. He’s only a sophomore on the team.
The girls team is led by Paul’s freshman daughter Anna Burchett who’s the leading scorer in the state of Kentucky for the 2019 season, and his senior daughter Beth Burchett who was an all-state selection in 2018. She’s committed to play soccer in college next year.
“We like to have fun together. We're cousins but we compete while we're doing it, nobody is ever slacking off when we're doing something, we're all basically competing all the time,” said Matt Burchett.
Paul and Brad are both former collegiate basketball players who led Tates Creek High School to a state final in 1991. They say they fell into coaching soccer when their kids were young, due to a shortage of knowledgeable coaches in eastern Kentucky. They both say they now love it, and they’re excited for both of their programs.
“It's special for us as brothers and a family, but for the school, the town and the community. But especially for the kids,” said Paul Burchett.
When asked about being a soccer dynasty in Eastern Kentucky, Brad Burchett said “I don't know about dynasty we're having some fun, we're just going to go out and try to win as many as we can.”
The Prestonsburg boys beat Estill County 3-2 in overtime to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Prestonsburg girls beat Estill County 10-0 to move on.
Both teams will play in the quarterfinals this weekend. The site and time are yet to be announced.
