Roland Romano sat toward the top of the Veterans Sports Complex south bleachers with Ladue Horton Watkins fans. He wore a white cap with the names of his youth soccer clubs from decades ago.
In the mid-1990s, Romano started playing soccer because his youngest son, John, and some of his friends wanted to. The Missouri Class 3 state quarterfinal match was unimaginable.
Hannibal is a football town, but red-and-black enthusiasts were tailgating on Veterans Elementary School’s front lawn, with cars, trucks, and SUVs lining both sides of the circle drive and spilling into adjacent parking lots.
The home audience filled the bleachers and sat in lawn chairs or along the chain-link fence on the east and northeast sides of the turfed field as game time approached.
Hannibal High School, with a school record 26 wins, could not continue its season. Ladue, with two state runner-up finishes in four seasons, won 2-0 after 80 minutes of play.
Romano could only smile as the event unfolded. Soccer, which wasn’t offered at Hannibal High School until 1996, has taken hold in America’s Hometown.
He said, “It took a lot of work, but it was worth it.” “You feel pride that you did something lasting.” Romano began playing soccer in 1992 when his son and friends joined the Columbia Show-Me State Games.
He recalled, “So, we went down, and they got their heads handed to them.” Later, I asked, ‘What do you want to do?’ They wanted to return.
We placed them in the Quinsippi Soccer League in Quincy and the Central Missouri Soccer League because I had never played soccer. We won a silver medal with 12 youngsters in 1993, and additional kids came out. In 1994, our U14 and U12 teams won gold.
“The paper published an article shortly after. The parking lot at the middle school where we practice is crowded. Kids are racing around everywhere. I told the other people, ‘Now we’re going for the high school because we have a feeder program.’
Romano and other parents and soccer boosters asked the Hannibal School Board to include soccer. Soccer was first opposed because it was thought to steal football players.
“I worked for American Cyanamid and lived in New Jersey before moving here,” Romano added. “My town’s school won state football every year. Its hockey and soccer teams were very good.
I didn’t understand the reluctance because of that. You can have both. It took a lot of convincing, but parents and others finally pushed.
The school board approved soccer for the 1996 fall season a year later.
Since then, winning seasons became routine. Hannibal placed fourth in Class 2 state tournament a decade later. Pirates won 2012, 2013, and 2014 Class 3 district titles. Their North Central Missouri Conference dominance.
Romano added, “I remember getting a call from one of the assistant coaches the first time they beat Quincy,” a benchmark.
Hannibal started eight seniors this season, led by forwards Bodie Rollins (27 goals, 25 assists) and Maddox Tharp (19 goals, 7 assists) and goalkeeper Clayton Neisen (17 shutouts). After a 5-2 start, the Pirates won 21 straight before losing to Ladue short of their target.
“We had an amazing season, the best Hannibal has ever seen,” Rollins said as he and his teammates processed the season’s end. “26&3. It’s unbelievable. Unfortunately, it ended.
“This was our biggest crowd ever, and it was great to see. Hannibal High School soccer is well-known. We established ourselves in Missouri. This is a team effort by all 18 lads, therefore I’m proud of them.
How Hannibal does in the next few years excites me. Going to miss it.”
After the loss to Ladue, Hannibal coach Eric Hill choked up when addressing his squad. He said goodbye to 10 seniors who helped the Pirates win 82 games in the last four seasons.
Hill added, “Everyone’s just hurting right now, but I’m sure they’ll look back and realize what a great run they had.” “They should be proud of that forever.
“Next season, we must fill some big shoes. We’ll strive to build on the success with several young, talented players returning. We want to continue.”
Roland Romano and the many others who helped start the sport in Hannibal love keeping it continuing.