By JEREMY KOVARIK and SPENCER MICHELSON
For the Republic-Times

Throughout the early 2000s, the Gibault and Waterloo soccer teams were the fiercest of rivals. The two schools waged war on each other year after year in what was known as “The Cup Game.”

The intense and often physical matches between the Hawks and Bulldogs are the stuff of local legend. Emotions ran high as the teams duked it out for city bragging rights.

But when the two schools met Monday evening on the soccer pitch at Waterloo High School in the season opener for both sides, it was a totally different atmosphere — one of respect, unity and mutual loss.

The former adversaries joined together to fight a much more significant battle — cancer. The game was played as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society in memory of Gibault grad and soccer star Zac Epplin, who passed away July 1 after a heroic battle with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

While Zac’s death hit the Gibault community the hardest, the impact of his loss was felt all around Monroe County. In fact, it was WHS Student Council president Catie Brinkmann who came up with the idea.

“I have a lot of mutual friends through Gibault,” Brinkmann sad. “Considering I know so many people from Gibault, I figured it would be something cool to do. Everyone around here kind of came together (after Zac’s death) and I feel like it was our responsibility to show that we care.”

Brinkmann worked with her fellow student council members, designing T-shirts and organizing raffles. She then contacted the Gibault student council and the two schools joined forces to make the event happen.

Though there was still a game to be played, the final result was insignificant compared to bonds that were strengthened between the schools and within the city. The Bulldogs and Hawks, once bitter rivals, worked as one community to raise funds and to honor a young man whose courageous fight affected the entire region.

“I think it shows that schools can come together through something like this and can put rivalries aside,” Brinkmann said.

WHS Student Council sponsor Eleni Gerontes agreed.

“We’ve lost students, and we know what it’s like to have a hole in your school family,” she said.

During the game, a 50-50 raffle was held. Half of the proceeds were to go to the winner, with the other half going to the American Cancer Society. The winner donated his or her share to the society as well.
While the game was being played for a great cause, there was only one winning team on the field. Waterloo defeated Gibault, 4-0.

Gibault coach Matt Reeb enjoyed the renewed rivalry.

“It was fun. The kids like it and it was good to have for the city of Waterloo, a big soccer town,” Reeb said. “It will be better as the years go on. We should be highly more competitive next year. We start three freshmen and a handful of sophomores. I’m excited for the progress that we can make this year.”

The last time these teams met, they drew to a 1-1 tie during a tournament two seasons ago. They hadn’t met in the regular season for nine years.

Both the Hawks and ‘Dogs struggled to show which team was in charge for the first 10 minutes.

Waterloo asserted itself with a goal from newcomer Ben Huels. He scored in the box with a strong shot as a Gibault defender tried to get the ball from him.

Although Huels is listed as a junior, this is his first year with the team. Huels finished the game with two goals. His second gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in the second half. That goal came just over a minute into the half.

“I thought he was great. It was his first time playing with us in high school,” Waterloo coach Chad Holden said. “He’s one of the academy players that came back. You can’t ask for more from him. He got two goals in his first game here with the crowd behind him, too.”

Speaking of the crowd, students and fans alike came out to fill the bleachers for the renewed rivalry.

“It was a great crowd, the stands were filled and everyone looked to be having a good time and behaved themselves,” Holden said. “I think we can keep this going now.”

After Huels’ first goal in the first half, Clay Metz scored less than five minutes later to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. The quick scoring didn’t help Gibault’s momentum in the first half. They were struggling to create chances.

“In the first half we played a little bit scared, a little bit soft. We knew they were a good team, a potential 2A state team,” Reeb said. “So, we played a little bit scared, but in the second half we were much better. We pressured, created chances and hit the bar several times.”

Gibault’s best scoring chance came in the second half. Karson Huels launched a ball toward net, but hit the crossbar about a minute after Ben Huels scored his second goal of the game.

Waterloo added one more goal with about eight minutes left. Griffin Lenhardt scored on a blast from the right wing.

“The first 10 minutes we looked a little shaky, but after that we had a good 70 minutes against a really good opponent,” Holden said. “Gibault is always a good soccer team and it was great to get this game going again.”

Waterloo played Belleville East on Tuesday; Gibault played Metro-East Lutheran on Tuesday.

Find those scores and others — including Columbia and Valmeyer soccer results — on the Republic-Times website.