By: Alyson Lawrence
Every soccer team has a coach and players. But Newman’s women’s soccer team also has a director of pawsitivity.
His name is Milo, he has four legs, and he is in his second season with the women’s soccer team.
Dylan Gruntzel, the team’s coach, came up with the idea of giving his golden retriever, Milo, a team title after seeing on social media that other schools had dogs on their rosters.
He asked associate athletic director Zach Brake if Milo could be added to the team’s website.
Milo is full of energy, Gruntzel said.
“My wife and I came up with Milo being the ‘director of pawsitivity’ because he’s a golden retriever and always happy,” he said.
Although Milo cannot attend games because of the MIAA’s no-pets policy, he does occasionally join the team for practices.
“At the beginning of practice, he tends to just run around, chase the balls and play with the girls,” Gruntzel said.
Keilann Heath, a junior on the women’s soccer team, said Milo brings the energy to practice.
“He just brings the mood up,” Heath said. “Sometimes he gets crazy, but that’s OK because we love him”
Milo’s biography on the team website says that “He comes from a long line of furry golden retrievers whom were specifically bred to bring love, joy, and happiness to those around them.
“Milo enjoys spending time with family, friends, and his toys. He loves to take naps next to his loved ones in the hopes that someone will pet him forever and ever. Every once in a while you can catch him laying on his back trying to balance his ball with both of his paws (he dreams of the day America’s Paw Talent becomes a thing so he can win it!).
“He likes to meet new people and say hi to anything and everything around him when he goes for walks. He loves to play around and will get the zoomies if he reaches a special level of happiness.
“He likes to play catch, but often times you will have to wrestle him to take the ball from him.
“After meeting the Newman soccer girls at a home game, he felt the love and kindness they shared with him and decided to join them, so they could share more cuddles and memories together,” it says.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
