Calvin Proetz (‘25) is a superb goalkeeper but sadly was not able to play on Southwest’s varsity soccer squad this year due to transfer policies. Apart from high school soccer, Proetz plays for the Minneapolis Soccer club Keliix. This past season, Proetz’s team flew to Oslo, Norway to take on teams from all around the world.

Proetz’s Keliix squad played a total of five games. They finished with one win, one loss, and three ties. They won big against a team from Oslo, putting in seven and letting in zero against the Norwegian side. Proetz’s team did not experience similar success when playing a team from Northern Norway. 

“It was a tough game, they could not press past the half line, and we couldn’t get through their defense,” Proetz said. The game ended 1-0 in disappointing fashion for the Keliix side. 

Despite losing to the team from Northern Norway, they were not the most difficult squad Proetz played at the tournament. Proetz and his team tied against a team from Senegal. He recalls the Senegal side being “one of the best [he’s] ever played.” Proetz was surprised his team emerged with a tie let alone played a team from Senegal at all.

Aside from soccer, Proetz enjoyed the vacation aspect of the trip as well. He and his team were able to rent saunas on a lake and enjoy the scenery. He and his teammates enjoyed steaming in the saunas followed by jumping off a roof into the cold, blue, and refreshing Norwegian fjord water. Proetz enjoyed the scenery of the beautiful country and took it all in. He noticed during one of his games that the field he and his team played on was “the perfect setting.” The field was surrounded by mountain ranges and very large trees, creating the ideal playing environment. 

Proetz believes that out of country tournaments are far more enjoyable than tournaments in the U.S. He recommended this tournament to any team that is interested.