64 years ago, South Windsor High School opened its doors, leaving behind the legacy of Ellsworth High School. In the years since, the school has had its fair share of star athletes, but a boys soccer All-American had long alluded South Windsor; that was until Hayden Xhokaxhiu arrived.
Xhokaxhiu recently concluded the final chapter of his high school soccer career after helping bring the Bobcats to their first CIAC semifinal in over a decade. The senior captain ranked among the state’s best in goals with 35, shattering the school record, as well as having 18 assists.
It came as no surprise when Xhokaxhiu received his third consecutive CCC All-Conference selection, or even becoming a back-to-back choice for the CHSCA All-State team, but Xhokaxhiu would have one more in store for him when he was named the first South Windsor High School All-American in boys soccer.
Being named an All-American solidifies Xhokaxhiu among the top 110 players in the entire country. The selection doesn’t come from simple luck, Xhokaxhiu took The Prowl through the work that helped shape his skill, “Daily training, extra sessions, real sacrifices, and staying locked in mentally and physically,” Xhokaxhiu said.
Bobcats head coach Pete Lepak knows the honor he had in coaching a player of Xhokaxhiu’s caliber. “Coaching Hayden has been an honor. These past four years, he’s shown his true skill at soccer by exhibiting such versatility by being able to play in all three sections of the field,” Lepak stated.
Xhokaxhiu’s work ethic was something Lepak touched upon when speaking to The Prowl, saying “His work ethic is unmatched and his ability to read the game helped make us one of the best teams in the state this year.”
Being selfish has never been a description of Xhokaxhiu, having always valued team success over personal glory. The Bobcats’ run to the state semifinals was a testament to that. Despite being the six seed, the ‘Cats had to take on one of the state’s best teams in the quarterfinals when they matched with the reigning state champion Farmington Riverhawks.
Xhokaxhiu would score several minutes in, but his golden moment would come late in the second half. In a game tied at one, Xhokaxhiu was fouled inside the box. The senior stepped up and buried the penalty, silencing the Farmington crowd and sending the ‘Cats to the semifinals.
Even when reflecting on the game and those moments specifically, Xhokaxhiu focuses more on the team play. “I’m proud of both my own growth and how our team came together, everyone bought into the work, and it showed in our results,” Xhokaxhiu said.
Although not fully certain as to where or what yet, Xhokaxhiu plans on continuing his soccer career after graduation and to compete at the next level, wherever that may be.
The only word to describe Xhokaxhiu’s season would be historic. Xhokaxhiu found the back of the net in 19 of the Bobcats 22 games. Nick Heckt had held the school single-season goal record for about ten years. Many had said it was unbreakable, until Xhokaxhiu shattered it.
It’s hard to argue against the claim of Xhokaxhiu being arguably the school’s very best soccer talent in its 64-year history, and with his name standing alone in the school record books, it now has to read, “Hayden Xhokaxhiu: single-season goal record, All-American.”
