Like Father, Like Son
by Jill Cousins
It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that Christian Eissele wanted to grow up to be just like his dad, Lake Mary High School coaching legend Bill Eissele. Bill started the girls’ soccer program there in 1983 and retired in 2020 as the third winningest girls’ high school soccer coach in the United States, with 660 victories and three state championships for the Rams.
But, while Christian grew up playing soccer and even played professionally overseas, following in his father’s footsteps was not in his game plan.
“I told myself when I was a kid or young adult that I would never want to coach,” says Christian, 32, who nevertheless took over for Bill when he retired. “I didn’t really recognize the value of what he did, as far as coaching and teaching, until I became a coach myself.”
In just his fifth season at his alma mater (Class of 2009), Christian is already proving to be the proverbial chip off the old block. Lake Mary’s girls captured the 2025 FHSAA Class 7A State Championship in February – the Rams’ first state title in 23 years – by defeating Weston Cypress Bay 2-0. And in a full-circle moment, Bill was right there by his son’s side, having stepped in as an assistant coach just two weeks before the season started.
“I was very excited when he asked me to step in and help out a little bit as a volunteer assistant,” says Bill. “He was a very gifted player, and he’s a very gifted coach. I’m extremely proud.
I never thought this would happen again, and that makes it even more exciting.”
Bill won his first state title in his sixth year of coaching, in 1989, and also won titles in 1998 and 2002.
Reaching Their Goals
At this year’s state championship game, senior Lindsay Sheets (the girls’ soccer Player of the Year in Seminole County) scored the first goal, and junior Ava McKay added an insurance goal. Senior goalkeeper Laura Walker – along with defenders Marisa Ocasek, Liliana Marshall, Teagan Jahns, and Maddie Winn – helped the Rams (19-3-2) record their 13th shutout of the season. Lindsay led the team this season with 21 goals.
The Rams finished Christian’s first season just under .500, but since then, they have been on a roll. Lake Mary reached the regional playoffs in each of the previous three seasons, only to be eliminated by the eventual state champion.
“It was a special ride this year to see Christian get over that hump and to have his dad along with him for the ride,” says Rick Weyers, Lake Mary athletic director. “The team overcame a lot this season and just really played awesome. I’m extremely happy for them.”
One Big Family – That’s Growing
Christian says the team’s work ethic was a big factor in its championship season. Marisa, one of three senior captains along with Lindsay and Anna Voigt, says the Rams’ chemistry on and off the field was also a factor.
“Our team is so close, but this year we were on a whole different level, emotionally and physically,” says Marisa. “It’s always been our goal [to win state], but to actually reach it – it’s insane.”
Christian is hoping the state title is just the beginning of great things to come for the Rams’ soccer program. The girls have already been working hard in the weight room, and with six starters returning, the future looks bright.
But that’s not the only excitement in Christian’s near future. Wife Julia, his assistant coach the past four seasons, is pregnant with the couple’s first child, a girl due in September.
“I’ve always felt like this program is one big family,” says Christian, “so I told the girls the news [about the baby] during a breakfast before the state semifinals, and they are all super excited.”