Columbus North senior Jonah Sipes is The Republic Boys Soccer Player of the Year. He is pictured at the BCSC Soccer Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Columbus, Indiana.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Jonah Sipes knew it was his turn to step up into a bigger role this year.
The Columbus North senior midfielder was one of the most versatile players on the field all season and this year’s The Republic Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
“I’m most proud of Jonah and the team,” North coach Andy Glover said. “Jonah serves as a model for players in our community. Jonah has embraced his role within our team at all levels and developed into a fine player that represents our team’s values.”
Sipes has been around soccer his whole life and began kicking and dribbling the ball at 4 years old. His entire family played soccer, so it was only natural for Sipes to find his niche. He played on the Columbus Express Soccer Club.
“I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. When I was born, I was going to have a soccer ball at my feet,” Sipes said. “I grew up playing it, and I was never really bad player and it is just the competitiveness. I’m a really competitive person and hate losing. It’s been a way for me to stay in shape. I like tracking my progress and see how far I’ve grown.”
Staying in shape has helped Sipes stay on the field for much of each game. As much as it is physical, Sipes mentioned that soccer is just as mental, too.
“There wasn’t really a game that I was upset about my performance at all. I felt like I did enough where I could play 80 minutes every game,” he said. “It’s really giving the practices in between the games your all. I would really have to say working on your mental toughness because your mind quits a lot before your body does. I really don’t have to worry about shutting down because I’m having fun. I feel like I thrive on the field.”
The Bull Dogs had their ups and downs most of the season. They came away with results they might have not been expected and then had some disappointing losses.
North finished the season 7-5-5, with two of the losses coming to Center Grove and ranked Class 3A teams like No. 7 Bloomington South and No. 11 Noblesville.
“I think it was pretty good,” Sipes said of the season. “We did come up with a few results that weren’t expected, tying teams like Carmel and St. Xavier and Cathedral, so I think we did pretty well, and we ended up almost reaching our team’s potential during the course of the season.”
Sipes finished the season with four goals and three assists. After the season, he was named to the All-District 4 team and third-team All-State by the Indiana Soccer Coaches Assocation and was an All-Conference Indiana selection.
“Jonah is a 360 degree player with distribution and transition skills of the highest level,” Glover said. “He leaves big shoes to fill in the team.”
Sipes is ready for the next chapter. He hopes to play soccer collegiately, possibly at a Division III school, but he wants to focus on academics first. He is thinking of majoring in finance, accounting or business.
Even though Sipes is taking the next step in his life, he learned a lot from his time with the Bull Dog program.
“It’s been huge influence. It’s set a standard for my life,” Sipes said. “Coach Glover has really pushed me for four years, and I’ve never really had an opportunity like that. I could have been lazy because if I was lazy, then I wouldn’t play.”
The Republic 2025 All-Area Boys Soccer team:
Jonah Sipes, Columbus North: The senior recorded four goals and three assists from his midfield position.
Mathiang Kak, Columbus North: The junior posted three goals and two assists while playing most of the season on defense.
Parker Gribbins, Columbus North: The sophomore led a defense that allowed only 22 goals in 17 games.
Manuel Valle, Columbus North: The junior led the Bull Dogs with 10 goals.
Luccas Peda, Columbus North: The sophomore scored six goals and led the Bull Dogs with six assists.
Johnny Garcia Renteria, Columbus North: The senior recorded one goal and four assists from his midfield position.
Emilio Quintero Aguirre, Columbus East: The senior led the Olympians with nine goals and seven assists.
Ryder Meek, Columbus East: The junior goalkeeper posted 45 saves and an 0.82 goals-against average.
Jonathan Sylva, Columbus East: The senior recorded one goal and five assists and led a defense that allowed only 17 goals in 17 games.
Farid Garcia Renteria, Columbus East: The junior recorded four goals and four assists from his midfield position.
Camden Grimes, Hauser: The junior scored 10 goals and led the Jets with nine assists.
Nick Mann, Hauser: The senior led the Jets with 17 goals and had eight assists.
Rusty Harris, Trinity Lutheran: The freshman led the Cougars with 29 goals and had nine assists.
Honorable mention
Brown County: Billy Hubbard, Clayton McGlothlin, Abram Taylor. Columbus East: Eddie Aranda Michel, Ronan Maier, David Sylva, Ryan Turner. Columbus North: Nicolas De Linan Palacios, Angel Espejel, Brody Johnson. Hauser: Phillippe Douce. Jennings County: Jacob Ferguson, Kaleb McIntosh. Trinity Lutheran: John Harris.
