When the boys soccer season kicks off on Saturday, Columbus East and Columbus North will be in a new home. The Olympians and Bull Dogs are sharing the new BCSC Soccer Complex, and both will open their seasons there on Saturday.
Here is a look at those two, along with other area boys soccer programs heading into the 2021 season:
Columbus East
After reaching the state’s final four in Class 3A in 2019, the Olympians repeated as sectional champions last fall. They went 9-3-7, including 5-0-2 to finish second in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
“We’re pretty motivated,” East coach Josh Gonsior said. “We have 10 seniors, and I think that experience and success over the last couple of years have kind of motivated them to get as far as they can get this year. They’re really working hard and leading the way, and it’s good to have a senior class like that.”
Senior Chris Quisenberry led the Olympians with 15 goals, and had five assists last season in earning The Republic Boys Soccer Player of the Year and second-team ISCA All-State honors. He will team at forward with senior Dathan Wolf, who scored East’s lone goal in its regional semifinal loss to Terre Haute South.
Senior center midfielder Branson Young and senior attacking midfield Kevin Galindo-Sanchez return for their third year as starters. Junior Ben Sylva, who moves from outside back, and senior Joseph Deckard will be in the center midfield.
Senior Korbin Hatcher and junior Cam Trueblood return at center back. Seniors Weston Romine returns at outside back, where he will be joined by senior Joe Hefner.
“That group has been together for quite awhile,” Gonsior said. “Korbin, Chris and Branson have been on the varsity squad all four years, and their leadership in the back and the midfield and up top are really going to be beneficial for us this season.”
Junior Pete Coriden and senior Gavin Edgecomb split time in goal last year and are battling for the starting spot again this season.
“It’s great to have both of those guys as an option and have them pushing each other the whole time,” Gonsior said.
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs won a Conference Indiana title last season in coach Andy Glover’s return to the sidelines. They went 7-6-4, including 3-1-1 in the conference.
“I’m incredibly excited about the season ahead of us,” Glover said. “The kids have been working very hard and putting in the time with the expectation of seeing a return on their investment of time.”
North returns its top two scorers in sophomore midfielder Aidan Whitley (10 goals, five assists) and senior forward/midfielder Noah White (eight goals, seven assists). Senior forward Jesse Williams added six goals and two assists.
Junior midfielder-defender Anthony Johnson, junior outside back Flynn Keele and senior center back Alex Ruiz Cordova also started in the sectional last seasons, although their positions could change this year.
With last year’s backup goalkeeper, Lukas Iorio, likely to miss the entire season with an injury, junior Oscar Ballinas is the frontrunner to step into that spot.
Others back from last year’s sectional roster include senior Will Holliday; juniors Nathan Imlay, Eduardo Ruiz Cordova, Trent Liggett and Michael Wolf and sophomores Nico Gotoh, Christian Cardoso, Masaki Takemoto, Marco Figueroa and Pavit Dhillon. Freshman Konnor Gribbins also could see varsity action this year.
“We have talent represented in the various age groups of our team, and I think all of them will be making contributions,” Glover said. “They’re tired of (playing) each other, to be honest. They need the competition, as does every high school team at this point in time.”
Hauser
The Jets have a new coach in Barry Grimes, a former player and assistant girls soccer coach at East. Grimes also has coached in the Columbus parks and recreation leagues.
“There will probably be some growing pains, but it’s coming along,” Grimes said. “They’re buying in and trying to put all the pieces together.”
Senior Aleck Lopez was the leader of last year’s team that went 3-9-1 and could play multiple positions. He and senior Carlos Cuevas may begin the season in the center midfield.
Freshman Ethan House and sophomore newcomer Evan Jacobs could be the forwards, with senior Tyler Holman also possibly seeing action there. Seniors Chase Martocci and Graham Kennedy will play outside midfield, with sophomores Lakota Robbins and Grace Hattabaugh and freshman Kolton Wallace providing depth.
Senior Cody Vincent, junior newcomer Cameron Toole, sophomores Zach Weichman and Kale Schwartzkopf will play on the defensive side, along with junior Carter Scott, who saw some action in goal last season. Sophomore Will Walters and freshman Luke Bruner could split time in goal.
“The kids are working hard,” Grimes said. “I think we’ll be competitive with other 1A schools.”
Columbus Christian
The Crusaders will look to climb above the .500 mark after going 3-7-1 last season.
“I think it’s the best unit that we’ve had, certainly in my three seasons,” Columbus Christian coach Tim Tallent said. “This will be the best product that we’ve put on the pitch. We have a goal of doubling our win total and getting up around six wins this year.”
Senior Nathan DeFriece and junior Joel Flint return at forward. Senior Ethan Nickerson, the team’s leading scorer with seven goals last season, will team in the center midfield with sophomore Levi Johnson, a transfer from Suburban Christian. Freshman Isaac Ridder is back as an outside midfielder.
Senior Gavin Lustig and junior Noah Edwards return on defense, where they will be joined by senior newcomer Cody Kiefer. Aaron Sewell, a sophomore move-in from Findlay, Ohio, takes over in goal.
“The guys and gals have come out and really given a large chunk of the summer for conditioning and learning the game,” Tallent said. “I’m just really pleased with the effort and the commitment in the heat of the summer. I’m excited as can be.”
Jennings County
Panthers coach Wayne Zamora is excited about the direction of his program in his third year at the helm.
“We have numbers starting to come out,” Zamora said. “We started our new soccer club. We have a new indoor facility opening up next week in Vernon. We’re starting to see some of our club players trickling into the high school finally.”
Nine starters are back from a 4-12-2 team. Juniors Nathan Davis and Gabe Wells return in the center midfield, senior Layne Suhre is back as an outside midfielder and senior Ethan Brown moves from outside back to outside midfield.
Senior Logan McIntosh returns as a defensive midfielder. Senior Ian Sawyer at center back and junior Bryce McIntosh at outside back return, along with sophomore Christian Hernandez who likely will move from center midfield to center back or forward.
Sophomore Keaton Miller is back at forward, where he will be joined by junior Brady Reeves. Freshmen Deken Simpson and Colton Roll are battling in goal.
Brown County
The Eagles return six starters from a team that went 5-8, including 4-4 to finish fourth in the Western Indiana Conference.
“It should be a pretty similar season,” Brown County coach Craig Norris said. “One of our big goals for this season is to finish in the top half of our conference.”
Senior Sam Normile returns at forward, and seniors Elijah Smith and Aidan Fox are back in the midfield. Junior Ethan Scott and sophomore Aaron Woodrum return on defense, although Woodrum could play more of an attacking role this year. Senior Wyatt Fox is back in goal.
Sophomore Carter Norcutt and junior Caelen Stanley could fill two of the remaining starting spots. Norris said the others are up for grabs.
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars have a new coach in Todd Jack, a California native who has coached various sports, including soccer, since moving to Indiana. He takes over a program that went 2-12 last season.
Sophomores Levi Pottschmidt and Andrew Lemming likely will be the forwards. Senior Cade Hill could play a variety of positions, but likely will begin in the center midfield, along with sophomore Conner Sims.
Junior Andrew Bell and sophomore Adam Everroad are the likely outside midfielders. seniors Preston Kovenor and Jacob Sabotin will be at center back, with sophomore Zander Roggow and senior Caleb Williams at outside back
Senior goalkeeper Brayden Stockelman is back after sitting out last season. Freshman Cade Galaspy could provide depth at forward.
“I like what I saw the first week of practice,” Jack said. “Being my first year here, there’s not going to be a set route. I’m going to plug people in different spots.”
