Updated 2022 High School Soccer Capsules

Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
·8 min read
Marion Harding's Taylor Iden dribbles the ball during a girls soccer match against Clear Fork last season.
Marion Harding's Taylor Iden dribbles the ball during a girls soccer match against Clear Fork last season.

Highland Boys

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic.

  • Coach: John Sachleben (seventh season, 26-57-13).

  • Assistant: Austin Smith

  • Last Year: 6-12-1

  • Roster: Caleb Hunter (Sr., letter), Mason Keller (Sr., letter), Cody Thomas (Sr., letter), Dylan Thomas (Sr., letter), Patrick Bracken (Jr., letter), Ben Evans (Jr., letter), Zane Sheets (Jr., letter), Darren Styer (Jr., letter), Aiden Bateson (So., letter), Tyler Brooks (So., letter), Austin Cleveland (So., letter), Josiah Fatka (So., letter), Malin Fichtner (So., letter), Andrew Greenhalge (Jr.), Jonah Allard (So.), Chad Carpenter (Fr.), Zane Granger (Fr.), Hendick Karya (Fr.), Cameron Kelley (Fr.), Keegan Tackett (Fr.).

  • Notes: The Scots won their first tournament game in program history last year ... They graduated five including all-league players Jack Chaffee and Aki Karya ... They will be young in some positions ... They want to have fun. learn and be good sportsmen.

  • Comment: "We will play in the competitive MOAC. All the teams are solid and will present us with a challenge," Sachleben said.

Highland Girls

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Anthony Wilson (third season, 18-11).

  • Assistant: Riley Kemmer.

  • Last Year: 11-7, 4-3, fourth in MOAC.

  • Roster: Amarie Morgan (Jr., MF, second team MOAC and district, letter), Mackenzie Blubaugh (Sr., MF, letter), Makayla Woods (Sr., MF), Cami Hilton (Sr., CB), Isabelle Arnett-Tomasek (Sr., F, letter), Kendall Rogers (Sr., CB), Madi Copley (Jr., CB), Kylee Cooper (Jr., MF), Kayley Smith, (Jr., GK, letter), Mattie Ross (Jr., MF), Bryn Orr (So., MF, letter), Raven Bump (So., MF, letter), Abby Smith (So., MF), Kiersten Holcomb (So., F), Sophia Hinkle (So., LWB, letter), Bryleigh Young (So., RWB), Ava Fichtner (Fr., F).

  • Notes: There are seven returnees from last year ... The Scots will be strong in the midfield as that's where most of the returnees play ... They have strengthened the midfield even more to make it a focal point of the team ... Highland is replacing its entire backline of defense ... Career leading scorer and assist-maker Emma Hinkle graduated, so they will try to make up her opportunities collectively ... Guinevere Jackson is playing girls golf this fall.

  • Comment: "We want to finish in the top half of the MOAC or better. Last season we did that in our first year in the conference in only our sixth season as a program," Wilson said.

Marion Harding Boys

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Chris Peria (first season).

  • Assistants: Aaron Pirnstill, Micah Peria.

  • Roster: Logan Hartman (So.), Aydden Hoy (Fr.), Brayden Coleman (Fr.), Andreas Alejandre (So.), Jordan Hensley (Sr.), Jackson Shipley (So.), Hayyden Honaker (So.), Ryan Newsome (Sr.), Frankie Buendia (Jr.), Austin Valentine (Sr.), Cameron Williams (Jr.), Trenton Leonard (Jr.), Hayden Hennessy (Sr.), Jackson McCrery (So.), Tristian Elmore (Fr.).

  • Notes: With a new coach comes a new style of play ... Depth is an issue ... Once they figure out their strengths, the Presidents will be a solid unit.

  • Comment: "I expect us to compete every single night. I expect us to respect our opponents and grow as players and individuals," Peria said.

Marion Harding Girls

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Kori Nehrenz (first season).

  • Assistant: Grecia Catalan.

  • Roster: Gabby Neault (Fr., MF), Ivy Russell (Fr., F), Taylor Iden (Sr., F, letter), Bri Stone (Sr., MF, letter), Nicci Piggot (Sr., F/MF), Leah Price (Fr., MF), Paris Jaimes (Fr., MF), Layla Schneider (Fr., MF/D), Suzannah Houpt (Jr., D, letter), Ashley Martinez (Jr., D, letter), Abe Smith (Sr., F, letter), Lydia Price (Fr., D), Gabby Hittle (Jr., D, letter), Madi Cosey (Fr., D), Corlei Morris (Jr., D, letter), Addy Osborne (Jr., D, letter), Shelby Stimson (Sr., MF, letter), Lexie Davis (Jr., GK, letter).

  • Notes: The Presidents have a strong work ethic and strong leadership ... They are receptive to criticism and feedback ... The expectation is to improve their technical, tactical and physical skills this season.

North Union Girls

  • Conference: Central Buckeye Mad River Division.

  • Coach: Bill LeRoy (first season).

  • Assistant: Sarah Hoffer.

  • Roster: Hannah Carney (Sr.), Kendal Walczak Music (Sr.), Anna Crusey (Jr.), Corajayne DeBoer (Jr.), Rachel Decker (Jr.), Chloe Hall (Jr.), Lily Leavitt (Jr.), Kenadi McLeod (Jr.), Riley Popovich (Jr.), Abbey Price (Jr.), Lauren Hall (So.), Kdence LaForteza (So.), Leah Matlack (So.), Emma McCaul (So.), Allison Price (So.), Rylan Riffle (So.), Kailyn Colegrove (Fr.), Kale Keigley (Fr.).

  • Notes: The Wildcats are in their first season as a varsity sport as the last two years they played a club and junior varsity schedule to establish the program ... They are going to be less experienced than most opponents, but the skills are growing quickly ... LeRoy said they are hard workers who are engaged, inspired and motivated ... they will play strong defense ... The roster of 18 is larger than expected ... Shawnee, Northwestern and Urbana stand out historically in the CBC ... The Wildcats want to inspire those young players in elementary school and middle school to continue to play soccer when they get to high school by establishing the program and growing it.

  • Comment: "I think we may be better than a lot of people will expect a first-year program to be. I am setting no goals based on results. We will be fun to watch and cheer for and difficult to play against," LeRoy said.

Pleasant Boys

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Mallory Owings (first season).

  • Roster: Cody Thompson (second-team MOAC), Tristen Ray, Dom Garcia, Aaron French, Ethan Nutter, Mikhai Hughes, Landon Severns, Griffen Gleespen, Sasha Detwiler, Julio TotCu, Valdemar Perez-Salina, Christopher Aguire, Steven Howard.

  • Notes: The Spartans have hard workers with postive attitudes ... With such a small roster, staying healthy is essential ... they want to learn, compete and grow as the season goes ... Pleasant graduated eight seniors.

  • Comment: "We are in a rebuilding time," Owings said.

Pleasant Girls

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Brennan Hall (first season).

  • Assistant: Mallory Owings.

  • Roster: Melanie Lee (Sr.), Adisyn Hall (Sr.), Lauren Flinchbaugh (Sr.), Kalli Caldwell (Sr.), Trinity Prater (Sr.), Josefina Mendoza (Sr.), Cadence Tighe (Sr.), Joscelyne Rodriguez (Sr.), Ramsi Rutherford (Jr.), Laura Rife (Jr.), Whitney Waddell (Jr.), Brooklynn Parish (Fr.), Gabby Mendoza (Fr.), Ella Beacham (Fr.).

  • Notes: The Spartans will lean on their defense as they bring back three backfield defenders and the goalkeeper ... They need to find speed on the wings and forward with a knack for scoring.

  • Comment: "Our goal is to develop our student athletes on and off the pitch," Hall said. "We will use soccer to teach hard work, dedication and passion, while requiring our student athletes to display sound character and professionalism in both winning and losing."

River Valley Boys

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Joel Richards (second season, 6-12).

  • Assistants: Sherod McGuire, Michael Haas.

  • Last Year: 6-12.

  • Roster: Logan Gibson (So., letter, D/MF, 2 goals), Kale Robbins (Sr., three letters, MF, 2 assists, HM MOAC), Linken Hornung (Fr., MF), Rylan Smith (So., letter, D), Hudson Pollock (So., letter, F, 2 G), Preston Campbell (So., MF, letter), Adri Diaz (So., MF), Charlie Seckel (Fr., MF), Gabe Douce (Jr., two letters, MF, 8 G, 6 A, second-team MOAC), Hayden Campbell (Jr., letter, D), Christian Knight (So., letter, MF), Kain Mencer (Fr., D), Carson Walker (Fr., D/GK), Briley Beckley (Jr., two letters, MF, 4 G, 3 A), Aiden Jordan (Fr., D/MF), J.R. Bates (So., letter, GK/D), Jacob Hunter (Fr., D/MF), Noah Williams (Jr., two letters, D), Ian Burns (Fr., D), Landon Bauer (Fr., F/MF).

  • Notes: The Vikings lost seven seniors to graduation including all-league and all-district performer Mitchel Seckel who is now at Wilmington playing ... Seckel had four goals and 11 assists as a senior and leaves a hole in the midfield ... The defensive backline needs revamped after the loss of Mason Snyder and Stephen Miller, while Connor Robbins graduated as a forward after four goals ... Jaden Williams was the team's emotional leader, and Adolfo Leal and Owen Richards combined for seven goals and have graduated as well ... Bates is back in goal with 83 saves and four shutouts last year ... By moving some players around, the offense and defense is more fluid ... Depth is a concern as some freshmen will be expected to be contributors right away ... The Vikings are scheduled to play Galion in the regular season finale at the Columbus Crew's Lower.com Stadium and more details on the match will follow.

  • Comment: "If we play our game and stay focused all season, we will be right in the hunt," Richards said.

River Valley Girls

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Coach: Justin Hage (44-44-11).

  • Assistants: Jeremy Lavery, Taylor Myers.

  • Last Year: 5-10-1.

  • Roster: Makyha Rodgers (Sr., M, 2 G), Marinn McGuire (So., D/M, 3 G, out for season), Gianna Alves (Jr., D), Sidney Street (So., D/M), Amaris Caudill (Jr., M), Kiley Ratliff (So., M), India Willis (Jr., F/M), Halle Snyder (Jr., M, 11 G, 5 A, HM MOAC), Megan Thompson (Fr., M), Chloe Valentine (Fr., D), Jocelyn DelGatto (Jr., M), Olivia Meddles (Jr., D), Kayla Browning (Jr., GK), Lila Mencer (Sr., M), Gracyn Borders (So., F), Delaney Myers (Jr., M/D/F), Gabby Riegel (Jr., F), Bailey McClenethan (So., M), Seleh Parkman (Fr., M), Kaya Brown (Sr., GK, 144 saves).

  • Notes: The Vikings are versatile in their positioning ... They return most of their defense and their goalkeeper so they will be looked upon to keep goals against low ... RV has graduated 18 players over the last two seasons so they are a young group ... Among the seven graduates were Kenzington Hage who is the county's all-time goal scorer with 58 and a four-time first-team MOAC pick, two-time all-leaguer Maddie King, four-year starter Sydney Pettett and college-bound soccer player Annabelle Gandert.

  • Comment: "Our goal is to get back to a winning record and build on the tradition we've started as the premier program in the area," Hage said.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2022 High School Soccer Capsules