Boys Soccer Previews: Cepo dons a new color as coach of Airport

Goran Cepo is feeling blue.

The soccer coach had plenty of red in his wardrobe after coaching Bedford (seven years) and Monroe (one year) from 1999 to 2007.

Then he shifted to green while leading St. Mary Catholic Central from 2013-2020.

It’s a new year, a new team and a new color for Cepo as he takes over at Airport.

“It’s funny,” Cepo said. “The first day I walked out of the bedroom (wearing blue) and said, ‘This really feels weird.’”

But Airport Blue is feeling comfortable now for Cepo.

“It’s been great to get back into coaching, giving the team instructions and seeing the progress,” he said. “Those are the reasons you coach. The administration, the parents, and the boys on the team have been extremely supportive.”

The Jets will have a new coach and an almost entirely new team. Their roster of 24 includes 13 freshmen.

“The whole thing is about getting better,” Cepo said. “I’ve encouraged them early not to be afraid of making mistakes. I understand there will be some frustration and growing pains. The difference today and the first week of July is already quite noticeable.”

Cepo, who has a career record of 218-108-34 over 15 seasons of high school coaching, knows building a winner at Airport will take time.

“I am one of the most competitive people you are ever going to meet,” he said. “Patience is not my strong suit, but I know I have to be.”

AIRPORT

Coach: Goran Cepo, first year.

2021 record: 6-8-2.

Returning starters: Seniors Jaiden Nason, Brandon McComas; juniors Eli Marut, Josh Hannning, Tayton Ruhlig, Carson Gregg.

Other players: Senior Dillon Yoas; sophomore Carter Winnie; freshmen Nolan Sanders, Nolan Ortega, Skyyler Gonzalez, Hudson Moore, Isaiah Chapdelaine.

Season outlook: Cepo, the former SMCC coach, takes over a team that returns leading scorer Nason and three-year goalkeeper Ruhlig. McComas also will be a leader for the Jets.

Coach’s comments: “This will be an extremely young group with as many as five or six freshmen starting. We have 24 boys in the program of which three are sophomores and 13 are freshmen. The boys have worked hard since mid-July for us and have bought into how we want the program ran and how we want them to play.”

BEDFORD

Coach: Mitch Cousino, fourth year.

2021 record: 1-16-1

Returning starters: Seniors Carson Oberski, Leo Wagenhauser, Hussein Jomaa, Zach Janowicz, junior Lucas Tominello.

Other players: Senior Connor Gore; sophomores Ian Hopkins, Caleb Parsons; freshmen Matthew Zahniser, Carter Allison.

Season outlook: The Mules will build around a solid senior class as they move onto Bedford’s new turf field.

Coach’s comments: “The SEC does not allow us to have any days off; but the boys are looking forward to competing night in and night out. … The team is ready, we have been working hard in the offseason and now since tryouts are over. This season will be a test for us but one I’m looking forward to. The boys are ready to show that last fall was an off year and we are more of a team to fear.”

FLAT ROCK

Coach: Sean Sturgeon, fourth year.

2021 record: 3-16.

Returning starters: Seniors Grady Baker, Evan Fron, Jonas Sturgeon; juniors Brandon Brown, Anthony Cunningham, Raegan Engelbert, John Lukasik, Noah McKinnon; sophomores Mitchell Smith, Isaac Arredondo, Nick Sikorski, Wyatt Mack, Riley Smith, Mitchel Hoagland.

Other players: Sophomore Alex Dropiewski; freshmen Brady McBride, Lincoln Sucharski-Simms, Kush Patel.

Season outlook: Sturgeon believes this team has the potential to double last year’s victory total. Smith returns after leading the team with 9 goals and 8 assists last season as a freshman. The roster includes seven sophomores and three freshmen.

Coach’s Comment: “Returning a young team with a lot of talent and will be looking forward to an exciting season.”

GIBRALTAR CARLSON

Coach: Mario Parody, 11th year.

2021 record: 10-10.

Returning starters: Seniors Aidan Malec, Aidan Dietz, Nick Valadez, Zack Walder; juniors Kyler Ostrowski, Brady Jaskula, Harry Elmazaj, Luis Jasso.

Other players: Seniors Tristan Haynes, Nick Hanser, Alex Fabbri; juniors Jack Watkins, Carter Sgro, Dominic Fioritto; sophomores Luke Carr, Matthew Phillips, Max Smith.

Season outlook: Nearly the entire roster from last year returns. “The returning starters will lead the team as the others will fill in the blanks to the best of their abilities," Parody said. "Overall, the returning squad is older, wiser and more experienced.”

Coach’s comment: “Looking forward to carry on from the very last game in which the boys played a very good match against Allen Park in the District playoffs, despite the loss.”

IDA

Coach: Tim Allen, sixth year.

2021 record: 8-9.

Returning starters: Seniors Dillion Holycross, Dustin Holycross, Connor Ramsey, Evan Schmidtz; juniors Titus Benson, Zach Hemry, Wade Johnston, Grantham Nelson; sophomores Asher Hamm, Davin Slater.

Other players: Senior Jack Hetzel; juniors Ryan Horn, Donovan Lutz, Caleb Mannor, Alex Ortiz; sophomores Cole Angerer, Cole Blackman, Tiernan Strimpel, Cameron Tross; freshmen Jaxon Bolster, Leo Godfrey, Owen Harrison Mason Reynolds, Callum Steinke, Evan Tengler.

Season outlook: Schmidtz earned a spot on the All-Region team last season after scoring 20 goals and adding 7 assists. He will get a boost if Grantham Nelson is healthy this season. Dustin Holycross will lead the defense.

Coach’s comment: “A very nice group of boys this year. Looking forward to what we can accomplish on the soccer field. We finished fourth in conference last year. Hopefully we can move up this year.”

JEFFERSON

Coach: Rob Kull, second year.

2021 record: 5-14-1.

Returning starters: Seniors Eastin Kegley, Jaden Swan, Ben Winter; juniors Gio Beadurie, Gabe Gelso, Mike Armetta, Carter Simota, Vlad Uhlik, Gavin Uhlik.

Other players: Juniors Copper Holmes, Wade Ruby; sophomores Robert Barber, Nate Lee; freshman Tyler Swan.

Season outlook: The Bears return their leading scorers from last season and have quite a bit of experience in their defense. They have nine returning starters.

Coach’s comments: “This year should be a good year for Jefferson soccer. We hope to improve on our league finish from last season. This is an experienced team with a lot of juniors. While we might not have the roster depth, we have the skill to compete and stay in games.”

MILAN

Coach: Victor Plasse, fourth year.

2021 record: 6-8-1.

Returning starters: Seniors Sebastian Majer, David McChesney, Samuel Klein; juniors Parker Beard, Carter Higgins, Jackson Raasch, Gavin Tomecek, Beau LeBlanc; sophomores Adam Johnson, Nolan Matley.

Other players: Cameron Satterley, Owen Hill, Anthony Carvahol, Jonah Stempien, Nico Wilson, Noah Bussell, Wesley Murphy.

Season outlook: Nearly all of last year’s team returns with 10 starters back.

Coach’s comments: “We felt that we underperformed in parts last year with the squad. We are aspiring to be better and do better as a squad so that can reflect with our record. I think we have potential to be better than we were last year and add some goals.”

MONROE

Coach: Ian Cook, fourth year.

2021 record: 14-11.

Returning starters: Seniors Manuel Diaz, Logan Janes, Daniel Presa; juniors Austin Dunn, Lucas Rzepa, Talen Swinkey; sophomores Brian Palmer, Jovanny Gallegos.

Other players: Seniors Nick Braden, Alex Gawel, Nik Heringhausen, Nick Lieto, Ashton Walker; juniors Mathieu Grenn, Trevor Mann, Ethan Merkle; sophomore Bryson Lane.

Season outlook: There is excitement in Monroe’s program because of the new turf at Bill Bunkelman Field. The Trojans will play night games as they defend their District title. Presa, Swinkey, Dunn, and Diaz all have more than 50 games of varsity experience.

Coach Comments: “Several key players graduated so there are big shoes to fill this season. It provides an opportunity for these players to step out of the shadows and shine. … It should be another fun season.”

NEW BOSTON HURON

Coach: Matt Lividini, seventh year.

2021 record: 7-7.

Returning starters: Seniors Drew Slane, Tyler Toth; juniors Jack Maxwell, Luke Hamilton, Andy Traster.

Other players: Seniors Brady Fleszar, Ibrahim Muhammad, Abdul Ahmad; juniors Carson Downey, Sebastian Horvath, Ayden Shannon, Tony Trupiano; sophomores Roman Prit, Bradley Hughes, Aidan Dolencic, Landon Julio, Noah Manthei; freshmen Ian Petrick, Jordan Stasak.

Season outlook: Lividini plans to pick up the pace for his team this fall. “We will be rolling out almost a completely new look for the 2022 season,” he said. “Huron will be utilizing its speed, strong defense, and sharpshooters to make its way to the top quickly.”

Coach’s comment: “This will be a unique season. We have a young team with big numbers. Seniors Drew Slane and Tyler Toth, who are both at 100 percent form, are pushing this team daily and allowing me to coach a higher level of soccer than ever before at Huron High School.”

SMCC

Coach: Nathan Olson, second year.

2021 record: 9-7-1.

Returning starters: Seniors Joey Boberg, Seth Hendrick, Steven Hypio; juniors Holden Kennedy, Carter Hoffman, Trent Zachel, Chaz Harrington, Isak DeSloover; sophomore Will Shafer.

Other players: Seniors Michael Lynch, Jaipal Singh; junior Conner Gross; sophomores Tyler Rutkowski, Caleb Hendrick, Kien Clawson.

Season outlook: The Falcons graduated eight players from last season but have lots of returning talent, including Zachel in goal. Top players in the field are Kennedy, Hoffman, and Harrington.

Coach’s comments “Our core starting 11 is in a good place right now. The team is willing to work hard, listen, and give 100 percent every day for each other. Our biggest positive this year is that we don't have a single superstar. Everyone must rely on their teammates as they work together each and every game.”

STATE LINE

Coach: Andy Yglesias, fifth year.

2021 record: 8-12.

Returning starters: Seniors Eli Dyer, Trevin Johnson, Landon Worley; junior Derek Braithwaite; sophomores Ethan Rains, Cooper Worley.

Other players: Juniors Ian Currie, Andrew Knapp, Kyle Brock, Dawson Heaton, Jason Singer; sophomores Aidan Boora, Peter Cheedie; freshman Brandt Dyer.

Season outlook: Dyer recorded four shutouts last season and kept State Line in nearly every game. Worley will lead the defense.

Coach’s comment: “This is the most experienced defense we've had in a long time. We are solid at every defensive position. I don't foresee many teams scoring on us. We've added new players to our offense and they'll have to step up.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Boys Soccer Previews: Cepo dons a new color as coach of Airport