See an overview of Greater Lansing's high school boys soccer teams
Here is an overview of the Greater Lansing high school boys soccer teams. This listing reflects information provided by area coaches.
CAAC BLUE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Okemos, 2. DeWitt, 3. East Lansing, 4. Grand Ledge, 5. Holt, 6. Everett, 7. Waverly
▶ Top players: Leo Arana, Okemos; Holden Knapp, East Lansing; Ruslan Masalatin, DeWitt; Lucas Perez, DeWitt; Brayden Powers, DeWitt
DEWITT
▶ Last season: 17-6-1 (3rd)
▶ Coach: Joe Ishraidi (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Lucas Perez (sr.) M, Caiden McDonald (sr.) D, Brayden Powers (jr.), Sam Aeschliman (sr.) D, Sampson Sprague (sr.) D, Ian Fowler (jr.) M, Jack Clark (sr.) D, Aiden Aldrich (sr.) M, Aaron Ellsworth (sr.) M, Jonathan Schwarz (jr.) G
▶ Other contributors: Ruslan Masalatin (so.) M, Nathaniel Torrence (jr.) M, Joey Farhat (jr.) M
▶ Outlook: Perez and Powers were all-state performers last season after helping the Panthers make a run to the Division 2 state semifinals. They are joined by several varsity veterans on the roster for DeWitt, which will be trying to reach the Final Four in Division 2 for a third straight season. Masalatin is expected to make an impact for a Panther squad with high expectations.
EAST LANSING
▶ Last season: 14-4-2 (T-1st)
▶ Coach: Jeff Lyon (5th season)
▶ Top returners: Holden Knapp (sr.) M, Jake Hornbach (sr.) M, Nick Chenault (sr.) M, Ben Novello (sr.) D, Julian Liebler (sr.) M, Charlie Moeder (sr.) D, Temi Okubanjo (sr.) D, Paul Tyszkiewicz (sr.) D, Isaiah Smith (sr.) G
▶ Other contributors: Qias Sharizai (sr.) D/M, Sam Saldivar (jr.) F/M, Carter Hagan (jr.) F/M, Christian Trunk (jr.), Xtreme Hauk (jr.) M, Jorge Loaisga (jr.) F/D
▶ Outlook: Several talented players are gone from a Trojan squad that claimed a share of the CAAC Blue title last season. East Lansing lost 90% of its scoring and has just two starters back. Knapp is a returning all-league player and is joined by Liebler as a third-year varsity player. Despite replacing a lot, the Trojans expect to compete for another league title and position itself to be at its best for a challenging Division 1 district.
GRAND LEDGE
▶ Last season: 7-9-1 (5th)
▶ Coach: David Blanzy (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Xavier Zweering (sr.) M, Zach McLaughlin (sr.) M, Jacob Deal (sr.) D, Jake Ellsworth (sr.) G, Christian Legal (Sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Landen Pilcher (jr.) M, Caleb Chenault (jr.) F
▶ Outlook: Zweering, Deal and Ellsworth were honorable mention all-league players last season for the Comets, who will look to improve their finish in the Blue.
HOLT
▶ Last season: 4th
▶ Coach: Aaron Smith (16th season)
▶ Top returners: Zachary Archer (jr.) M, Jackson Bortnichak (sr.) G, Josiah De Mond (jr.) M, Kenneth Dextrom (sr.) D, Justice Oghenebrozie German (jr.) M, David Leblanch (sr.) D, Mason Winkel (jr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Mateo Arredondo (sr.) F, Hayden Dorer (sr.) M, Jake Gillentine (so.) F, Colin Sampson (so.) G
▶ Outlook: The Rams have a young team and replace seven starters from last fall. The focus is on improving every game and trying to push for a finish in the top portion of the CAAC Blue.
OKEMOS
▶ Last season: (T-1st)
▶ Coach: Brian Guggemos (21st season)
▶ Top returners: Leo Arana (sr.) M, Alex Gandhi (sr.) M, Isaac Friedhoff (sr.) D, Sawyer Van Antwerp (sr.) G, Sabin Russell (jr.) F, Charlie Stover (jr.) M, Griffin White (so.) G
▶ Other contributors: Brandon Baldwin (jr.) D, Jack Kosier (sr.) D
▶ Outlook: Arana was an honorable mention all-state selection, while Gandhi, Friedhoff and Van Antwerp are returning all-league selections for a Wolves squad coming off a Division 1 state title. Okemos lost eight starters from its championship squad, but had some experienced varsity veterans. The Wolves hope to be in position to win league and CAAC Cup titles this season and hope to be at their best for a challenging Division 1 district.
WAVERLY
▶ Last season: 1-16-1 (7th)
▶ Coach: Kevin Kacel (7th season)
▶ Top returners: Reece Perpich (sr.) D, Landon Barabas (sr.) G, Hebert Griffin (sr.) D/M, Jayden Pham (so.) M/D, JP Daher (sr.) M, Abdallah Amir (jr.) M/F, Kap Zo (jr.) D/M, Jaden Cunningham (sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Jackson DeLong (fr.), Isaiah Brown (jr.) F, Riley Bunce (sr.) D, Sahil Maulazoi (jr.) M/D
▶ Outlook: Perpich is a fourth-year starter and returning captain for the Warriors, who will look to rebound this season. Waverly, which has eight returning starters, will lean on its defense as it looks to improve.
More:Get to know Greater Lansing's high school volleyball teams
CAAC RED
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Mason, 2. Williamston, 3. St. Johns, T-4. Eastern, T-4. Haslett, 6. Fowlerville
▶ Top players: Blendi Jahiri, Mason; Colin Lomax, Mason; Lucas Nay, Mason; Samy Omar, Haslett; Matthew Palmer, Williamston; Collin Winters, Mason
FOWLERVILLE
▶ Last season: 6-13 (6th)
▶ Coach: Jason Sperry (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Rogelio Rodriguez (jr.) M, Ian Hartke (jr.) M, Owen Smith (so.) G, Hunter Alredge-Teran (jr.) D, Ryan Laimonis (jr.) F
▶ Other contributors: Tanner Camps (jr.) F
▶ Outlook: Rodriguez is in his third season playing varsity for a Gladiator squad hoping to compete better in the CAAC Red. Fowlerville has a younger team with talent and looks to gain valuable experience this fall.
HASLETT
▶ Last season: 12-6-2 (2nd)
▶ Coach: Ramiro Salazar (5th season)
▶ Top returners: Samy Omar (sr.) M, Joey Long (sr.) F
▶ Other contributors: Nady Omar (so.) F, Evan Warner (jr.) M, Jackson Shadaker (so.) D
▶ Outlook: The Vikings are rebuilding after losing 13 seniors and two others to MLS Next from its squad last fall. Samy Omar was an all-district and all-league performer and will be among the leaders for Haslett.
MASON
▶ Last season: 5-9-2 (1st)
▶ Coach: Jacob Derby (5th)
▶ Top returners: Lucas Nay (jr.) M, Blendi Jahiri (so.) M, Bryce Pierpoint (sr.) D, Collin Winters (so.) M, Colin Lomax (so.) D, Mendi Rexhepi (so.) F/M, Alex Palmer (so.) D, Luke Petee (jr.) M/F
▶ Other contributors: Dominic Casali (sr.) G, Brock Straub (fr.) F, Brandon Nay (fr.) D
▶ Outlook: Lucas Nay is a returning all-state player, while Jahiri, Pierpoint, Winters and Lomax were all-league selections last fall after helping the Bulldogs win the Red and reach the Gold Cup. Mason has a large group of talented underclassmen it will lean on. Derby hopes a challenging early schedule will be beneficial for his program.
ST. JOHNS
▶ Last season: 9-7-1 (4th)
▶ Coach: Luke Feldpausch (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Aiden Martinez, Anthony Dupuis, Mason Keller
▶ Other contributors: Leo Schneider, Logan Schroeder, Parker Beebee
▶ Outlook: Martinez, Dupuis and Keller lead the returners for the Redwings, who are looking to improve their finish in the CAAC Red.
WILLIAMSTON
▶ Coach: Ian Kurth (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Enzo Bandemehr (sr.) M, Jacob Chapman (sr.) M, Noah Goudreau (sr.) D, Matthew Palmer (jr.) D, Eduardo Sanchez Jr. (jr.) F
▶ Other contributors: Ian Conway (so.) F, Shelton Schuesler (so.) M, Cale Pederson (so.) M
▶ Outlook: The Hornets have 11 new varsity players with eight of those being underclassmen. Palmer earned Division 3 all-state recognitions and joins Bandemehr as veterans and captains who will try to help Williamston as it grows throughout the season. The Hornets hope to be in the mix in the Red.
CAAC WHITE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Eaton Rapids, 2. Portland, T-3. Charlotte, T-3. Lansing Catholic, 5. Ionia, 6. Sexton
CHARLOTTE
▶ Last season: 5-8-4
▶ Coach: John Hoesli (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Laben Kirk (sr.), Dylan Vliet (sr.), Lance Byers (sr.), Justin Beck (sr.), Jayden Schwartz (sr.), Jaron Kiss (sr.)
▶ Other contributors: Brady Blair (fr.), Peyton Caswell (so.), Nick Somers (so.), Sully Oswalk (jr)
▶ Outlook: The Orioles have a senior-heavy squad this fall. Charlotte hopes its newcomers and returners mesh as it aims for improved success.
EATON RAPIDS
▶ Last season: 10-8, 5-0 (1st)
▶ Coach: Mike Decker (4th season)
▶ Top returners: Colby Holevac (sr.) D, Robert Noyes (sr.) M, Kyle Bush (sr.) G, Carter Buckingham (so.) D
▶ Outlook: The Greyhounds aim to rebuild after losing 10 seniors from their CAAC White championship squad. Holevac, Noyes and Bush are fourth-year varsity starters who were all-league selections. and will be key for Eaton Rapids. Buckingham also earned all-league accolades. Decker said the Greyhounds have a lot of young players looking to prove themselves.
LANSING CATHOLIC
▶ Last season: 9-3-1 (2nd)
▶ Coach: Gustavo Flores (18th season)
▶ Top returners: Jacob Bertrand M, Samuel Contreras M, Nate Dalessandro D, Samuel Matias F, Levan Svarc F, Graham Thiel D
▶ Other contributors: Collin Hargrove M, Carson Herald M, Daniel McGaughey D
▶ Outlook: Svarc is a third-year varsity player, while Thiel, Bertrand and Matias are captains for the Cougars, who will try to return to the top of the White standings this fa...
PORTLAND
▶ Last season: 6-9-2 (4th)
▶ Coach: Chris Roof (10th season)
▶ Top returners: Jacob Rensberry (sr.) D, Drew Edick (sr.) M, Cooper Hoskins (sr.) F, Nile Kreiner (jr.) M, Aiden Pulling (jr.) M, Isaac Dakin (jr.) D, Boden Nye (r.)
▶ Other contributors: Ben Stirton (fr.) M, Mason Vallier (fr.) G, Leo Wagner (fr.) M
▶ Outlook: The Raiders lose just two starters from last season and have depth with a roster featuring 28 players. The returners include a trio of all-league performers and fourth-year varsity players in Rensberry, Edick and Hoskins. Portland hopes to be more offensive this season and it pushes for a strong showing in the White.
GLAC
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Laingsburg, 2. Lansing Christian, 3 Lakewood, T-4. Leslie, T-4. Olivet, 6. Perry, 7. Maple Valley, 8. Stockbridge
LAINGSBURG
▶ Last season: 8-4-2
▶ Coach: Natalie Elkins (2nd season)
▶ Top returners: Dylan Hulliberger (sr.) M, Brayden Thomas (sr.) M, Aaron Willoughby (sr.) M, Luke Snyder (sr.) G, Alex George (sr.) D,
▶ Other contributors: Noah Devereaux (fr.) M, Jake Rivet (fr.) G, Mitchell George (so.) D, Dano Winans (jr.) F
▶ Outlook: Hulliberger, Thomas and Snyder are fourth-year varsity players who earned all-league and all-district honors for the Wolfpack. Laingsburg expects to be in the mix for a league championship.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
▶ Last season: 13-6 (2nd)
▶ Coach: Tommy Ziolkowski (2nd season)
▶ Top returners: Owen Resch (so) F, Elijah Ellis (sr.) M, Judah Schafer (sr.) F, Tyler Kendrick (jr.) F, Noah Marl (sr.) D, Tim Sullivan (sr.) D, Kevin Brooks (jr.) F
▶ Other contributors: Cullen McKay (fr.) F, Brady Carmichael (fr.) G, Dylan Kinnas (jr.), Cam Damesworth (jr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Pilgrims expect to be in the mix for a GLAC title with several key components back. Ellis led the team in scoring last fall and joins Resch as returning all-state selections for Lansing Christian. Schafer, Kendrick, Marl, Sullivan and Brooks were all-district performers.
LESLIE
▶ Last season: 2-13-3
▶ Coach: Michael Compton (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Tyler Burley (sr.) F, Brogan Dodge (jr.) M, Drake Mays (so.) D
▶ Other contributors: Alex Vang (sr.) M
▶ Outlook: The Blackhawks aim to improve after a disappointing 2021 season. Leslie has a large group of sophomores back, who took big steps last year. Burley is a fourth-year varsity performer and a captain for a Blackhawk squad looking to reclaim their spot near the top of the GLAC.
OLIVET
▶ Last season: 7-9-3, 3-3-2 (5th)
▶ Coach: Marco A. Hernandez (7th season)
▶ Top returners: Bryce Heisler (sr.) M, David Beekman (sr.) D, Andres Alamanza (sr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Colton Orvis (sr.) F/M, Peter Zimmerlee (jr.) M/D, Caiden Giguere (jr.) M, Reece Cole (so.) F, Drew Garcia (so.) F, Joe LaSalle (so.) G
▶ Outlook: Heisler and Beekman are fourth-year starters who were all-league and all-district selections last season. Orvis and Almanza are other experienced seniors back for Olivet, which will lean on its veterans for offensive and defensive contributions. Overall, Hernandez said his team is young and will need to learn quickly.
OTHERS
DANSVILLE
▶ Last season: 10-8-3
▶ Coach: Ethan Felsing (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Drew Frantz (jr.) F, Chase Goff (sr.) F, Jessie Every (jr.) D, Ethan Jones (jr.) D, Gabe Schmidt (jr.) G, Max Gao (jr.) M/D
▶ Other contributors: Alex Pawlowski (so.) D/M, Anthony Pawlowski (so.) D/M, Dylan Graf (sr.) M
▶ Outlook: The Aggies have several key performers back in important spots as they look to put together a successful fall. Frantz is a returning all-state player, while Goff, Every and Schmidt were all-district performers last season and are part of a core of varsity veterans for Dansville. With a short bench and small roster, the Aggies will be counting on their entire roster to contribute.
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: High school boys soccer: See an overview of Greater Lansing's teams
