Wooster boys will have new look, but expectations remain the same
By Brian Questel
August 17, 2011
684
There has been a seismic change in the Wooster High boys soccer program in the past year.
The Generals, who won the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship a year ago, did so based in part because of a large senior class. Those 13 seniors helped guide the Generals to an 11-4-1 record (6-1 in the OCC, with three additional wins in the league tournament). That class, the last full freshman team the Generals have seen, boasted considerable strength, including first-team All-Ohio Westin Welker and OCC Defensive Player of the Year in Brent Breneman. In addition, Todd Sheron and David ODonnell were first-team OCC picks.
Those were guys I knew from Day One would be fun to play with and coach when they were seniors, said head coach Brian Hansen. We modeled for them through their whole career and kept them together. They were our last freshman and they were together all four years.
They leave major shoes to fill, especially with only five returning lettermen on the roster. Hansen expects those returning players, as well as those players looking to take the step from the JV team, watched and learned as the Generals put together last years championship run.
From a team aspect, (I hoped they watched) how (the seniors) stuck together through the down periods, said Hansen. Every team goes through lulls during the season and the key is how you pick each other up through the process. Its shown in the preseason we have three weeks this year and I warned the captains its coming and you have to help push through it. When it came, they were like, Yeah, we see it, too.
While the Generals have holes to fill, including a key one at keeper with the graduation of second-team OCC pick Kosta Nicolozakes, there are five returning lettermen, all seniors. That includes ODonnell, who is back at his midfield spot and is one of the team captains. In fact, four of the returnees have experience in the midfield as ODonnell will be joined in the middle of the lineup by classmates Marko Ayala, Drew King-Smith (who could also play forward) and Nick Coppola.
Mike Styer, the other captain, is the lone returnee off last years defensive line, but he could move in the lineup. Mike may go back up front, where he started as a JV player for two years, said Hansen. Our backside rotation was very strong and hes our only returning defender, but we may play him up top.
Playing that many seniors a year ago impacted the depth of this years team, and The key is how the young guys step up as first-time varsity players, noted Hansen.
You cant teach experience and cant wish it on them, he added. It takes time. Last year we had all that experience and is was, Now go show it.
While that may be the teams biggest hurdle, it hasnt dimmed Hansens outlook.
When you lose that many seniors, you think this is a rebuilding year, said Hansen. You have to be careful with that because the senior class (experience of 2010) goes a long way. That class can breed success for a couple of years. That whole J.P. Lytle class and the class after it were successful, too. Everyone can call this rebuilding; I expect guys to step in and play.
I dont see why they wouldnt. Ive got good talent – they just have to learn the position. Ive got a ton of guys who can play a lot of places. Theyve got to know how to put things together, which is what we are teaching this preseason.
Part of that has been reflected in how Styer has been used in the early going.
Mike is our only returning defender, but weve started him up front in a couple scrimmages to use his speed to our advantage, said Hansen. Then we had a couple of injuries and put him in the back. We have a ton of experience in the midfield. Weve got to learn to play together and this is the first varsity and a new experience for some of the guys. Hopefully well learn early.
Hansen is looking for several new players to round out the early varsity lineup, including sophomore Brian Crum, who saw a little varsity time last year. He can be a solid defender for us. Jesse Wiles has shown improvement this summer and well use him at forward.
We have a couple of juniors, Skyler Breiner and Daniel Cebul, at fullback, he added. Senior Brian Kennedy is a defender and George Kulka, who doesnt have a lot of goalkeeping experience but is very athletic, will be our keeper. This is only his second year (of soccer). I wish we would have had him four years.
Matt King-Smith will also be a big addition this year. He was a goalkeeper as a freshman and didnt play the past two years, and hes coming back to us as a midfielder.
The path to defending its OCC title may be a bit rockier, but Hansen is accepting that challenge.
I can see Ashland, Lexington and us going after it again, he said. I dont see why we cant win it again, but it will be a little tighter this year.
The Generals open the season at Orrville on Tuesday, August 23.
