Boys soccer preview: Olathe East hopes to return to top

JOHN SLEEZER | Staff

Max Brewer (left) is among the returning midfielders for the Olathe South boys soccer team this season.

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Olathe South’s boys soccer team broke a five-year skid against Olathe East at the opportune time last fall when the Falcons topped the Hawks 1-0 in the Kansas 6A championship game.

Perennially two of the strongest programs in the Sunflower League and the state, both squads now own two 6A titles. South also won in 1994, while East finished first in 1996 and 2005.

But the Sunflower League coaches have dubbed the Hawks as favorites again this fall regardless of the Falcons’ breakthrough.

“Nothing surprises me,” East coach Terry Hair said. “I’m proud that other coaches respect our program enough to think we’ll be in the running for a league title. But every year is a brand new year and it’s just that, a poll taken by coaches that respect each other. It’s fairly meaningless until we actually line up and play the games.”

Besides, the Hawks don’t jot down “win the league title” as a goal at the beginning of the year. It’s a milestone, for sure, but not the focal point of the squad’s gaze.

“(Winning league is) not written down on a piece of paper and it’s not really discussed,” Hair said.

Improving throughout the season and eventually wearing the state crown consumes the Hawks, who lost to 2008 league champ Shawnee Mission Northwest in the regular season but bounced the Cougars from the playoff.

“We’ll take that every time,” Hair said.

If East, which finished 16-4-1 last year, is going to make a similar run, though, it’ll be done with a host of new faces.

“We have a lot of returning JV starters and we have some new faces, but that’s good,” Hair said. “We’re fine with that. We’re going to interchange positions a lot. We don’t have any proven, leading goal-scorer, but spread the goals around between four or five players.”

The Hawks produced goals in much the same way last year led by Dustin Derks, who went from backup goalkeeper to goal-scoring machine a few games into the season. But Derks now moves back into goal.

Ben Coyle, who was injured in the season opener last year, returns up top along with Justin Hershey.

Senior Andy Griffin and junior Rob Breeden lead the defense in front of Derks with Max Brewer and Taylor Esparza leading the midfield.

Gardner EdgertonCoach: Andy Weber

Outlook: Promoted from his position as JV coach, Andy Weber is shaking up Trailblazers soccer: There’s a new coach, new formation and a new attitude, he said. Gunning for a Frontier League title before jumping to the East Kansas League next year, Gardner-Edgerton is coming off a 10-6-1 season and returns a solid core led by Corbin Haas, an athletic senior who is making the transition to goalkeeper this fall. A pair of two-time all-league seniors also return in D Darryll Todd and F Eddie Suarez, while senior Dylan Cale leads the midfield.

Olathe NorthCoach: Dave Glassman

Outlook: The Eagles continue the building process led by a pair of second-team All-Sunflower League returners, Uriel Jimenez and Jim Lucas. Jimenez made a splash after his promotion to the varsity at midseason last year, while Lucas, who transferred to North last year, ought to be better acclimated now. Daniel Diaz and Andrew Bush also return for the Eagles, who expect big things from freshman Jorge Rivera.

Olathe NorthwestCoach: Chris Graham

Outlook: Entering the second season under Graham, the Ravens continue to push to establish themselves among the Sunflower League elite. Last year’s leaders, GK Gabe Bliss and MF Nick Aguilar, graduated, leaving a void that Graham Dobbins and Austin Cook will be asked to fill. Dobbins and Cook both were second-team all-league last year. Mitch Mize will see an increased role after stepping up to the varsity late last year, while ONW also will count on returners Brandon Allen, David Barraza and Alex Gleason.

Olathe SouthCoach: Will Stoskopf

Outlook: The reigning Kansas 6A champions return a roster filled with experience after last year’s 17-3-1 campaign, but what the Falcons might miss is leadership from its graduates. Captain, All-American and leading scorer Ethan Bauer is gone, leaving big shoes to fill for senior forwards Brad Barclay and Trey Bristow as well as sophomore Nate Opperman. The hardest hit area, though, might be South’s defense, which lost goalkeeper Tanner Fox and defenders Nathan Byarlay, Alex Smith and Jacob Wayland. That puts a lot of pressure on senior Andrew Garcia and juniors Brett Robertson and Trevor Pentola, especially with the goalkeeper position unsettled. Senior Alex Pilsl and Cameron Hundelt lead the midfield.

Spring HillCoach: Michael Cox

Outlook: Cody Jesse, a first-team All-Frontier League performer, headlines the Broncos’ reclamation project in 2009. Dubbed one of “the best all-around players in any league” by Cox, Jesse hopes to help Spring Hill rebound from a 4-13-1 campaign. Second-team all-league F Eric Kahn returns up top and will be joined by his brother, F Niles Kahn. Zach Boyle returns in goal for the Broncos.

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