Columbus North’s Konnor Gribbins kicks the ball against Southport Aug. 12, 2023 at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
The Republic file photo
Columbus North has set the standard in boys soccer the past couple of years, finishing as Class 3A state runner-up in 2022 and making the final four last season. Columbus East will look to close the gap this year under new coach and former Bull Dog Sam LaVelle.
Here is a look at those and other area boys soccer teams heading into the 2024 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs lost several key players from last year’s team that went 14-4-3, including 4-1 in Conference Indiana, but the goal is to reload.
“I’m cautiously optimistic about the team,” North coach Andy Glover said. “They’ve been working hard, and I’m hopeful that hard work will yield some positive results. The objectives of our team and standards within our team remain high, and we’ve done our very best collectively, both coaches and players, to have a sustainable culture and product.”
The Bull Dogs return a pair of experienced goalkeepers in seniors Juan Jose Salcedo Calderon and Noah Marsh. Senior Konnor Gribbins and junior Leo Iorio are entering their third year as starters on defense, and Bryan Rodriguez returns at outside back. Seniors Sam Brown and Aiden Espejel saw plenty of action last season and could play on defense or defensive midfield. Junior Jonah Sipes also could play on defense.
Senior Madux Tovey and sophomore Mathiang Kak saw some action at forward last season. Looking to join them at forward or in the midfield are sophomore Angel Espejel; freshmen Lucas Peda, Parker Gribbins and Edwin De La Cruz and junior Johnny Garcia.
“To complement our experience in the back, we have youthful enthusiasm on offense,” Glover said. “We have a good amount of returning players with significant experience. The team is balanced in terms of age. We have a lot of young players, as well as some experienced players that could make some significant varsity contributions.”
Columbus East
LaVelle, who played and was an assistant coach at North, takes over for Josh Gonsior. The Olympians went 5-7-3 last year, including 4-2 in the Hoosier Hills Conference.
“I’m excited about the season,” LaVelle said. “I think we’ve grown a lot from the start of the summer to where we are now, and we’ll continue to grow. We’ve challenged the team this summer, and they’ve stepped up, and we’re excited for the season to start.”
Columbus East’s Brady Wiltsey, right, battles Franklin’s Zachary Newton for a ball during the Columbus North Sectional Oct. 3, 2023 at the BCSC Soccer Complex.
The Republic file photo
Seniors Ian Scholl and Brady Wiltsey return at forward, junior Emilia Quinto Aguirre is back in the midfield and juniors Jonathan Sylva and Eli Ostrom return on defense.
Chris Ortega, a transfer from North, along with sophomore Jaimes Iprez and freshman Ethan Glick could see action on offense. Freshmen Ronan Maier and David Sylva and senior Luis Cellebos, a transfer from North, could play in the midfield. Juniors Isaac Going and Ryan Turner step in on defense, and sophomore Ryder Meek takes over in goal.
“We lost a few key players from last year’s team, but we have a lot of talent still in the pool, and a lot of young guys that will provide some minutes and provide some quality on the field for us,” LaVelle said. “We have a team that has a good mixture age-wise with youth and experience. It’s all about, ‘Can we put it together?’ We hope we can pack a few wins on there.”
Hauser
The Jets return six starters from a team that went 2-12-1, including 1-3 in the Mid-Hoosier Conference.
“We had a good summer, a pretty decent turnout,” Hauser coach Barry Grimes said. “Our numbers are building. We were worried with splitting with men’s and women’s teams, but it looks like we’re going to be good to go. We adjusted our schedule this year, and hopefully, that will give us a chance to compete with all the teams we’ll play.”
Seniors Luke Bruner in goal, Leyton Jordan at center back, Colton Wallace at midfield and defense and Ethan House at forward are multiple-year starters. Also returning to the lineup are sophomores Camden Grimes at center mid and Corbin Holzer on defense.
Junior Nicholas Mann at forward, a transfer from North, steps in at forward, and senior newcomers Payton Bennett and Corbin Beverly will play in the midfield. Sophomores Koleson Gerenetz and Grady Niccum, both of which also run cross-country, will play on defense.
Senior Skye Riley could see action in the midfield. A deep freshman class includes Landon Pendleton, Tony Tellez, Noah Webber, Bryson Burton and Austin Sanders.
“We’re playing a little bit of a different formation, so we spent some time this week adjusting the formation,” Grimes said.
Jennings County
The Panthers have a new coach in Jason Carter, a former player and assistant coach at Floyd Central and head boys coach at Scottsburg and head girls coach at Charlestown.
Top returners from a team that went 4-12, including 0-6 in the HHC, are senior Deken Simpson in goal, sophomore Jacob Ferguson in the midfield and forward, senior Berkley Foist at center midfield and senior Cole Bingham on defense. Freshman Kaleb McIntosh will join Ferguson and Foist in the offensive attack.
“We’re going to play a rotating triangle up front because all of them have a heck of a foot and a heck of a touch,” Carter said.
Freshman Keaton Suhre steps in as an outside midfielder, junior Zachary Barton will play center back, and junior David Dixon will play on defense. Several players are battling for the other starting spots.
“I’m still kind of recruiting,” Carter said. “I could take five or six more guys.”
Brown County
Logan Fitz, a 2018 Brown County graduate, takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant the past two years.
Returning from a team that went 1-9-1, including 1-6 in the Western Indiana Conference are senior Caleb Clifford and sophomores Kayden Cecil and Colby Van Zuiden at forward, junior Clayton McGlothlin and sophomores Logan Lucas and Dalton Lucas in midfield, senior Cameron Higgins and junior Abram Taylor at center back, juniors Cole Mobley and Ethan Williams on defense and junior Dagan Clark in goal.
The Eagles picked up a pair of transfers in sophomore defender Wyatt Butler and junior Bahati Fulton. Sophomore newcomer Noah Johnston and freshman Malcom Ernstes also will push for playing time.
“We’re a bit short on numbers this year,” Fitz said. “We’re still trying to get some freshmen out, but we have a lot of returning faces.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars return six starters from a team that went 6-11.
Senior Kade Gillaspy is back at forward, junior John Harris and sophomore Alex Damon return in the midfield, junior Levi Curry is back on defense and junior Adam Sutton plays on defense and in the midfield. Junior Ezra Van Curen moves from defense to goalkeeper.
Junior Alex Overgaard steps in at midfield and forward, and junior Landon Gassaway and sophomore Jakob Lorenz will play midfield and defense. Sophomore Noah Lawrence will play in the midfield and sophomore Bryson Baker will play on defense.
“We have a lot of juniors and sophomores that are going to step into those spots and get a lot more experience than they did last year,” Trinity coach Todd Jack said. “This will be their growing year.”
2024 boys soccer schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Saturday vs. Whiteland, 12:45 p.m.
Aug. 24 at Roncalli, 7:15 p.m.
Aug. 27 vs. Bloomington North, 7:45 p.m.
Aug. 29 at Columbus North, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 5 vs. Seymour, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 7 at Providence, 11:45 a.m.
Sept. 10 at Bedford North Lawrence, 7 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Fishers, 12:45 p.m.
Sept. 17 at Franklin, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Jennings County, 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 vs. Floyd Central, 6 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. New Albany, 11:45 a.m.
Sept. 30 vs. Bloomington South, 7:45 p.m.
Oct. 3 vs. Franklin Central, 7:45 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Jeffersonville, 12:45 p.m.
Columbus North
Saturday vs. Noblesville, 12:45 p.m.
Aug. 22 at Bloomington North, 7:45 p.m.
Aug. 24 at Center Grove Trojan Classic, 10 a.m.
Aug. 27 at New Albany, 7:45 p.m.
Aug. 29 vs. Columbus East, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 5 vs. Cathedral, 7:15 p.m.
Sept. 7 at North Central, 2:15 p.m..
Sept. 10 at Perry Meridian, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Carmel, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. Lawrence North, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Terre Haute North, 2:45 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Bloomington South, 7:45 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. Terre Haute South, 1:15 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Southport, 7:45 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 22 vs. Brown County, 5 p.m.
Aug. 24 at Lapel, noon
Aug. 27 vs. Jac-Cen-Del, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 vs. Indiana Match and Science, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 vs. Southwestern (Shelby), 10 a.m.
Sept. 2 at Oldenburg Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Sept. 5 vs. Trinity Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Morristown, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Austin 11 a.m.
Sept. 20 at Southwestern (Shelby), 5 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Morristown, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Knightstown, noon
Oct. 3 at Central Christian, 5:30 p.m.
