Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Coach: Jose Michel Fajardo (14th season)

Assistant coaches: Phillip Hansen, Chris Evans

Last season: 16-4, 10-3 MVC (Class 3A state quarterfinals)

Returning starters: Wilfreid Kadohou, Sr.; Adam Elgenbrecht, Soph.; Ben Steve, Jr.; Mason Priest, Jr.; Hunter Teduits, Sr.; Amani Sila, Sr.; Ethan Teduits, Sr.; Jonah Dancer, Sr.; Cameron Chavez, Sr.; Jackson Meyer, Sr.; John Clark, Sr.; Miguel Sola, Jr.; Tesmegen Schumm, Soph.; Lucas Ribble, Jr.; John Geerdes, Jr.

Newcomers to watch: Alex Greimann, Jr.; Quincy Ott, Soph.; Luis Sola, Fr.; Acheke Mausa, Soph.; Ricardo Castillo, Jr.; Noah Bullwinkle, Soph.; Joe Cemak, Jr.; Andrew Tribbey, Jr.

Headliner: Jonah Dancer was a second-team all-state pick last season as a junior after scoring a team-high nine goals and adding four assists.

Keep an eye on: Senior Cameron Chavez was second on the team with seven goals and had a team-high six assists in a balanced City High attack last season.

Circle the date: April 20 vs. West High. The Little Hawks had a three-match winning streak against its cross-town rival snapped last season with a 1-0 loss to West High.

Outlook: City High returns five of its top six goal scorers from a team that won 16 matches and advanced to the state tournament for the sixth straight season last spring.

Dancer and Chavez headline the list of returners that includes Seniors John Clark (7 goals), Jackson Meyer (6 goals) and Ethan TeDuits (5 goals).

The Little Hawks must find a replacement for goal keeper Sam Tomek but have 15 players returning with starting experience.

West High

Coach: Brad Stiles (19th season)

Assistant coaches: Alex Bode, Bernard Gamamou

Last season: 16-7, 8-5 MVC (Class 3A state champions)

Returning starters: Harry Zielinski, Sr.; MF; Brody Schilling, Soph., MF; Coleson Krupp, Jr., MF; Patrick Shirazi, Sr., MF

Other returning letterwinners: Mike Schilling, Sr., MF; Joey Keuhn, Jr., CF; Anthony Shirazi, Sr., CF; Micah Frisbie, Soph., FOR.

Newcomers to watch: Gada Ambo, Jr., FOR; Zach Albright, Jr., GK; Josh Jasek, Jr., DEF; Tomas Sanchez, Soph., DEF; Jacob Nyberg, Soph., DEF.

Headliner: Senior Harry Zielinski doesn’t have big stats but head coach Brad Stiles loves his versatility and plans to build his lineup around the senior midfielder.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Brody Schilling is another versatile athlete that West High will rely on as it attempts to replace its top four goal scorers from a year ago.

Circle the date: April 30 at Cedar Rapids Prairie. Preseason top-ranked West High travels to No. 3 Prairie for a rematch of last year’s 3A quarterfinal won by West High in penalty kicks.

Outlook: The state-leading ninth state title for West High last season was among the most improbable for the Trojans.

West High entered the state tournament as the eighth seed with seven losses but defeated top-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie, Bettendorf in the semifinals and defending champion West Des Moines Valley in the 3A title match.

The Trojans return just four starters and eight total goals from its state title team.

Senior Patrick Shirazi and junior Coleson Krupp join Zielinski and Schilling with starting experience.

Michael Schilling is the top returning scorer for West High with three goals and four assists.

Liberty High

Coach: Ben Watson (1st season)

Last season: N/A

Newcomers to watch: Kolby Godbolt, Fr., MF; Jordan Barry, Soph., MF.

Circle the date: March 30 at Anamosa. The first game in program history comes on the road against Anamosa.

Outlook: It’s all brand new for Liberty High which opens its first varsity season under head coach Ben Watson.Watson spe

nt four seasons as an assistant at Cedar Rapids Jefferson before taking over the Liberty High program.

Expect freshman Kolby Godbolt and sophomore midfielder Jordan Barry to be key players for the Lightning to build around.

Regina

Coach: Rick Larew  (17th season)

Last season: 16-5 (Class 1A state champion)

Returning starters: Nick Pechous, Sr.; Josh Dutchek, Soph.; Isaac Volstedt, Sr.; Max Peters, Jr.; Xavien Iben, Jr.; Michael Dunn, Soph.; Mason Welter, Sr.; Nate Green, Sr.; Keiler Brown, Jr.; Leo Gasparoni, Jr.

Other returning letterwinners: Robert Beck, Sr.; Tony Huang, Sr.; Nicholas Yowell, Sr.; Archie Chiu, Jr.; Luke Marzen Jr.; Daniel Rhomberg, Jr.; Drew Hartwig, Jr.

Newcomers to watch: Alec Wick, Fr.

Headliner: Senior Nick Pechous is coming off an all-state junior season in which he scored a team-high 21 goals and was named captain of the Class 1A all-tournament team after leading Regina to the 1A state title.

Keep an eye on: Senior Mason Welter had seven goals and a team-high 10 assists last season.

Circle the date: April 21 at Catholic Schools Tournament in Cedar Rapids. The always impressive field features five of the top seven teams in the Class 1A preseason rankings.

Outlook: Defending champion Regina won its third 1A title in four seasons last spring and has the firepower to add another championship.

Nine starters return from last year’s team that edged Davenport Assumption 1-0 in the state title match.

Regina returns its top four goal scorers in Pechous, Welter, Kieler Brown and Nate Green, group that combined for 44 goals.

Sophomore goal keeper Josh Dutchek is back along with four defenders with starting experience in Isaac Volstedt, Max Peters, Xavien Iben and Michael Dunn.

Clear Creek Amana

Coach: Tim Benson (7th season)

Assistant coaches: Jake Sedlacek, John Denny

Last season: 11-7 (5-2 WAMAC)

Returning starters: Mitch Evans, Jr., FOR; Trevor King, Soph., MF; JJ Denny, Soph.; MF; Christian Romero, Sr., MF.

Other returning letterwinners: Blake Malli, Jr., GK; Spencer Karkosh, Jr., MF; Nathan Cecak, Jr., MF; Josh Nelson, Jr., DEF; Jake Neuzil, Sr., MF.

Newcomers to watch: Nick Wurth, Sr., DEF; Cade Gallagher, Sr., DEF; Berkeley Zhang, Sr., MF; James Zierke, Jr., MF; Andrew Rohret, Jr., MF; Andrew Suther, Jr., MF; Ty Wright, Sr., DEF; David Jensen, Sr., DEF.

Headliner: Junior forward Mitch Evans led the Clippers with 11 goals last season.

Keep an eye on: Trevor King was among the best freshman in Class 2A last season when he scored seven goals and added three assists and will look to take a step forward this season as a sophomore.

Circle the date: April 2 vs. Dyersville Beckman. The Clippers get an early season litmus test at home against the Class 1A third-ranked Blazers.

Outlook: Clear Creek Amana came up a single goal and one win shy of a return trip to the state tournament dropping a 1-0 decision to Marion in a 2A district final.

The Clippers return the firepower to make another run at the state tournament this season.

Two of the top three goal scorers return from last years’ team that won 11 matches and went 5-2 against WAMAC West competition.

Head coach Tim Benson has reason to be optimistic about a team he described as the biggest team in program history both in number of players as well as physical size of players. 

Solon

Coach: Jeremy McMurrin (14th season)

Last season: 16-6 (Class 1A state quarterfinals)

Returning starters: Drew Bruck, Jr., Jorel Justus, Jr.; Luke McInnis, Jr.; Bennett Meier, Soph.; Nick Radcliffe, Sr.; Isaac Vang, Sr.; Eric Weetman, Sr.; Luke Yetley, Jr.; Logan Yakish, Sr.

Other returning letterwinners: Noah Bishop, Sr.; Ryan Sears, Sr.; Payton Philipp, Sr.; Jake Roskopf, Jr.; Ben McAtee, Jr.; Logan Bruck, Soph.; Kenji Fisher, Soph.; Tyler Locke, Soph.; Rodney Wittich, Soph.; Braxton Hobbs, Soph.; Sam Ferguson, Soph.; Jack Wolf, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Gabe Yetley, Fr.

Headliner: Senior midfielder Isaac Vang was an honorable mention all-state pick after scoring 11 goals and adding four assists a year ago.

Keep an eye on: Senior goalkeeper Eric Weetman earned all-state honors after allowing 12 goals in his first full season in goal.  

Circle the date: May 10 at Regina. Spartans get another crack at the defending 1A champions after falling to Regina in the state quarterfinals last spring.

Outlook: Solon reached the state tournament for the third time in program history last spring and has the talent and experience returning to make another postseason push.

The Spartans have nine returning starters including a pair of all-state picks and its top goal scorer from a year ago.

Vang and Weetman are back after breakthrough junior seasons while junior Luke Yetley returns after scoring a team-high 15 goals a year ago.

Junior Jorel Justus adds another offensive weapon after converting six goals last season while senior Nick Radcliffe is back after scoring five times.