Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

West High

Coach: Brad Stiles (20th season)

Assistant coaches: Bernard Gamamou, Abdul Daoud

Last season: 18-5, Class 3A state semifinals

Returning starters: Zach Albright, Sr., GK; Gada Ambo, Sr., F; Coleson Krupp, Sr., MF; Joseph Kuehn, Sr., D; Micah Frisbie, Jr., F; Brody Schilling, Jr., MF; Tomas Sanchez, Jr., MF;

Other returning letterwinners: Malo Charles, Jr., MF; Alec Murley, Jr., MF; Taka Oya, Jr., MF; Mitchell Pottratz, Sr., MF

Newcomers to watch: Yulong Shao, Fr., D; Roberto Guzman, Jr., MF; Marko Migambi, Jr. F

Headliner: Among the most explosive players in the state, senior forward Gada Ambo is a returning first-team all-state selection that scored a team-high 18 goals and added seven assists last season.

Keep an eye on: Junior forward Micah Frisbie emerged as a strong scoring option opposite Ambo with 10 goals last season and should improve on that number this spring.

Circle the date: April 9 vs. City High. West High will look to avenge a 2-1 loss to City High from last season in the annual boy/girl cross-town doubleheader at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex.

Outlook: West High reached the state tournament for the third consecutive season last spring finishing fourth in Class 3A and brings back plenty of firepower to make another run at a state title.

The Trojans return eight starters including its top three scorers from that team that went 18-5 and fell to Waukee 2-1 in the 3A state semifinals.

Ambo and Frisbie give West High a strong scoring duo and junior Brody Schilling is also back after scoring seven goals and adding five assists as a sophomore.

Senior goal keeper Zach Albright returns after allowing 11 goals and making 40 saves last season and senior Joseph Kuehn is back to lead the always stout West High back line.

Midfielders Coleson Krupp and Tomas Sanchez both expect to take on larger roles after earning valuable experience last season.

Liberty High

Coach: Ben Watson (2nd season)

Assistant coaches: Chris Arnold

Last season: 10-7

Returning starters: Ayi Ajavon, Jr., F; Jordan Barry, Soph., Jr.; Kolby Godbolt, Soph., MF; Faraja Kasongo, Soph., D.

Other returning letterwinners: Luke Nichols, Soph., MF; Jacob Mascardo, Soph., D; Spencer Holman, Soph., D; Nathan Wankana, Soph.

Newcomers to watch: Tyler Eastman, Fr., D; Emerson Bennett, Fr., MF

Headliner: Junior Ayi Ajavon made a splash in his debut season leading Liberty High with 19 goals and 13 assists while earning honorable mention all-state honors.

Keep an eye on: Sophomore Kolby Godbolt scored nine goals and added two assists while earning honorable mention all-state honors in a freshman season that was limited by injury.

Circle the date: April 9 vs. Cedar Rapids Xavier. A week after making its Mississippi Valley Conference debut at Waterloo East the Lightning host perennial 2A power Xavier in its first home MVC match.

Outlook: Season one at Liberty High was an overwhelming success as Liberty High posted a 10-7 mark in its first season of varsity action.

With four starters including its top three scorers that accounted for 32 total goals back the expectations are elevated for the Lightning in year two though a move to the Mississippi Valley Conference will present a challenge.

Ajavon and Godbolt give the Lightning a 1-2 punch that stacks up against any around.

Godbolt scored nine goals in the first five games before an injury ended his freshman campaign while Ajavon ranked in the top eight in Class 2A in both goals and assists.

Jordan Barry returns after scoring four goals and handing out seven assist while Luke Nichols is back after scoring a pair of goals.

Solon

Coach: Jeremy McMurrin (15th season)

Assistant coaches: Kyle Paulson

Last season: 15-6

Returning starters: Jorel Justus, Sr., F; Luke Yetley, Sr., MF; Luke McInnis, Sr., MF; Gabe Yetley, Soph., MF; Bennett Meier, Jr., MF; Drew Bruck, Sr., D

Other returning letterwinners: Ben McAtee, Sr., F; Rodney Wittich, Jr., MF; Braxton Hobbs, Jr., F/MF; Jake Roskopf, Sr., MF; Sam Ferguson, Jr., MF; Kenji Fisher, Jr., MF; Logan Bruck, Jr., M/D; Andrew Bransky, Sr., D/M; Matt Shafer, Sr., D; Ian Johnson, Sr., GK; Joe Peters, Sr., GK; Tyler Locke, Jr., D/M; Mason Dibble, Soph., GK

Headliner: Senior Jorel Justus had a breakthrough season last spring when he ranked fifth in Class 1A with 23 goals while adding a team-high 12 assists.

Keep an eye on: Senior Luke Yetley scored 13 goals and had 10 assists last season while earning all-WAMAC East Division honors.

Circle the date: April 2 vs. Marion. The Spartans get an early season test when they host preseason Class 2A top-ranked Marion in a WAMAC East Division top-five matchup.

Outlook: Solon came up a win short of a return trip to the state tournament last season falling to Iowa Mennonite in a regional final.
With six starters including the top four scorers from last season returning the Spartans have the firepower in place for another state tournament run.

Led by Justus and Luke Yetley the Spartans bring back a quartet of scorers that accounted for 55 of the teams’ 88 goals a year ago.

Senior midfield Luke McInnis had 10 goals a year ago while sophomore forward Gabe Yetley had nine goals last season.

Throw in junior midfielder Bennett Meier, senior Ben McAtee and juniors Rodney Wittich and Braxton Hobbs and Solon has seven players returning that scored at least three goals a year ago.

Solon must find a replacement for departed senior keeper Eric Weetman but has senior Drew Bruck back to lead the backline. 

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