Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The start of the boys soccer season is right around the corner.

Area teams hit the field for season openers this week with the ultimate goal for all teams across the state securing a spot at the state tournament scheduled for June 1, 3 and 4 at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

Once again some of the best soccer in the entire state will be played in the Your Prep Sports area.

Several Your Prep Sports area teams will once again be in the hunt for state tournament trips and some of the top individual talent in the state will be on display in the area.

Before the season gets rolling full speed here are 11 Your Prep Sports area players to watch this spring.

Peyton Miller

Senior, West Branch

One of the most explosive and productive players in the state last season Miller put up goals in bunches while leading the Bears to breakthrough season.

Miller ranked second in the state with 40 goals last season and added 11 assists finishing sixth in the state in total points with 91.

The senior striker averaged better than three goals per game last season putting up his 40 goals in just 13 matches.

Dillon Bruck

Senior, Solon

Among the most versatile players in the area Bruck earned second team Class 1A all-state honors last season after scoring 20 goals as a forward and starting the substate final against Regina in goal.

With the loss of top scorer Gabe Yetley to graduation from last year’s 13-6 squad expect Bruck to focus full-time on his playmaking duties and should improve on his 20 goals, five assists and 45 total points from a season ago.

Kaleab Wendy

Soph., Regina

Wendy appears to be the next in a long line of outstanding Regina playmakers after putting up impressive numbers in his debut season last spring.

Playing alongside all-stater Alec Wick, Wendy led the Regals with 10 assists and was second on the team with 16 goals but should see that number climb as the top option in what is usually a balanced Regina attack.

Gunther Sandersfeld

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

Clear Creek Amana has gained a reputation as one of the stingiest defensive teams around and Sandersfeld will be a big part of the Clippers continuing that trend this season.

The senior defender scored a goal, had two assists and was an integral part of the Clear Creek Amana defense that helped the Clippers to a 12-5 record while recording seven shutouts on his way to earning first-team all-WAMAC West Division honors.

Ben Horwitz

Senior, City High

After getting a taste of varsity action as a freshman in 2019 Horwitz took a big step forward last season emerging as a leader in the middle of the action for City High.

A first-team all-MVC Mississippi Division pick last season Horwitz should be an even bigger part of the attack for the Little Hawks this season.

Michael Nelson

Junior, West High

One of the breakthrough stars of last year’s Class 3A runner-up run for West High Nelson was impressive in his varsity debut season.

Nelson ranked second on the team with 14 goals and was third on the team with five assists helping the Trojans to a 20-2 record and a trip to the 3A title match.

A first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley division pick Nelson should see his role in the West High attack increase with the loss of top scorer Kolby Godbolt to graduation.

Jaxyn Logan

Senior, Liberty High

Logan emerged as one of the top keepers in the Mississippi Valley Conference last season when he made 110 saves while posting a 76 percent save percentage in goal.

A first team all-MVC Mississippi division pick last season look for Logan to take his game to another level this year in his third season as the full-time starter.

Aaron Rutherford

Senior, City High

Another City High senior set up for a huge senior season Rutherford is poised to cap a strong career with a bang.

Similar to Horwitz, Rutherford was a varsity contributor as a freshman in 2019 before taking things to another level last season when he was a first team all-MVC divisional pick.

Hayden Saul

Junior, Liberty High

The top scorer for the Lightning last season as a sophomore Saul should be in line for a big-time season in his second year of varsity action.

Saul had eight goals and added two assists as a sophomore on his way to being named a first-team all-MVC Mississippi Division pick.

William Wittich

Senior, Solon

Another Solon senior that should see an increase in production this season is Wittich who had his own strong junior season a year ago.

Wittich ranked second on the team with six assists and scored five goals on his way to being named to the WAMAC East Division second team.

Gage Gingerich

Senior, West Branch

A strong compliment to Miller in the West Branch attack last season Gingerich ranked second on the team in both goals and assists last season while helping the Bears to an 11-2 record.

Gingerich had 12 goals and nine assists as a junior and was at his best in the postseason with a goal and three assists in a pair of substate matches.

A multi-sport athlete, Gingerich is also a member of the West Branch golf team that won the Class 2A state title last spring.

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