Boys soccer: New faces will dot local landscape

The Medina County boys soccer teams are excited for another season. If the same standard is to be reached this fall, teams will count on a number of new players to step into larger roles after graduation hit hard. Medina once again reached the Division I state semifinals last season. Making another deep run will rely on almost an entirely new cast of characters, as the Bees return only two starters. Along the way in the postseason, Highland and Wadsworth gave Medina stiff tests and again look to make some noise. Buckeye joined Wadsworth and the Bees in reaching the district finals and expects to be strong again under second-year coach Dalton Joyce. Meanwhile, Cloverleaf shared the Metro Athletic Conference championship with Norton after winning in penalty kicks to break a 0-0 tie in the MAC Tournament final. The teams also did not allow a goal in the regular season. Finally, Medina Christian Academy is welcoming back boys soccer to its rotation of sports. On top of all that, teams will be getting used to an expanded playoff format with two new divisions. Brunswick and Medina remain in a smaller D-I, while Wadsworth drops to D-II. Highland goes down two divisions to D-III, where it is joined by former D-II teams Buckeye and Cloverleaf. The Knights will be in D-V. Brunswick Coach: Ben Dotson (12th season at Brunswick, 120-49-38 record; 15th overall, 149-84-46). Last season: 11-3-4, 3-0-3 (2nd Greater Cleveland Conference). Key letterwinners lost: Evan Horner (All-Gazette), Jalen Coleman (HM All-Gazette), Trevor Cook (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Josh Callahan (All-Gazette, D/M, sr.), Eli Hyde (All-Gazette, G, jr.), Owen Beskid (HM All-Gazette, M, jr.), Brandon Kerr (D, sr.), Aaron Gruber (D, sr.), Josh Pryken (M, sr.), Miroslav Milanovich (F, jr.). Newcomers: Ben Kraft (F, sr.), Victor Lazar (M, jr.), Kaden Tibbs (D, so.), Martin Klenjoski (D, fr.), Carter Trexler (D, fr.), Ryan Dick (D, fr.) Noteworthy: The Blue Devils return plenty of talent defensively in front of 6-foot-4 Hyde in goal. That unit will hit the ground running in terms of organization and familiarity. l Beskid is the returning leading scorer with four goals and seven assists. Buckeye Coach: Dalton Joyce (2nd season, 12-7-1 record). Last season: 12-7-1, 3-1 (2nd Great Lakes Conference East, Division II, Northeast 3 District runner-up). Key letterwinner lost: Sam O'Brien (All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Jackson Powell (HM All-Gazette, M, sr.), Tanner Cuson (G, sr.), Dalen Martin (M, sr.), Nate Miller (D, sr.), Cole Rowland (D, sr.), Gavin Williams (F, jr.), Brody Winters (D, jr.), Nate Tessman (D, so.), Cael Miller (M, so.), Dmitri Tenenika (M, so.). Newcomers: Jonathan Kruk (M, jr.), Hunter Uehline (G, so.), Dmitry Pshonyak (M, so.), Rhys Cielma (D, fr.). Noteworthy: The Bucks have put an emphasis on being strong and organized defensively while the offense gets situated early in the season. l Among a large senior class last year, Buckeye graduated O'Brien (58 career goals). Williams and Powell will likely lead a more balanced offensive attack. Cloverleaf Coach: Aaron Cummings (7th season, 58-42-5 record). Last season: 11-6-1, 5-1-1 (Metro Athletic Conference co-champions). Key letterwinner lost: Dylan Bresnahan (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Ronan Barczyk (HM All-Gazette, M, sr.), Zak Brownson (G, sr.), Joe Armogida (D, sr.), Bryan Cavey (D, sr.), Ben Myers (D, sr.), Ronan Barczyk (M, sr.), Nathan Malikowski (F, sr.), Lazaro Mencke (M, sr.), Alejandro Porras (M, sr.), Jackson James (M, jr.), Tyler Dennis (M, jr.), Isaiah Kurtz (F, jr.), Brody Adams (D, jr.). Newcomers: Braylon Young (M, jr.), Rocco Fondale (M, jr.), Owen Brownson (M, so.), Branson Pavlik (M, so.), Colby Wentz (F, fr.). Noteworthy: The Colts should have plenty of depth, but figuring out where all the pieces will fit may take time. l The starting defense and goalkeeper are all seniors with at least one year of experience. Highland Coach: Christopher Schaefer (3rd season, 21-12-4 record). Last season: 12-4-3, 4-2-1 (4th Suburban League American). Key letterwinners lost: Mitchell Keiper (HM All-Gazette), Samuel Huttner (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Max Gargano (All-Gazette, M, sr.), Josh Gaydos (G, sr.), Jack Petersen (G, sr.), Alex Hedden (D, sr.), Devon Kolda (D, sr.), Conner Haney (D, sr.), Nazariy Bochkov (D, sr.), Evangelos Verginis ( F/M, jr.), Carson Kwiatkowski (M/F , jr.), Newcomers: Damyan Kalivoshko (M, sr.), Landon Kuzma (D, jr.), Grady Wuchter (F, jr.), Alek Djordjevich (M, jr.), Owen Rapp (D, jr.), Jonathon Tanski (M, jr.), Hoyt Pylypiak (D, so.), Jonah Kowza (F, so.), Pablo Reina (M, so.), Jacob Regovich (D, so.), Leonardo Prudhomme (M, so.),Henry Sauer (M, fr.), Brandon Kramer (M, fr.), Billy Zufall (M, fr.) Noteworthy: The Hornets are younger and working to develop a new defensive group after significant graduations losses. l Kwiatkowski is out for the season with a torn ACL. Medina Coach: Doug Coreno (3rd season, 35-5-4 record; 21st overall, 275-73-41). Last season: 20-1-1, 5-0-1 (1st Greater Cleveland Conference, Division I state semifinalist). Key letterwinners lost: Cole Turchyn (Gazette MVP), Kyler O'Reilly (All-Gazette), Ian White (All-Gazette), Ian Kaczmarek (HM All-Gazette), Dylan Eckert (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Evan Kotick (HM All-Gazette, M, sr.), Gael Moreno (F, sr.), Michael Fischbach (F, so.), Cooper Korduba (M, jr.), Bennett Werthmuller (G, jr.), Brody Gannon (D, jr.), Jackson Harvey (D, so.). Newcomers: Tyler Cobb (M, jr.), Alejandro Conrique (M, jr.), Jackson Gummo (D, jr.), Roman Prusinski (D, jr.), Jack Piatak (M, so.), Chase Wilbur (D, fr.), Zach Coersmeyer (G, fr.). Noteworthy: Despite graduating 15 seniors, including nine starters, goals remain high for a program that has reached the state semifinals in seven of the past eight seasons. l The Bees will likely face some regular-season ups-and-downs against a rigid schedule, but the goal is to prepare for another lengthy postseason run. Medina Christian Academy Coach: Dan Tousley (1st season) Last season: n/a. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: None. Newcomers: Trenton Sauto (sr.), Noah Perko (sr.), Clark Alderman (jr.), Judah Szabados (jr.), Chris Wilson (jr.), Daniel Hussey (jr.), Nathan Androshchuk (jr.), River Thomas (jr.), Miles Webber (so.), Maddox Tousley (so.), Liam Kalka (so.), Joshua Perko (fr.), Jack Myers (fr.), Steven Androshchuk (fr.), Jacob Moore (fr.). Noteworthy: Dan Tousley said the Knights are still working out where everyone fits best and how to blend each player's skillset. l Medina Christian opens the season at Mentor Christian on Aug. 30 and will host First Baptist Christian on Sep. 3 in the first home game behind First Baptist Church on state Route 18. Wadsworth Coach: John Johnson (28th season at Wadsworth, 259-139-73 record; 36th overall, 343-184-95). Last season: 11-6-3, 3-2-2 (3rd Suburban League National, Division I, Northeast 4 District finalist). Key letterwinners lost: Tanner Sir Louis (All-Gazette), Michael Watson (All-Gazette), Harrison James (HM All-Gazette), Alex Innocenti (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Caden Whited (D, sr.), Carter Smith (D, sr.), Brayden Kereszturi (M, sr.), Gavin Gambaccini (M, sr.), Kyle Nagel (F, jr.), Justin Lazzaretti (M, jr.), Vincent Gambaccini (D, jr.), Cole Miller (M, jr.), Diego Montoya (M, so.). Newcomers: Paxton Gardner (G, sr.), James Gilmore (F, sr.), Ethan Robinson (F, sr.), Teddy Himmelright (M, sr.), Riley Van Dyke (M, sr.), Adriel Pardo (M, sr.), Quinn McNeill (D, sr.), Brett Pelkey (D, jr.), Nate Pelkey (D, jr.), Luke Tibbitts (M, jr.), Eli Watson (F, jr.), Isaac Byers (G, jr.), Cayden Taylor (G, so.), Lincoln Nagy (D, so.), Jordan Russell (D, so.), Benny Sauser (D, fr.), Evan Johnston (M, fr.). Noteworthy: After moving Whited to center back last season, Wadsworth allowed one goal over its next six games and eventually reached the district finals. l Smith is recovered from a torn ACL that cost him last season. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.