Boys soccer preview: County teams trying to build on strong 2024 seasons

How Medina County boys soccer teams one-up themselves will be exciting this season after Wadsworth made its deepest tournament run and Brunswick and Cloverleaf won league titles in 2024. Despite some significant graduation losses, the county looks geared up for another triumphant season. Highland has made the jump to Division II, while D-III Buckeye has a new head coach in familiar face Ivan Tenenika. Medina Christian is back with a large number of returning players coming off its first OHSAA season, and Medina is poised to bounce back from an uncharacteristically down record. Here is a closer look at the county's eight teams: Brunswick Coach: Ben Dotson (13th season at Brunswick, 137-46-38 record; 16th overall, 166-81-46) Last season: 13-3-3, 5-0-1 (1st Greater Cleveland Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Josh Callahan (Gazette MVP), Brandon Kerr (All-Gazette), Josh Prykan (All-Gazette), Aaron Gruber (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Owen Beskid (All-Gazette, F/M, sr.), Eli Hyde (HM All-Gazette, G, sr.), Isaac Steele (D, sr.), Victor Lazar (M, sr.), Miroslav Milanovic (M/F, sr.), Martin Klenjoski (F/M, so.), Kaden Tibbs (D, jr.), Artur Vasylkevych (F/G, jr.), Ryan Dick (D, so.), Carter Trexler (F, so.), Newcomers: Brayden Oleksiw (D, jr.), Tyler Bradberry (D, so.), Adam Jaber (M, so.), Campbell Butler (Util., so.) Noteworthy: All-district representative Beskid (8 goals, 10 assists) and Hyde will lead the Blue Devils. l Kaden Tibbs is the lone returning starter to what was a strong back line last season. Buckeye Coach: Ivan Tenenika (1st season) Last season: 3-11-4, 1-4-2 (6th Cleveland West Conference) Key letterwinner lost: Jackson Powell (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Jonathan Kruk (D, sr.), Brody Winter (M, sr.), Hunter Uehlein (G, jr.), Cael Miller (D, jr.), Nate Tessman (D, jr.), Dmitri Tenenika (F, jr.), Eli Schaller (M, so.), Rhys Cielma (M, so.). Newcomers: Logan Schaefer (D, jr.), Elijah Lempler (M, jr.), Jace Wray (M, so.), Gavin Waltos (M, so.), Jayden Park (M, so.), Noah Heath (M, so.) Noteworthy: The Bucks are led defensively by center backs Miller and Tessman, who have a wealth of experience. l Tenenika, a long-time assistant and junior varsity coach with the Bucks, is focused on building team cohesion and believes winning will follow. Cloverleaf Coach: Aaron Cummings (8th season, 72-44-6) Last season: 14-2-1, 6-1 (T-1st Metro Athletic Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Ronan Barczyk (All-Gazette), Nathan Malikowski (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Isaiah Kurtz (All-Gazette, F, sr.), Jackson James (M/F, sr.), Tyler Dennis (M, sr.), Braylon Young (M, sr.), Rocco Fondale (D, sr.), Brody Adams (D, sr.), Trevor Courie (D, sr.), Luke Mencke (D, sr.), Branson Pavlik (F/M, jr.), Owen Brownson (D, jr.), Colby Wentz (M, so.), Mason Lotz (M, so.). Newcomers: Bryce Neill (G, so.), Jackson Morris (M, so.), Hudson Pavlik (G, fr.), Thomas Belton (G, fr.), Brady Long (M, fr.). Noteworthy: Kurtz (16, 10) led the county in scoring last season and will be instrumental in an offensive-minded attack. l The defense has talent but will need time to jell after a number of graduation losses. Highland Coach: Chris Schaefer (4th season, 33-16-7) Last season: 12-4-3, 5-1-1 (2nd Suburban League American Conference) Key letterwinners lost: Max Gargano (All-Gazette), Devon Kolda (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Evangelos Verginis (HM All-Gazette, M/F, sr.), Owen Rapp (D, sr.), Grady Wuchter (M/F, sr.), Landon Kuzma (D, sr.), Carson Kwiatkowski (M/F, sr.), Hoyt Pylypiak (Util., jr.), Blake Hedden (D, jr.), Jacob Regovich (M, jr.), Billy Zufall (M/F, so.), Henry Sauer (D, so.) Newcomers: Alek Djordevich (D, sr.), Conner Dean (G, jr.), Daniel Seeley (D/M, jr.), Kaden Van Duyen (D, jr.), Nicholas Gaydos (D/M, jr.), Leonardo Prudhomme (D, jr.), Andrew Shemo (M, jr.), Matt Harter (M, jr.), Haden Benisek (D, so.), Michael Dilanni (M/F, so.), Brandon Kramer (M, so.), Taven Breth (M/F, so.), Jackson Golli (D, fr.) Noteworthy: The Hornets are coming off a third consecutive winning season for the first time since a streak of seven ended in 2012. l Schaefer believes this will be Highland's strongest season during his tenure in terms of possessing the ball, which will help as the inexperienced back line develops. Medina Coach: Doug Coreno (4th season, 41-13-8; 22nd overall, 281-81-45) Last season: 6-8-4, 2-1-3 (4th Greater Cleveland Conference) Key letterwinners lost: None Letterwinners: Bennett Werthmuller (All-Gazette, G, sr.), Cooper Korduba (HM All-Gazette, M, sr.), Jackson Harvey (HM All-Gazette, D, jr.), Alejandro Conrique (M, sr.), Brody Gannon (M, sr.), Cooper Fuller (F, sr.), Jackson Gummo (F, sr.), Tyler Cobb (M, sr.), Jack Piatak (M, jr.), Michael Fishbach (M, jr.), Chase Wilbur (D, so.), Zach Coersmeyer (G, so.) Newcomers: Aaron Cocklin (D, sr.), Ben Gardner (M, sr.), Gavin Williams (D, sr.), Jackson Thorton (D, sr.), Nick Lapeus (M, sr.), Silas Sundermeier (D, sr.), Jayden Kulwicki (F, jr.), Iyan Copley (M, so.), Logan Abernathy (D, so.), Xavier Abernathy (D, so.). Noteworthy: After suffering its first losing since 2008, Medina is more experienced and committed to the process. l If the Bees are going to realize their potential, that starts with improving on scoring only 20 goals in 18 games last season. l Williams transferred from Buckeye, where he was a three-year letterwinner. Medina Christian Coach: Dan Tousley (2nd season, 4-7) Last season: 4-7, 3-6 (n/a Lake Effect Conference) Key letterwinners lost: None Letterwinners: Nathan Androschuk (F, sr.), River Thomas (D, sr.), Daniel Hussey (M/F, sr.), Chris Wilson (D, sr.), Maddox Tousley (M/D, jr.), Miles Webber (M/D, jr.), Jack Myers (M/D, jr.), Josh Perko (M, so.), Stephen Androschuk (G, so.), Jacob Moore (M/F, so.). Newcomers: Matt Lapeus (F, fr.), Isaiah Dos Santos (M, fr.), Matthew Thompson (M, fr.), Rylan Sauto (M, fr.), Ian Dotson (M/G, fr.). Noteworthy: After embarking on the first season since the high school was re-established, the Knights return the majority of the club, including leading scorer Nathan Androschuk (13, 3). l Among Medina Christian's five freshmen is Ian Dotson, the son of Brunswick coach Ben Dotson. Wadsworth Coach: John Johnson (29th season at Wadsworth, 273-145-73; 37th overall, 357-190-95) Last season: 14-6, 4-3 (3rd Suburban League National Conference), Division II, Region 6 finalist Key letterwinners lost: Caden Whited (All-Gazette), Gavin Gambaccini (All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Justin Lazzaretti (All-Gazette, F, sr.), Vincent Gambaccini (All-Gazette, D, sr.), Cayden Taylor (HM All-Gazette, G, jr.), Cole Miller (M, sr.), Brett Pelkey (D, sr.), Eli Watson (D, sr.), Kyle Nagel (F, sr.), Isaac Byers (M, sr.), Nate Pelkey (F, sr.), Luke Tibbitts (M, sr.), Diego Montoya (M, jr.), Jordan Russell (M, jr.), Lincoln Nagy (D, jr.), Benny Sauser (D, so.), Newcomers: Jason Booher (M, sr.), Cole Packer (G, sr.), K.J. Mack (G, jr.), Kendall Lane (M, jr.), Alex Valentine (M, jr.), Anthony Pardo (D, jr.), L.J. Barker (M, so.), Noteworthy: The Grizzlies reached the regional finals last season for the first time and are looking to make another run with a number of key players back, including leading scorer Lazzaretti (13, 1). l With Taylor in goal, Wadsworth tallied 10 shutouts last season. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.