High School Boys Soccer Preview: 15 of the area's top players for the 2023 season

A new boys soccer season began this week, and there's plenty of talent to go around in the area.

The Daily Record highlights 15 of the area's players to watch during the season:

Jon Graham, Norwayne, midfielder

One of the top players returning in the WCAL, Graham was a step ahead of most players in the area last season. Showing an eye for the game, he was the centerpiece of the league’s best team and one of the area’s premier clubs a year ago. Fast forward to this fall and he is one of the reasons why the Bobcats are predicted to do big things in the postseason as he finished last year with 11 goals and 12 assists.

Nicholas Morse, Wooster, forward

Fleet footed, with a quick step and elite foot skills, Morse showed an awareness of the field rarely seen in sophomores a year ago. He finished last year with 12 goals and five assists on a squad that spread the rock around effectively. This year, he will be counted on more to be a force offensively and help balance out the Generals attack as a junior.

Luigi Canas Jr., Wooster, midfielder/forward

One of the area’s most electric players a year ago, Canas was a terror for opponents around the frame. His impact though was felt beyond scoring as he helped the Generals control the pace of key games, delivered precise passes and used his incredible foot skills to put teammates in the best position possible on the pitch. Last year he finished with 14 goals and nine assists as a junior.

Reece Chanay, Northwestern, goalkeeper

Definitely not your typical first-time goalkeeper, Chanay delivered in some key games down the stretch for the Huskies. Showing a good vision of the field, he consistently found himself in the perfect positions to keep his team in games and at times effect the final result. A year later, a year better, Chanay will look to continue to elevate his game and help his team roll this fall.

Parker Metsker, Norwayne, defender

Metsker is simply the heart and soul of Norwayne's defense. The gritty defender was a key piece to last year’s team that dominated the WCAL and contended with the best in the area. A year removed from that, the junior will again be an integral part to one of the area’s premier teams and the best lock-down defense around.

Best of 2022-23: All-Daily Record Boys Soccer

Trey Bayless, Norwayne, midfielder

A year ago, an out-of-sport injury sidelined Bayless, but he still showed in a very small sample just how much of a force he is on the pitch. He finished with 10 goals and had three assists last year. A key component in the center of the pitch, he helped direct the traffic for the Bobcats, kept the weapons up top fed and helped them control the pace of the game. As a senior will look to do more of the same this fall for a squad that has much loftier goals than even a year ago.

Yikealo Maibach, Norwayne, forward

A highlight reel waiting to happen, Maibach is one of the area's best with the ball at his feet. Possessing fantastic foot skills with a deft touch around the box, he established himself as a lethal finisher. The senior finished last year with 13 goals and 19 assists and is one of the many weapons up top for this year’s team. He will look to add to his career numbers this fall with 24 goals, 21 assists and 69 points.

Jerson Lopez, Orrville, midfielder

There is no team that will look more different this year than the Red Riders after graduation hit them hard. Lopez will be the link to that great run of the past few years and this year he will look to establish himself among the area’s elite. A skilled midfielder, who can move up the pitch frequently, he finished with 10 goals and nine assists last year and will be one of the focal points this fall for his team.

Silas Coleman, Central Christian, forward

Developing into one of the Comets' top options a year ago, Coleman finished with eight goals and 10 assists. Showing a high soccer IQ with good foot skills, he made his presence felt on the pitch. The junior will look to build upon that this fall as he continues to step up as a lethal component for Central Christian.

Zeke Bodiker, Hiland, midfielder/forward

Bodiker showcased his speed and penchant for finishing around the frame last year for the Hawks. Combine that with superior foot skills and an innate feel, and he showed why he is one of the area’s premier players. The junior finished last year with 11 goals and 10 assists as he will look to build upon that this year.

Aidan Neibert, Loudonville, forward

The most complete player on a Redbirds team that will look to establish itself among the area’s top programs this fall. Neibert has a lot of speed, solid foot skills and continues to develop his finishing ability around the frame. He will look to continue that growth this fall after a season that saw him score 21 goals and dish seven assists. For a team looking to make just its fourth district appearance and go back-to-back for the first time in program history, Neibert will be at the center of those lofty goals.

Calen Relle, Wooster, midfielder

Relle caught on quickly a year ago as he was a key piece to the best postseason run since 1988 by a Generals squad. He was smooth on the pitch, distributed the ball efficiently and grew as a player throughout a tough regular season slate. He finished last year with one score and five assists as he will look to continue to grow this fall. With a team that was hit hard by graduation, he will be one of the reasons why the Generals put together another run this fall.

Corban Miller, Hiland, midfielder

Miller continues the line of solid midfielders that the Hiland program has produced over the years. He has exceptional foot skills, quick feet and distributes the ball effectively and for a quick-hitting squad from Berlin, that is perfect. The senior finished with five goals and seven assists a year ago.

Carter Buchholz, Wooster, goalkeeper

It’s hard to step into the shoes of a goalkeeper who led the team to its first regional since 1988. Yet, that's what Buchholz will be tasked with this year as he slides into the post in front of the net. With a world of potential, the sophomore will look to solidify himself early and anchor the back of the Generals defense this fall.

Kyle Sommers, Central Christian, defender

Sommers was rock solid in his role defensively for the Comets a year ago, where he was part of a unit that finished with 11 shutouts. The senior blossomed against some good competition as he proved to be a force in some tight games. He will look to continue that growth as his squad will count on more of it this fall as it looks contend in a tough league and some tough opponents in the postseason brackets.

Players to note: Mason Mathis (Triway), Hunter Snell (Triway), Diego Vazquez (Smithville), Jack Maibach (Norwayne), Cooper Ringle (Norwayne), Brendon Hess (Loudonville), Braden West (Norwayne), Kaleb Wayt (Orrville), Mateo Dague (Northwestern), Bryan Martin (Central Christian), Zach Gingerich (Hiland), Connor Reich (Waynedale), Tyson Troyer (Waynedale), Alex Rodriguez (Chippewa), Quinn Maibach (Smithville) and Keltin Baker (Loudonville).

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: H.S. Boys Soccer Preview: 15 Players to Watch