Get to know the Greater Lansing high school boys soccer teams
Here is an overview of the high school boys soccer teams in Greater Lansing. This reflects information provided by area coaches.
CAAC BLUE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Okemos, 2. East Lansing, 3. Grand Ledge, 4. DeWitt, 5. Holt, 6. Everett, 7. Waverly
▶ Top players: Caleb Chenault, Grand Ledge; Abe Fischer, Okemos; Xtreme Hauk, East Lansing; Jackson Janderwski, DeWitt; Brayden Powers, DeWitt; Charlie Stover, Okemos; Christian Trunk, East Lansing
DEWITT
▶ Last season: 16-4-2 (T-1st)
▶ Coach: Joe Ishraidi (9th season)
▶ Top returners: Brayden Powers (sr.) F, Jackson Janderwski (jr.) GK, Aiden Aldrich (sr.) M, Ian Fowler (sr.) M, Nathaniel Torrence (sr.) D, Joey Farhat (sr.) M, Elijah Vue (jr.) M, Jonathon Schwarz (sr.) GK
▶ Other contributors: Cam French (jr.) D, Carson Frayre (jr.) M, Kai Bursley (sr.) M, Carson Soltis (so.) D, Logan Hanus (sr.) D, Lincoln Dodds (sr.) M, Lukas White (jr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Panthers lost seven major contributors from last year’s successful squad, but do have a pair of all-state players back in Powers and Janderwski. Aldrich, Torrence, Farhat, Fowler and Schwarz are varsity veterans who will try to help DeWitt contend in the CAAC Blue. Ishraidi said success will be determined by how players come together and transition into new roles.
EAST LANSING
▶ Last season: 11-5-2 (T-1st)
▶ Coach: Jeff Lyon (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Carter Hagan (sr.) M, Xtreme Hauk (sr.) M, Christian Trunk (sr.) M, Sam Saldivar (sr.) M, Jorge Loaisiga (sr.) D, Ben Mayes (sr.) D, Cam Essell (jr.) D, Daniel Babayan (jr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Ethan Hoort (jr.) F, Lucas Pentecost (jr.) M, Joaquin Saldivar (jr.) D, Jake Robinson (jr.) M, Liam Curren (jr.) G
▶ Outlook: The Trojans are replacing the contributions of 12 seniors from their league championship squad. Those include a trio of starting defenders and a goalkeeper. Haul. Trunk and Saldivar earned all-league honors last season and are among a core of seniors who will lead East Lansing in its quest to put together another strong season.
GRAND LEDGE
▶ Coach: David Blanzy (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Landen Pilcher (sr.) M, Caleb Chenault (sr.) F, Spencer Ries (jr.) GK
▶ Other contributors: Noah Pollice (fr.) M, Drew Buckland (jr.) F, Joel Hatley (jr.) F
▶ Outlook: Chenault and Pilcher are returning all-league players and varsity veterans back for the Comets and will lead a young team. Grand Ledge, which graduated 17 seniors from last season, hopes to be competitive with a core of returning talent balanced with some promising newcomers.
HOLT
▶ Coach: Aaron Smith
▶ Outlook: The Rams return their leading goal scorers in Josiah De Mond and Justice German and assists leader in Zachary Arche from last season. CJ Sampson is a returner back in goal.
OKEMOS
▶ Last season: T-1st
▶ Coach: John Folino (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Charlie Stover (sr.) M, Griffin White (jr.) GK, Sabin Russell (sr.) M/F, Leon Johnson (jr.) M/F, Abe Fischer (jr.) M/F
▶ Other contributor: Alec Jachalke (jr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Wolves have a trio of third-year varsity players in Stover, White and Russell who provide experience as the program begins a new era under Folino. With a strong group of seniors, Okemos looks to build on its success from last season that included league and district titles.
WAVERLY
▶ Last season: 5-14 (7th)
▶ Coach: Kevin Kacel (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Jayden Pham (jr.) M, Isaiah Brown (sr.) F, Sahil Maulazoi (sr.) D/M, Connor Truax (jr.) M/F. Austin Griswold (jr.) M, Carlos Salais (sr.) D, Jackson DeLong (so.) F
▶ Other contributors: Emanuel Matos (sr.) F, Ashton Perpich (so.) D, Bradley Premoe (so.) D, Maxwell Shelton (so.) f
▶ Outlook: Pham was the Warriors’ top goal scorer last season and earned all-league accolades, while Brown, Maulazoi and DeLong are returning starters back. With just the four returning starters, Waverly will lean on newcomers to make their mark as they look to be more competitive in the CAAC Blue.
More: Get to know the Greater Lansing high school volleyball teams
CAAC RED
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Mason, 2. Williamston, 3. Haslett, 4. St. Johns, 5. Fowlerville, 6. Eastern
▶ Top players: Anthony Dupuis, St. Johns; Blendi Jahiri, Mason; Lucas Nay, Mason; Matthew Palmer, Williamston, Collin Winters, Mason
EASTERN
▶ Last season: 6-8
▶ Coach: Juan Dominguez (5th season)
▶ Top returners: Jorge Gallegos (sr.) GK, Say Rey (sr) M, Antonio Lelja Navarro (sr.) D, Nwsa Jaji (jr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Trespr Ebuela (fr.) M/D
▶ Outlook: The Quakers have a young squad that is looking to improve in each game. The focus for Eastern is being competitive.
FOWLERVILLE
▶ Last season: 7-11 (6th)
▶ Coach: Jason Sperry (5th season)
▶ Top returners: Ian Hartke (sr.) F, Rogelio Rodriguez (sr.) F/M, Owen Smith (jr.) GK, Ryan Laimonis (sr.) M, Caden Gill (sr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Gladiators lost just one senior from last season and hope to be improved. Fowlerville has 11 seniors returning, which includes all-league performers in Hartke and Rodriguez. Hartke had 18 goals last season. Smith, Laimonis and Gill are third-year varsity players who will also be key as the Gladiators aim to make a climb up the CAAC Red standings.
HASLETT
▶ Last season: 7-12-3 (4th)
▶ Coach: Ramiro Salazar (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Evan Warner (sr.) M, Hunter Turner (sr.) D, Jackson Shadaker (jr.) M, Samir Sherali (jr.) D, Roen Blue (jr.) D, Asher Fackler (jr.) F, Zach Wells (jr.) D/M, Brennan Conley (so.) M
▶ Other contributors: Caden McCormick (fr.) M, Brogan Ide (fr.) F, Tony Mittino (so.) D, Preston Pilon (fr.) D
▶ Outlook: Warner and Shadaker are returning all-league performers for Haslett, which has just two seniors on its roster. The Vikings aim to build on depth with several young returners and young newcomers. Haslett is on a mission to get back to competing for league and district titles.
MASON
▶ Last season: 8-14-1
▶ Coach: Jacob Derby (6th season)
▶ Top returners: Lucas Nay (sr) M, Blendi Jahiri (jr.) M, Collin Winters (jr.) M, Alex Palmer (jr.) M, Mendi Rexhepi (jr.) F, Colin Lomax (jr.) D, Brock Straub (so.) F, Luke Petee (sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Maddox Armour (jr.) D, Brandon Nay (so.) M, Mikey Krysiak (so.) GK, Keegan Betts (sr.) M
▶ Outlook: The Bulldogs find themselves ranked for the first time since 2016 and expect to have a big season after finishing last fall strong and claiming a district title. League and district championships are goals for Mason, which has plenty of returning experience. Nay and Jahiri are returning all-state selections and were top scorers for the Bulldogs last season.
WILLIAMSTON
▶ Last season: 10-10-1 (1st)
▶ Coach: Ian Kurth (2nd season)
▶ Top returners: Matthew Palmer (sr.) D, Cale Pederson (jr.) M, Garrett Stenzel (jr.) GK, Eduardo Sanchez (sr.) F, Evan Emch (sr.) D, Ian Conway (jr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Shelton Schuesler (jr.) M, Quinn Scott (jr.) D, Preston Fuller (so.) F
▶ Outlook: The Hornets have a strong core with 13 returning varsity players. That includes Palmer, who was a fourth-year varsity player and earned all-state accolades in Division 3 last fall. Williamston looks to build on its success from last season.
CAAC WHITE
▶ Coaches' predictions: 1. Lakewood, T-2. Eaton Rapids, T-2. Portland, 4. Ionia, 5. Lansing Catholic, 6. Sexton, 7. Charlotte, 8 Olivet
CHARLOTTE
▶ Coach: John Hoesli (5th season)
▶ Top returners: Sully Oswald (sr.), Peyton Caswell (jr.), Nick Somers (jr.), Brady Blair (so.), Aaron Robins (jr.), Braylen Eaton (jr.)
▶ Other contributors: Max Powell (jr.), Jake Ewing (so.)
▶ Outlook: The Orioles lost 12 players to graduation from last season. Hoesli said younger players will need to become experienced quickly for Charlotte to find success.
LAKEWOOD
▶ Last season: 17-4 (2nd GLAC)
▶ Coach: James Leveque
▶ Top returners: Jackson Mackenzie (jr.) M, Garret Feighan (sr.) F, Troy Acker (jr.) D, Donny Wells (jr.) M, Ben Scobey (sr.) GK, Weston Potter (sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Bruno Cano (sr.) M, Landon Makley (sr.)
▶ Outlook: Mackenzie, Feighan, Acker and Wells were all-league performers in the GLAC and will try to help the Vikings challenge for a league title in their first season in the CAAC White. Lakewood returns a majority of its starters and has a strong foundation to build on in its quest for success.
OLIVET
▶ Last season: 5-7, 2-3 (5th)
▶ Coach: Betsie Williams (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Caiden Giguere (sr.) F/M, Reece Cole (jr.) D, Conner Toburen (jr.) D, Christian Steffes (jr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Peter Zimmerlee (sr.) M, Drew Garcia (jr.) F/M, Noah Flatch (jr.) M, Isaac Lothamer (jr.) D, Logan Giguere (so.) G
▶ Outlook: The Eagles break into a new league with several new players and a new coach in Williams, who was a former standout in the girls program. Olivet will lean on its returners to lead the offense. How quickly the newcomers grow will dictate the Eagles’ success this season.
PORTLAND
▶ Last season: 6-9-2 (4th)
▶ Coach: Chris Roof (12th season)
▶ Top returners: Niles Kriener (sr.) M, Aiden Pulling (sr.) M, Connor Rensberry (jr.) F, Cole Rensberry (jr.) D, Isaac Dakin (sr.) D, Bodin Nye (sr.) D
▶ Other contributors: Leo Wagner (so.) D, Sawyer Dakin (so.) M, Ben Stirton (so.) M, Eli Dakin (jr.) M
▶ Outlook: Kriener and Pulling are fourth-year varsity players who earned all-league honors last season for the Raiders. Dakin and Nye are also in their fourth season on varsity for Portland, which will be very young this season after losing eight players to graduation.
SEXTON
▶ Last season: 1-9
▶ Coach: George Bardell (3rd season)
▶ Top returners: Ree Reh (sr.) M/F, Beta Malakoyo (jr.) F, Philipo Maniriho (jr.) D, Khatir Yacoub (jr.) D, Abdullah Walleed (jr.) G/D, Yassin Walleed (jr.) M/F
▶ Other contributors: Shukuru Ebuela (so.) F/D, Michael Ye (F/D)
▶ Outlook: Reh is in his fourth season on varsity, while Malakoyo, Maniriho and Yacoub are third-year players for the J-Dubbs, who look to make a climb up the league standings and put together a strong season.
OTHERS
ALMA
▶ Coach: Nicholas O’Neill
▶ Top contributors: Brayden Truman (so.), Leo Richter, jack Lemerand, Noah Vega GK,
▶ Outlook: The Panthers are coming off a season that included a district title and are among the top-15 ranked teams in Division 3 so far this fall. Truman has been a key goal scorer.
DANSVILLE
▶ Coach: Trevor Brusseau (1st season)
▶ Top returners: Drew Frantz (sr.) F, Jessie Every (sr.) D, Gabe Schmidt (sr.) GK, Elijah Neal (sr.) M/F, Ethan Jones (sr.) D, Anthony Pawlowski (jr.) M, Alex Pawlowski (jr.) D, Max Gao (sr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Tyler Ward (sr.) F/M, Josh Carpenter (jr.) F/M, Alex Baker (jr.) D/M, Cole Hagelberger (jr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Aggies will rely heavily on the leadership of 12 seniors this fall. Frantz, Every are captains and returning all-state performers and joined by Schmidt, Neal and Gao as four-year varsity players.
LAINGSBURG
▶ Last season: 11-4-4 (2nd)
▶ Coach: Natalie Elkins (3rd season)
▶ Top returners: Dano Winans (sr.) M, Lucas Shastal (jr.) M, Hudson Yates (jr.) M, Zach Grandy (sr.) D, Alex Myers (jr.) D, Kaleb Salas (so.) F
▶ Other contributors: Landon Freeman (fr.), Andre Van Ells (jr.), Kyler Campbell (fr.) GK
▶ Outlook: Winans and Grandy are fourth-year varsity players and Shastal is in his third season for the Wolfpack, who hope to contend for a league title.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
▶ Last season: 23-3 (1st)
▶ Coach: Tommy Ziolkowski (3rd season)
▶ Top returners: Owen Resch (jr.) M, Tyler Kendrick (sr.) F, Kevin Brooks (sr.) F, Cullen McKay (so.) M, Dillion Kinnas (sr.) D, Brady Carmichael (so.) GK, Alex Binioris (so.) F
▶ Other contributors: Carson Block (fr.) D, Payton Allaire (jr.) M, Noah Link (sr.) D, Josh Mead (jr.) D
▶ Outlook: Resch earned Division 4 first team all-state honors last season, while Kendrick and Carmichael were honorable mention all-state selection. Brooks and McKay join them as returning all-league selections for Lansing Christian. Even with losing several seniors that included their top goal scorer, the Pilgrims have plenty of experience back and expect to be a factor in Division 4.
OVID-ELSIE
▶ Coach: Chris Parker (8th season)
▶ Top returners: Talan Parsons (sr.) M, Mason Ritenburg (sr.) M
▶ Other contributors: Ryker Parsons (fr.) F, Chaycen Thornton (so.) D, Jonas Obling (sr.) M, Pau Gifre (sr.) D
▶ Outlook: The Marauders are fielding a soccer team for the first time since the 2020 season. Ovid-Elsie is young and looking to build and is focused on getting better daily.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing high school boys soccer overview
