Seeing double? Kotmel twins play important role for Castle soccer, football success

NEWBURGH, Ind. — Mike Reiter never plans it. He simply calls it a happy accident.

The Castle High School boys soccer team will practice penalty kicks. Reiter has his goalkeepers alternate against the top strikers. Somehow, the following scenario occurs without fail.

Ryker Kotmel at the penalty spot. Maddux Kotmel in the net.

“They just smile at each other,” said Reiter. “And Maddux talks a little trash.”

An unspoken understanding with a smidge of competitive drive? Sounds like brothers.

Meet the Kotmel twins, possibly the first set Reiter has coached in his time with the program. The interesting part is you’ll never see the seniors next to each other on the pitch. Ryker is a starting striker. Maddux is the starting keeper.

More: Week 4 Evansville-area high school football scores, schedule and streaming links

Two bookends for one of the top programs in Southern Indiana. The Knights are 7-1 following a victory against Bosse on Wednesday and ranked No. 13 in Class 3A. Even on a deep roster with a lot of experience, the Kotmels have stood out in the first half of the season.

“I think it’s very fitting they’re on opposite ends of the field,” said Reiter. “They’re very similar in their mannerisms. They both have the mentality that they’ll keep working. It’s not a lot about ‘me, me, me.’ They work, do their job and keep moving forward.”

They’ve also had different but rewarding paths to reach this point.

Ryker Kotmel has been a starter or a key attacker since he was a freshman. The striker started on junior varsity that season, but a trio of hat tricks in a handful of games led to a quick promotion. “We gotta bring the kid up,” Reiter told his staff.

Thirty-four career goals, including a pair of double-digit seasons. Kotmel has developed into one of the top attackers in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference. He leads the Knights with six goals and six assists this fall.

“Time on the field helps,” he said. “Seeing the weaknesses of other teams throughout the years and now have the ability to exploit it. It’s led me to some success and hopefully it continues throughout the year.”

His brother is a case in perseverance. Maddux Kotmel grew up playing center back but switched to net in high school. He didn’t expect much playing time early – senior Nigel Stolz started in 2020 and senior Colin Nugent in 2021 – so he gained experience on junior varsity.

Kotmel battled for the starting job last year but was chosen as the backup. How he responded showed Reiter more than anything on the field. He kept working over the winter and improved immensely.

The senior has posted four shutouts this season and made big saves to become “not only a pure starter but a huge piece for us” in the words of his coach.

“I took it for granted,” Kotmel said. “My junior year I started putting in a lot more effort. I love seeing the work I’ve put in has translated to (the team) being better. It always helps having someone to work with me no matter what. (Ryker) will shoot in our backyard.”

If their worth to the soccer team wasn’t enough, Castle football coach Doug Hurt is also happy to see them on Friday nights. The Kotmels are two of approximately eight players who have attempted to double-up fall sports over the years under Reiter. What started as a suggestion from former teammate Jackson Mitchell two years ago turned into a full-time commitment.

The weekly schedule can be a puzzle. No football on Monday and, usually, no soccer on Friday. The days in between are split between practice fields across the street from the high school. They might finish one, change and grab gear, to immediately walk up the hill.

How do they make it work? Communication and hard work. After beating Paul Laurence Dunbar last Friday at Memorial High School, they noticed it was still halftime at Enlow Field between Castle and Bosse. There was no hesitation but to make the short trip over and swap uniforms.

“It’s never a question of will we have them here,” said Reiter. “It’s seamless because they do the work ahead of time. They’re mature and responsible about it. Both were willing after that grueling game to help the football team. It’s a testament to their responsibility.”

Their presence and talent also give Hurt a plethora of choices. Ryker can handle kickoffs and placekicking – he’s a perfect 8-for-8 on extra points. Maddux is a punter. The Knights also have senior Aleyna Quinn, another soccer player playing both sports.

Castle has options if anyone is unavailable, which was the case last week. That’s a tremendous plus.

“They are all in,” Hurt said of the Kotmel twins. “Great kids and their family is all in. It’s a huge boost to our team. (Our kickers) complement one another. Mike makes this easy. He looks out for his program but cares about what we’re doing. The kids make sure both programs continue to win.”

The common denominator asking either program is the Kotmels make the team better. Both are on the quiet side, but nobody questions their effort. There’s always a teammate available for training. Maddux pointed to his brother as a reason for his development as a goalkeeper.

Believe it or not, neither bicker much like you'd expect. Perhaps that positivity is the key for these twins.

“We’ve always got along well,” said Maddux. “Always supportive and give it our all no matter what goes down.”

“I’d like to think we’ve improved each other to be the best we can,” Ryker added. “Sharing that bond is really special.”

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA soccer football Castle High School Kotmel twins