By Staff
MCPHERSON – Last season was an interesting one to say the least for the McPherson boys soccer team as they finished three games under .500 overall, but yet rallied late in the season enough to make a trip to the state tournament where they finished third!
Another trip to state was a great reward for a young team after struggling during the season and finished 3-4 in the league and 9-12 overall. It will be 20 years since the last state title by the Bullpups when they won in 2003 shortly after gaining their first state title in 2001.
Once again, Christ Adrian will be the head coach overseeing the Bullpup soccer program. With this being the beginning of his fourteenth season, Adrian has accumulated an overall mark of 167-72-8 to this point.
“I am really looking forward to this upcoming season,” noted coach Adrian. “The boys have put in a tremendous amount of work this summer and they all are very excited to pick up where they left off last season after finishing third at the state tournament.”
The first thing to do is find some scoring offense as graduates Kayden McVicker and Joshua Wehrman accounted for 72 goals and six assists in 2022.
The Bullpups will return seven starters from last season, including seniors Hunter Mendez, Aiden Wheaton, Boy Rodriguez, Jordan Antoine, and Jonathon Antoine, along with junior Hayden Hoxie and sophomore Manny Morales. Mendez, Hoxie, Rodriguez, and Morales are all midfielders while Wheaton and both the Antoine’s play defender.
Also returning with a lot of playing time on the field is senior goalkeeper Trenton Moll who recorded 23 saves last season while Hayden Hoxie is the top returning offensive player after scoring eight goals and earning six assists in 2022.
The coaches will be looking for seniors Bhakta Kunj and Noah Wilgers plus sophomore Borin Heang to provide some offense as the three combined to score 17 goals and record six assists for the junior varsity last season.
Coach Adrian knows what lays ahead, “That incredible post season run last year has definitely generated momentum and excitement, though this season, the goal is not to go into the post season as underdogs. The team lost some key players through graduation but from what I have seen this summer, I am confident we have players that will step in and be ready to go from day one.”
Among the newcomers that could get some varsity playing time are freshmen Ben Bocox, mason Eisenbarth, Jackson Martin, Achilles Palacios and Hayden Siemens.
Concluding his preseason reflections, coach Adrian added, “I am anticipating 40-plus soccer players coming out and potentially giving us the largest roster of players since I began coaching here 14 years ago. Our regular season schedule is once again packed full of talented teams, and we are going to be pushed every week.”
2023 MCPHERSON BULLPUP VARSITY BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, August 29 = hosting Newton, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 5 = at Maize South Tournament
Thursday, September 7 = at Maize South Tournament
Saturday, September 9 = at Maize South Tournament
Tuesday, September 12 = hosting Circle, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 14 = at Salina South, 3:15 pm
Tuesday, September 19 = hosting El Dorado, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 21 = hosting Derby, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 26 = hosting Buhler, 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 28 = at Rose Hill, 3:15 pm
Tuesday, October 3 = hosting Mulvane, 6:30 pm
Thursday, October 5 = at Junction City, 2:30 pm
Tuesday, October 10 = hosting Winfield, 6:30 pm
Thursday, October 12 = at Hutchinson, 3:30 pm
Tuesday, October 17 = at Augusta, 2:45 pm
Thursday, October 19 = at Great Bend, 2:45 pm
Tuesday, October 24 = State Regionals – TBA
Thursday, October 26 = State Regional Finals – TBA
Friday, November 3 = State Tournament
Saturday, November 4 = State Tournament
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(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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