Excessive Faculty soccer is again in session in South Florida. Nicely, no less than it’s for public faculties in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Which means, soccer season is across the nook. Preseason video games are scheduled for later this week, and the main Broward Nationwide Soccer Showcase at St. Thomas Aquinas (which may have nationally televised video games on ESPN) takes place subsequent week.
Prepared or not, highschool soccer is upon us, and SBLive Florida shall be monitoring all of the motion.
Main into the quickly approaching soccer marketing campaign, we’ve been spotlighting gamers and groups to deal with in 2024. This week, these 5 gamers have captured our consideration:
One of many prime backs in South Florida, Louis earned a 4-star rating and is being closely recruited by main faculties like Miami, Florida State, Georgia, Wisconsin and others. As a junior, Louis rushed for 1,224 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Patriots have an explosive offensive, that includes quarterback Dia Bell (Texas commit) and receiver Malachi Toney (Miami).
Heritage performs a grueling schedule, and Louis expects to hold a heavy workload in his senior season.
So what’s Louis’ mindset in ’24?
“Simply to win,” the senior season. “Full the mission. The primary factor is to finally knock them down, one after the other.”
Individually, Louis has excessive expectations.
“I really feel I’m main higher,” he stated. “I’m encouraging the workforce. All people is chiming in. All people needs the identical final aim.”
When the bar is raised as excessive as Chaminade-Madonna has set it, the following commencement class carries the burden of not desirous to be a part of a downfall.
The Lions as soon as once more are loaded, though the Class of ’24 graduating class featured one of many best collections of skill-position gamers in Florida prep historical past.
Getting into this season, Chaminade is also proficient on protection. One among its leaders is four-star cornerback Chris Ewald, a College of Miami commit.
As all the time, the Lions are eyeing state and nationwide championships.
“The usual continues to be the identical,” Ewald stated. “We’re nonetheless making an attempt to get to Tallahassee, and go away Tallahassee with a medal round our neck. The usual continues to be the identical. It’s a distinct workforce, however the identical customary.”
As a junior, Ewald had two interceptions and 20 passes defensed. Now a senior, he’s additionally one of many workforce leaders.
“It helps tremendously, as a result of he can let different guys know what to anticipate,” Lions coach Dameon Jones stated. “As a result of, I can say one factor, however when it’s coming from a teammate, you realize it’s somewhat bit completely different. That youth, they have an inclination to speak to one another somewhat otherwise.”
Chaminade has received three straight state titles and 6 within the final eight seasons. The drive to maintain profitable titles stays the identical.
“You don’t wish to be the discuss of the city,” Ewald stated. “We’ve bought a giant goal on our again. It simply retains us going. We’re not making an attempt to be the downfall of Chaminade. You don’t wish to be recognized for that, so this retains us going.”
Discuss a consummate scholar athlete. Miret, listed at 6-foot-4, 285-pounds, is a soccer/wrestling standout with a 4.4 GPA. In response to On3, the junior is the College of Miami’s prime heart recruit for the ’26 class.
As a defensive sort out final yr, the 3-star athlete logged 23 tackles.
Southridge is a critical playoff contender, and sophomore James Perrone is a rising star at quarterback.
Miret makes it clear that his job is to present Perrone “as a lot time within the pocket as attainable.”
Miret’s immense wrestling expertise assist him as an offensive lineman, as properly, particularly in the case of utilizing his leverage.
“Wrestling interprets properly with O-line,” Miret stated. “You study leverage. That’s the largest factor. You learn to transfer folks.”
As a sophomore, Miret wrestled within the 285-pound weight class, and completed third within the state in Class 3A.
“It’s a must to be in nice form to be a wrestler,” he stated. “It’s a must to be very athletic. I feel that positively helps with soccer.”
Championships are definitely cherished and savored at St. Thomas Aquinas. So is difficult work, preparation and dedication.
The drive to succeed is unwavering, which is why simply days after profitable their fifth straight state title final December, the teaching workers and gamers already had been turning the web page and specializing in competing for extra in ’24.
Linebacker Travares Daniels, dedicated to Maryland, embraces the problem of craving extra championships.
“We get it,” Daniels stated. “All people in this system needs to win. All people is on the identical web page. All people needs to succeed. All of us get alongside like this.”
St. Thomas will get issues rolling on Thursday at Bishop Verot Fort Myers, after which on Aug. 24, the Raiders play host to nationwide energy Bishop Gorman Las Vegas within the Broward Nationwide Soccer Showcase. That recreation shall be featured on ESPN.
“The best way we have a look at it’s, we take pleasure in our wins, and the following day we [wipe our hands], and go on to the following,” Daniels stated. “The tradition is loopy. Our coaches do an incredible job of getting ready us, and getting us prepared for our schedule. Not solely our schedule, nevertheless it prepares us to be nice younger males sooner or later.”
From Oregon to Homestead, the Broncos have added a brand new addition to their protection.
New to this system at center linebacker is Zachary Davis, who has moved to South Florida after being a part of state championship groups at Central Catholic in Oregon.
Davis steps right into a Homestead program hungry for a state championship. The previous two season, the Broncos misplaced to St. Thomas Aquinas within the Class 3M championship recreation. This yr, beneath the brand new classification system, Homestead is now in Class 6A. St. Thomas is in 5A.
Nonetheless, with as a lot expertise because the Broncos have, they’ve the makings of a championship-caliber workforce.
“All people is a tough employee,” Davis stated. “All people has one widespread aim. We’ve a championship mindset. We’re all going to maintain pushing one another. That’s how we’re going to get there.”
After arising quick in back-to-back seasons, Homestead is pushed to win the title.
“We’re hungry,” Davis stated. “We wish to work. They’ve that championship expectation, yr after yr. The coaches and the gamers. We maintain ourselves to a excessive customary.”
Homestead coach Ronnie Thornton Jr. has established a tightly knit workforce tradition, the place gamers are free to voice their opinions.
Thornton famous that he listens to the gamers considerations. If the gamers want a day to reduce a bit, the workers will pay attention, and will have a “yoga” day.
“I feel it’s nice having a coach that listens to the gamers,” Davis stated. “He has numerous respect for us, and we’ve a ton of respect for him. That basically separates us as a program That basically helps us out.”
