Enchancment is the phrase for Vigo County highschool soccer groups this fall.
That’s apparent within the case of Terre Haute North and West Vigo, however simply as relevant at Terre Haute South. Whereas the Patriots have been going 0-10 final season and the Vikings 2-8, the Braves reached the championship recreation of their sectional and completed with a 5-6 document. Unhealthy luck was a contributor to at the least two of these losses (to groups that mixed to go unbeaten within the common season in opposition to Indiana opponents), however the Braves wish to do higher as properly.
• Terre Haute North — You gained’t hear a lot about 0-10 from Michael Ghant — “Final yr’s over with,” the second-year head coach stated this week — though it’s rumored that there are some reminders about it within the locker room.
The Patriots have 80 gamers this yr, an enchancment of virtually 30% over final season, with good seventh- and eighth-grade courses behind them, and have some transfers to bolster some returnees who appear extra ready for varsity soccer than they could have been a yr in the past.
On the Wabash Valley Soccer Coaches Affiliation’s media day final Saturday, 4 North captains have been current they usually have been all juniors: quarterback Harry Wetzel, linebacker Jackson McDonald and versatile backs Josiah Bennett and Sam Weihert.
4 sophomores with varsity expertise and large expectations are tight finish Dalton Hersman, quarterback Maddox Woodcock and twins Greg and Brighton Sanders.
However greater information is the addition of senior working again Zyeiar White, a switch from South and probably one of the best again within the Wabash Valley; guard-linebacker Jimmie Wright, a switch from Linton; and Kaden McGrew, a defensive finish who was the junior varsity quarterback at South final yr.
Ghant is hoping his protection discovers its identification, possibly as quickly as Friday evening’s jamboree motion in opposition to Northview and South, and sees an apparent distinction between this yr’s workforce and final yr’s.
“Confidence and maturity,” he stated. “There’s no concern this yr.”
• Terre Haute South — The 2023 Braves despatched three gamers to Indiana State and three extra to smaller faculties, however three of this yr’s seniors have already got Division I commitments: quarterback Brady Wilson to ISU, tight finish Chris Herrin to South Dakota and offensive lineman Sean Murphy to Air Power.
“There are a variety of expectations,” coach Tim Herrin stated at Saturday’s get-together, mentioning that Wilson already has most of the program’s information at his place and that Chris Herrin is in line for some himself. (The coach’s youngest son additionally predicted that this yr’s workforce could be higher than the one his oldest brother, Cleveland Guardians aid pitcher Timmy Herrin, helped result in a 10-2 document in 2014.)
Additionally at Saturday’s assembly was senior linebacker Jaidyn Hoole. Different noteworthy Braves embody cornerback Treva Department, who might get some offensive touches this yr, and another multi-sport athletes together with linebacker Coy Bender and receivers Josh Morgan, Jaylen Wells and Mayson Lewis.
“We [coaches] at all times thought this group [of seniors] could be particular,” coach Herrin stated. “And I feel now we have probably the most velocity we’ve ever had.”
Even a quirk within the schedule doesn’t faze the coach. The Braves play six of their 9 regular-season video games on the street, together with 4 Fridays in a row starting Sept. 20.
“Occurring the street, we’ll be extra centered,” he predicted.
• West Vigo — The Vikings, for all sensible functions, have 21 of twenty-two starters coming back from final yr and, as coach Aaron Clements stated this week, are “a yr older, and we ought to be a yr stronger and a yr extra skilled.”
Hunter Callahan, a 295-pound senior, is a four-year starter and shall be a middle and defensive sort out this fall. He’s one in all 4 West Vigo captains, however the different leaders of a still-young workforce are juniors: working again/linebacker Ryan Cobb, quarterback/cornerback Landon Fields and working again/linebacker Connor Wallace.
Junior Chase Hedden shall be a security and will see motion at each offensive backfield spot, whereas senior Jeffrey Brown is one other returning lineman and senior Jacob Dewey is again at fullback and linebacker.
“We have now a variety of guys competing for spots,” Clements stated, “and that offers us some depth, one thing we haven’t had prior to now.
“You’re at all times excited for the beginning of the season, and now we have a variety of guys coming again,” Clements concluded. “We’ll know just a little bit extra on Saturday morning [after Friday night’s scrimmage against North Vermillion].”
The Vikings host the Falcons at 7 p.m. Friday, whereas North and South shall be in jamboree motion at 7 p.m. at North. North and Northview play within the first quarter, adopted by South vs. South Vermillion, Northview vs. South Vermillion and North vs. South.
