As we inch closer to the start of the 2023-24 fall season, the boys’ soccer teams in the area will again be the ones to follow an incredible 2022 season last fall. Today, we look at three squads that will be setting their sights on the state final four in November at the WorldWide Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.
Kirkwood Pioneers
- Head Coach: Mike Quante
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 2 years
- Conference: Suburban
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 9-11-1
- Top Returning Players: Finny Buckley, Nico Bean, Wheeler Kruger, Reed Rupert
Season Outlook: “We take one day at a time and look to push our boundaries from 100% to 101%,” stated Quante. “We will not get ahead of ourselves and look past any opponent.”
Marquette Mustangs
- Head Coach: Steven Conway
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 1 year, 9-8
- Conference: Suburban Yellow
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 9 – 8 overall 3 -4 conference
- Top Returning Players: Grant Buer(12), Conner Wilhelm (12), Jake Landmann(12), Tucker Edgecombe(12), Will Vendt(11)
- Players to Watch: Grant Buer, Will Vendt
Season Outlook: “This will be a rebuilding year, after losing 8 seniors,” said Conway. “We are hoping to improve on our sub-500 record in the conference. We will have 10 seniors this year and 10 juniors, we will be competitive and looking to win games against the top teams in the area.”
Valley Park Hawks
- Head Coach: Tom Probst
- Years at School and Coaching Record: 8 Years -74 Wins and 71 Losses
- Conference: South Central AA
- Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 16-8 Overall 7-3 Conference
- Starters Returning – Cooper Bellchamber, Landon Bilyeu, Joe Buckman, Will Geary, Gavin Hubbard, Clark Menley, Peyton Walker, Talan Stroop, Tarron Walker – Townshend
- Top Returning Players: Will Geary (11th) , Joe Buckman (11th) , Clark Menley (11th), Cooper Bellchamber (11th), Peyton Walker (12th)
- Players to Watch: Gavin Mann (10th), Amar – Al-Yagori (11th), Blake Whitney (10th)
Season Outlook: “Our team has 9 returning starting players and will be joined by three players who spent time on JV and Varsity last season,” stated Probst. “Plus, we will have a full JV team for the first time in school history. The soccer program is growing and thriving, and the incoming freshman class will likely have double-digit player additions for the 3rd straight year. Will Geary, our top scorer had 32 goals and 68 points and as a freshman. As a sophomore, he had 36 goals and 82 points. We are excited to bring him back as an upperclassman along with a strong cohort of players including Joe Buckan who will star as center mid this season. We will move from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 this year looking to add more offense and balance as Joe is ready to man the center spot solo instead of splitting the duties.”
Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan
