In this week’s edition of the Friday Fast Break, we head to the soccer field as we preview a pair of teams that had successful 2021 seasons as both Ladue and Westminster will look to keep their winning ways intact.
After graduating 17 seniors from last year’s state runner-up squad, Ladue will turn to a strong group of returning players to aid the Rams in making another run in the state tournament.
Westminster also graduated a number of outstanding seniors from last year’s team as they as well will turn to an outstanding core group to compete for both a conference title and a spot in the state playoffs.
Ladue Rams
- Head Coach – Dave Aronberg
- Record at school – 145-59-4 in eight years as head coach
- Conference – Suburban Yellow
- 2021 record – 23-7-1
- 2021 highlights – Lost in the Missouri State High School Activities Association Class 3 title game to Fort Zumwalt South 2-1.
- Starters Returning – Dailyn Tate – JR, Logan Wallace – JR, Johann Schuldt – JR, Adam Friedman –
- SR, Robbie Mabbs – SR, Ronak Nagarajan – SR, Jonah Samson – SR, Eli Tenenbaum – SR, Avi Levin – SO
- Top Returning Players: Eli Tenenbaum is a senior who made 3rd team all-state last year. A great defender that will help us tremendously in the back. Logan Wallace is a junior who was all regional last year. He played a ton as a holding center midfielder last year though I think he will transition to forward this year.
- Players to Watch: Besides Eli and Logan, a player to watch is Dailyn Tate who is a junior on our team. Last year he finished second on the team in scoring and should be our #1 option scoring-wise this year.
Season Outlook: “We had our best season in school history last year and finished 2nd in state after a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Fort Zumwalt South on a late pk call with less than 10 minutes in the game,” stated Aronberg. “We graduated 17 seniors from that team but have a strong core returning whose goal is to make another postseason run!”
Key Games:
- Tuesday, August 30 at CBC
- Thursday, September 22 vs Lafayette
Westminster Christian Academy Wildcats
- Head Coach – Dan Legters
- Record at school – 258-212-24 in 22 years
- Conference – Metro League
- 2021 record – 17-6
- Starters Returning – Tyler Hott, Tyler Collison, Calvin Van Heest, Caden Collison, Austin McCarthy
- Returning players: Tyler Hott, Caden Collison, Calvin Van Heest
- Players to Watch: Caden Collison, Forward
Season Outlook: “We graduated 11 seniors from last year’s successful year so this year we are looking to integrate the newcomers and challenge for both the Metro League and a District championship,” stated Legters. “We have a good core of young players, and we will make sure they get plenty of experience to make an impact on the season.”
Key Games:
- Monday, October 5 at Parkway South
- Tuesday, October 11 at Lafayette
- Thursday, October 20 vs Timberland
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