Marysville’s boys varsity soccer team is pictured from left, front row, Samuel Skidmore, Grayson Stanford; Wyatt Leiter-Griffith, Gabe Tangeman, Danny Dougherty and Seth White; second row, Jared Boomstra, Nathan Sprague, Shane Hothem, Jackson Hayes, Jack Fairman, Sean Richardson and Cory Cordell; back row, Caleb Skidmore, Jake Weigand, Clayton Rice, JJ Riggsby, Grant Kaifas, Nick McIntosh, Fernando Rios, Bryce Thomas and coach Brent Harmanis. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Marysville High School’s boys soccer team will be under new leadership this season.
Brent Harmanis, who was an MHS assistant coach, takes over from Terry Smith, who stepped down earlier this summer.
Smith guided the Monarchs to a 10-8 overall record and a fourth-place spot in the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division during the 2019 campaign.
Returning lettermen include defenders Clayton Rice, Jake Weigand, Sean Richardson and Shane Hothem.
Veteran midfielders are Gabe Tangeman, Jack Fairman and Nathan Sprague.
Returning vets among the forwards are JJ Riggsby, Nick McIntosh and Wyatt Leiter-Griffith.
Grant Kaifas returns as the Monarchs’ top keeper.
Rice, Fairman, Weigand, Sprague, McIntosh, Richardson and Hothem are fourth-year players.
“We have an incredible senior class,” said Harmanis. “They set the standard for our program day-in and day-out.
“This group works hard every single day to get better and push each other,” he said. “They support each other and the underclassmen.
“We have some great experience coming back and it will be Grant’s second year starting in the goal,” said the new head coach. “Offensively, Nick and JJ both scored 15 goals a year ago.
“We will ask a lot of those three players, but they’re ready for the challenge of leading us on and off the field.”
There are also a number of newcomers to the varsity roster.
They include defenders Bryce Thomas, Caleb Skidmore and Jared Boomstra; forwards Cory Cordell and Grayson Stanford; midfielders Danny Dougherty, Fernando Rios, Sam Skidmore and Seth White; and keeper Jackson Hayes.
There have been coronavirus-related challenges for the team.
“Keeping our guys safe and healthy is more important than ever,” said Harmanis. “We’re doing all we can to follow the guidelines from our school district and the Union County Health Department.
“On the field, our biggest concern is we haven’t had a chance to test ourselves against another team during a scrimmage,” he said. “Our guys haven’t played in a real game since March and that’s a longer break than most of them have had in their lives.”
Harmanis said the Monarchs have practiced in such a manner as to prepare for the regular season.
“However, it’s difficult to simulate game-like environments on a consistent basis without scrimmages,” he said.
The Monarchs have now joined the OCC Cardinal Division under the circuit’s new realignment.
“I think we have one of the most interesting divisions in the OCC,” said Harmanis. “Every team is capable of beating the others.
“Dublin Jerome is very good every year, so I’d expect them to finish near the top in any season,” he said. “Olentangy Berlin had a great season in 2019 and should build on that momentum.
“In recent years, we’ve had a bit of a rivalry with Hilliard Darby, so we’re excited for that game as well.”
Harmanis said Marysville’s top goal is to win the OCC Cardinal title.
“However, we’ll take it one game at a time and be prepared to compete for 80 minutes,” he said. “We’ve made tremendous progress since we started in June and I believe we can accomplish anything we put our minds to.
“It’ll take a massive team effort, but we’re ready for the challenge and a season like no other.”