Here We Go for Year 35!

 

Saints boys are coming off a near-miss in 2021, finishing 3rd at State, after taking the title in 2020, the 17th in program history. Our captains (Andrew Seger, Ethan Young, Cooper Welsh and Barrett Kitts) borrowed a piece of Bayern Munich's brand in the Bavarian words "Mia san Mia"—we are who we are.

The boys have made it clear that the slogan is not just about the winning, but it is about being in position to win year after year. And that takes a willingness to prepare, to work hard, to embrace our teammates as family, to serve others . . . just way more than w's.

We look at this summer to note that once again Fall 2022 began in June. We played in the Champions League (winning for the 3rd straight year), we traveled to Wichita for the Shep Memorial where we lost only in a final shootout, we had all but 3 guys at summer camp that ended in a Championship of the BWhite Classic that included a 3-1 win over Gretna the 2022 State Champs of Nebraska.

As we get ready for opening night this coming Friday against St. James Academy, I just love the fact that the boys chose their fundraiser this year to go towards ALS. The older boys are plenty aware of John Whigham's battle with ALS. They know and know of two of the greats in Saint Thomas Aquinas soccer history in his sons, recent graduate Curt, and his brother Kyle, who was part of the 2009 National Championship Team.

Our quest to get back in the winner's circle this season will be begin with a stellar defense. Captain and senior Andrew Seger and Landon Rutter, a junior, are both  top flight goalies. Our two outside backs off last year's team will both move inside to centerback. Junior Cooper Welsh got some EKL recognition a a sophomore, and John Weinrich brought back over 2 inches of added height and a state cup title. Now sophomore Bobby Bjorseth who started in the midfield for us last year will go to his natural club position of left back. Connor Murray will assume the starting right back position for us. He's scrappy and a leader. Sophomore Alex Bissen will back up our centerbacks with seniors Will Fleming and Kellen Hulla ready to help at wingback.

The midfield is where we should make hay as we have 3 of the best around. Our 10, senior Barrett Kitts, is coming off a year of All Everything with a summer that showed he's one of the tops in the country, an ECNL All American.  We get back Andrew Muckerman to play the 8 as he spent most of last year recovering from an injury. He is also coming off a state cup win. Senior Gabe Garcia returns at the 6, and he is just one of the best in town. We will also use seniors Drew Weisner and Sebastian Taborda quite a bit in the midfield as well. And senior Jack Ruth can help at the 10 and up top.

Our front line should score goals as we return all of them in tack, and they were very good last year. Senior Ethan Young, University of Chicago at Loyola commit, will man the 9—he also was all everything as a junior and is a preseason all American this year. We attack predominately from our wing so senior Anthony Consuegra and junior Liam Ryan who bring so much to that attack coming back should spell trouble for our opponents. And knowing that sophomore Nathan Lebourveau and senior Max Leiker (a Rockhurst transfer) are both good enough to start on most any team are coming off the bench—well, that's gives us 5 legit scorers.

We will see some of the best teams in the area, firstly, just because we are in the EKL and secondly because we have Lee's Summit, Rockhurst, Blue Springs South, Kapaun and Carroll all on the schedule.

And we will return to The Great River Classic in Burlington to take on some of the top teams in the country. Peoria Notre Dame, Naperville North, Marquette, and Morton out of Chicago are just a few teams from our bracket.

The Staff also returns in tack with Coach Hammons entering year 29, BWhite, year 19, Juan Lluengo, year 9, Will Ragsdale, year 10, Eric Ewing, year 5 and, of course, Coach Ewing for year 35. We do add alum Travis Miller to our staff to work with our goalkeepers this year--that should be a bonus.

Now whether or not we can sustain are lofty preseason rankings (#4, #5) is another story. That's just part of who we are. The goal sitting in front of us is to bring home state title 18 and that will happen with a bit of fortune and us just being "who we are."

2022 All American Watch List

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