The Press-Dispatch
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D-4 Fall Sports Preview Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The Press-Dispatch Pictured above is the 2018-19 Pike Central High School boys' soccer team. They are, first row, left to right: Shane Morson, Hunter Capehart, Garrett Boyd, Brayden Furman, Coleman Henson, Noah Whann, Ethan Scott, Reece Ashley, Paxton Thorne, Samuel Henson and Connor Young. Second row: Caleb Les- ter, Jersey Mills, Hunter Mosby, Jacob Vest, Austin Holder, Austin Dixon, Christian Benson, Hayden Kabrick, Connor Gaines, Andrew Clark, Sammy Ballard, Jaden Montgomery and Devin Carlisle. Not pictured: Gabe Caldwell, Carson Johnson and Alfredo Stewart. Ed Cahill photo BOYS' SOCCER Charger kickers looking to score PAC, sectional titles By Ed Cahill Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net The Pike Central High School boys' soc- cer team lost nine seniors from last year's squad that went 15 -3-1 while winning the program's first-ever Pocket Athletic Con- ference title – one season after claiming the program's first-ever sectional title. Kyson Western, who signed this past spring to continue his playing career at Kentucky Wesleyan College, was named the PAC's Player of the Year after leading the Chargers with 32 goals and 22 assists. Meanwhile, Gavin Boyd (6 goals), Brey- ton Booker (10 goals, 7 assists) and goal- ie Tyler Tormohlen (13 goals allowed in 19 games, including none in seven PAC con- tests) joined him on the All-PAC team and Cameron Henson (3 goals, 3 assists) and Tyler Meadors (7 goals, 2 assists) both re- ceived honorable mention. Also graduating were Briar Meadors (2 goals, 1 assist), Kaleb Claridge (2 assists) and Quade Claridge (1 goal, 2 assists). Combined, last year's seniors netted 61 of the team's 74 goals while leading the Char- gers to 15 wins for the second straight sea- son. In addition, Chad Western stepped down as Pike Central's head coach after compil- ing a win-loss-tie record of 41-11-4 over the last three seasons, turning the reins over to his son, Jacob Western, who has served as his father's assistant coach for those same three years. "I've got big shoes to fill, yeah, for sure, but I think the success we've had the last few years is really going to help the under- classmen," Jacob Western said. "Not a lot of these kids have gotten to play varsity. We're seeing a lot of competition in practice, so I think that success is really going to help us." The Chargers have just two returning starters – senior Hayden Kabrick and ju- nior Ethan Scott. Jacob Western described Kabrick as "one of the best possession guys on the team." "His first touch is so close to him every time," Jacob Western said. "We've really asked him to have more of a scoring role so far this summer, and that's really some- thing that's going to be good for us. He's a kid that we're going to rely on to be a lead- er for us." Last season, Scott received All-PAC hon- orable mention after netting six goals and dishing out 20 assists. "We're going to be asking him to score 15 to 20 goals this year, and then also try to get those 20 assists or so," Jacob Western said. "So he's going to have the ball on his foot a lot, trying to make things happen for us." Also returning are three players that saw action on the varsity squad last year – se- niors Christian Benson, Austin Holder and Jacob Vest – all of whom are expected to play big roles this season. "Christian is a kid that could have been a starter the last couple of years if he's play- ing on another team," Jacob Western said of Benson, who dished out two assists as a junior. "We're going to ask him to play de- fense when we need to be defensive and ask him to play offense when we need to score a goal. So he's going to do a little bit of every- thing for us. He's really been a good leader." "Austin has started in the past when we've had injuries, on a wing," Jacob Western said of Holder, who had five goals and four as- sists last season. "He's going to be a strik- er for us this year. He's one of the quickest guys I've ever seen, and were going to ask him to score a lot of goals for us." "Jacob is another guy that's came off the bench," Jacob Western said of Vest, who had one goal and two assists last season. "One- on-one, he's about as talented as you can be, and we're going to ask him to send in a ton of crosses from the wing, try to get 15 or so assists, 10 or so goals. He's a very cre- ative player." Junior Noah Whann will have big shoes of his own to fill this season as Tormohlen's successor at goalie. In limited playing time last year, Whann allowed just one goal and made five saves in 52 minutes of action. "He hasn't gotten a lot of varsity experi- ence, but he's been around," Jacob Western said. "He got to play in the Gibson South- ern (penalty kick) game and didn't give up a goal. But he's been really, really good this summer. He's ready to get behind that de- fense and lead us in goal. He's the best lead- er we have, so I'm excited for him to be in the goal." "He's stepping in for Tyler, who was the conference goalie two times, with numer- ous shutouts," Jacob Western added. "He's learned from him. He's a little bit different of a keeper, a little more vocal, but he's go- ing to be good." In addition, Jacob Western said, seniors Austin Dixon and Connor Gaines will be starting for the Chargers for the first time on the varsity level. "Austin took a year off his sophomore year, came back last year and was one of our better jayvee players, and he's going to be starting somewhere in back for us," Ja- cob Western said. "He's got a really good left foot, he's very fast, and he's able to get up and down that sideline to create chanc- es for us." "Connor is probably the most likable kid on the team," Jacob Western continued. "He's a great leader. He does everything I say, and is always talking to players. He's going to be playing somewhere in the mid- field for us." Also expected to see action as a starter for the first time are juniors Gabe Caldwell and Carson Johnson. "Gabe's looking to start out of the mid- field," Jacob Western said. "He's probably our most improved player from last year. He's a totally different player than he was, and his possession game is really excellent." Johnson, Jacob Western noted, moved to Pike County last year from Wood Memori- al and was unable to play. "He is physically one of the best players we've had in the past few years," Jacob West- ern said. "On corners, set pieces, he's going to be up, trying to put it away with his head, and he's got a real knack for that." Another returning player, junior Jersey Mills, had knee surgery this past May but is expected to be given the green light to re- sume soccer activities within the next week or so, Jacob Western said. "We'll be getting him back, and he'll be playing somewhere in the defense," Jacob Western said. "He's really going to change our team when we get him back." Also expected to see a lot of action are sophomores Garrett Boyd, Connor Young and Hunter Capehart, Jacob Western said. "Garrett and Connor can play about any- where on the field, which is really valuable to have," he said. "We're going to be ask- ing them to play defense, midfield, offense, whatever it is." "Hunter's got real ability to create chanc- es out on the wing, so he'll be playing some- where up top, creating chances for us," Ja- cob Western added. Two freshmen who are showing promise, according to Jacob Western, are Devin Car- lisle and Shane Morson. "They've been playing for us over the summer in the scrimmages," Jacob West- ern said. "Their motor is really, really good, and they've got something to prove. They're going to give us a nice spark off the bench." Among those expected to see extensive playing time on the junior varsity level are juniors Andrew Clark, Coleman Henson, Sam Henson, Paxton Knies, Jaden Mont- gomery and Alfredo Stewart; sophomores Reece Ashley and Sammy Ballard; and freshmen Caleb Lester and Hunter Mosby. "Our jayvee's actually been pretty good the past few years," Jacob Western said. "That's something we're trying to keep that reputation for. They know when the shot is theirs, to come in and be on that varsity – whether it's for five minutes or 20 minutes, whatever it is – to play hard." Jacob Western noted that the Chargers' defensive line will feature four new starters as well as a new starter in goal. "All five in the back are going to be new for us this year, but they're hungry," Jacob Western said. "I think our team speed over- all might be faster this year than we were last year. We have a lot of speed, so we're go- ing to try to take advantage of that." "I think, defensively, we should still be very strong," he added. "In five summer games this year, we gave up one goal." Jacob Western said that he also felt that the Chargers would be able to field a strong offense as well. "We're not going to have somebody that scores 35, 40 goals in a season, but I think See SOCCER on page D-11 *No annual fee. Annual percentage rate is accurate as of 8/10/18 and applies to new Home Equity accounts. 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Board-Certified in Orthodontics for children, adolescents and adults Appointments Monday-Thursday 812-254-4500 2116 State Street, Washington www.lanahelms.com I've got big shoes to fill, yeah, for sure, but I think the success we've had the last few years is really going to help the under- classmen. Not a lot of these kids have gotten to play varsity. We're seeing a lot of competition in practice, so I think that success is really going to help us." -Coach Jacob Western