State’s Deepest District will be Stacked Again
By Perry Swack
14th District Boys Preview
Bowling Green Purples
Coach: Craig Widener, 14th Season (2005-2015, 2021-Present)
2022 Record: 19-3
Won 14th District
Won 4th Region
State Semifinalist
Losing 9-10 starters from a final four team would mean a rebuild for most programs; however, the Bowling Green Purples are no ordinary program. The reigning 14th District and 4th Region champions have no desire to start from scratch after a run to the state semifinals in 2022. Coach Craig Widener will return only five players with extended varsity minutes. Among those is senior keeper Jackson Rodgers. “Jackson had some huge moments last year,” said Widener. “He is turning into an excellent leader and working hard to help the defenders in front of him understand what we are trying to do.” Rodgers made 54 saves and only allowed 20 goals in 19 games a season ago. “It’s really nice to have that on-field coach!” added Widener. “I’m extremely thankful we have him.”
Having won two state championships and eight region championships in 13 seasons at the helm, there always seems to be sky-high expectations for the Bowling Green program under Widener. The winningest coach in KY state history is able to take those expectations in stride. “The only expectations we really place on ourselves are that we will show up and work as hard as we can, every single minute we are together,” he said. “The two big things we can control are how hard we work (effort) and how we approach that work (attitude).”
The Purples will also return striker Aison Manivong (five goals, one assist) and midfielder Braden Widener (four goals, ten assists) to the lineup, along with fullback Cameron Kiastapour (five assists). “All of them will have to step up of course, but we lost 9-10 starters. I’m as interested as everyone else in seeing how this team comes together. It’s another year where we are handing out name tags with all the new faces!”
Watch Out For
Senior Elvin Menjivar. The midfielder saw action in 20 games a season ago and will be relied upon to provide consistency in the middle of the park for BG.
Circle the Date
August 19 – The Purples travel to Marshall County to play both Marshall County and Trinity on the same day. It will be a unique experience for a team to have two, tough tests on the road in a span of 6-7 hours.
Greenwood Gators
Coach: Eric Bowers, First Season
2022 Record: 11-11-2
14th District Runner-Up
4th Region Runner-Up
First-year head coach Eric Bowers will make his debut with the Gators on August 8 when the club welcomes 2nd Region champion Madisonville-North Hopkins to The Swamp. However, it won’t be the first time Bowers has donned the green and gold. The 2009 graduate played goalkeeper for the Gators and was the program’s JV coach for the last two seasons. Greenwood hopes the continuity of Bowers as head coach will carry over onto the pitch where the team is coming off its first 4th Region Tournament appearance in ten years.
Leading goal scorer Andy Alfaro returns to the lineup after scoring 18 goals and notching five assists, as does Carlos Hercules and his six goal-eight assist season in 2022. “I have seen dedication, effort, and leadership from Andy and Carlos,” analyzed Bowers. “They – and the rest of my seniors – are taking charge of the team and holding each other accountable. I am seeing them become fantastic young men on and off the pitch.” Seniors Boe Reh and Dylan Goad return after scoring a combined nine goals and assisting on nine others.
Watch Out For
Juniors Maung Hsa and Johan Cung who were both noted (among others) by Bowers as expected contributors for the Gators this season. Hsa scored twice and assisted on four goals in ‘22.
Circle the Dates
The entire month of August. The Bowers Era at GHS starts out with a gauntlet of teams, including five region champions from 2022. The other two games? Just road games at perennial state stalwarts Warren Central and South Warren. “I made a point to schedule difficult games all around,” noted Bowers. “We have a team that needs to compete, and I want to give them every opportunity for that.” The Gators will certainly be tested come October.
Warren Central Dragons
Coach: Aaron Ray, 11th Season
2022 Record: 14-4-1
From 2017 to 2021, Warren Central won four district championships and two region titles. The Dragons even reached the state semifinals in 2017. Although the program failed to reach the region tournament in 2022, it still went 4-2 in district play and clinched the 1-seed in the 14th.
The Dragons return a trio of sophomore stars to the lineup, including forwards Mzaliwa Noel and Peter Thang. Noel scored twelve goals and assisted on five more, while Thang scored nine and tallied three assists in 2022. Goalkeeper Almian Sakanovic also returns after allowing only ten goals over the course of the entire season. Coach Aaron Ray’s club graduated twelve seniors but return many important pieces that project a successful 2023 run.
Watch Out For
Senior Byaunda Elombelo. The attacking player scored seven goals and logged six assists a season ago and will again play a major role for the Dragons.
Circle the Date
August 8 – The Dragons host the region champs (Bowling Green) in the season opener for both teams. The two teams split in ‘22 as WC won at home (3-0) and lost on the road (3-2).
South Warren Spartans
Coach: Tom Alexander, 14th Season
2022 Record: 10-6-2
South Warren’s streak of eight-consecutive trips to the 4th Region Tournament ended last season, but the Spartans believe with the talent they are returning, a new streak can begin. Coach Tom Alexander returns for a fourteenth season and is still the only coach in program history. We always set our expectations high,” said Alexander. “Our goals every year are to get out of the district, win the region, and see how far we can get in the state tournament. I have been very fortunate to have a job teaching and coaching at South Warren. South is such a special place for me.” It’s hard to argue with the success the program has experienced under Alexander. Four region championships, two district titles, and a berth in the state finals in 2020.
Experience plays a major role in high school soccer, especially at the highest level. The Spartans will have ten seniors on their 2023 roster, including midfielder Leo Kogetsu and defender Logan Palmquist who both featured in the ‘20 state finals. “Leo Kogetsu will lead our attack this year,” Alexander said. “He knows what the expectations are for him and he embraces any challenge we have for him.” Palmquist will lead a backline with Jackson Lewis and Blake Bere. “These three have lots of experience and have been excellent working with our younger players.”
South replaces goalkeeper Aiden Peerce but has junior Braxton McCoy in line to hopefully fill his shoes. McCoy played sporadically a season ago and “did great when he was in,” Alexander added. “He will be our starter this year and he has really worked hard to get to the position he is in now.”
Watch Out For
Senior midfielder Parker Jhamb. Jhamb impressed coaches in the preseason and is expected to play a major role in the middle of the park for the Spartans in ‘23.
Circle the Date
September 2 – South Warren will participate in the Purples Classic at Bowling Green, doing battle with Marshall County at 11:00 AM and state runner-up St. Xavier at 5:00 PM. It will be these kinds of tests that prepare the Spartans for the intense matchups against District 14 competition.
