SOLON — The varsity Spartans graduated six seniors -Lewis Sutton, Garret Swan, Nate Shafer, Ian Ressler, Brody Cash, and Zeb Kleinsmith from last year’s squad, which went 6-10 overall and 2-7 in the WaMaC East. Sutton, a midfielder, made one goal and four assists and earned All-Conference Second Team honors. Swan, a defender, started 13 of 14 matches last season with one shot on-goal. Shafer, a midfielder and defender, produced two goals and made two assists earning WaMaC Recognition. Ressler, a forward, made one goal and was a starter in five of 11 matches. Cash, a keeper and defender, had one start and played in two matches. Kleinsmith, a defender and forward, made one goal and two assists.
Coach Eyasu Russell with assistant Alex Proehl has six seniors in the line-up this season – Josiah Hale, Bryan Petrie, Braden Haugland, Eli Freerks, Ethan Melloy, and Daniel Tearse. Hale scored two goals last season in 15 matches and was a starter in 14. He was a First Team All-Conference selectee. Petrie was a starter in all 14 matches he played in last season with four shots on the season. Freerks led the Spartans with 15 goals last season and four assists earning Second Team All-Conference honors. Tearse played in ten matches with one shot.
Four juniors – Zander Stookey, Evan Burg, Coy Ohaver, and Evzen Meza are on the roster. Stookey is the squad’s keeper with 480 minutes in the goal last year for 73 saves and 39 goals allowed. He received WaMaC Recognition. Burg was a starter in a dozen of the 15 matches he played in with five shots total and two on-goal. Six sophomores – Caden Mai, Tucker Spence, Parker Mergen, Antonin Guitton, Rene Meza, and Ryan Locke add experience to the team. Mai produced two goals with a dozen starts in 15 varsity matches last year. Spence made two goals with one assist with five starts in 15 varsity matches. Locke made one assist in ten varsity matches.
Rounding out the roster are freshmen Elliott Sutton and Collin Mckie.
Solon’s season ended in the postseason with a Class 2A Substate 5 second round loss to No. 1-seeded Assumption Catholic in Davenport. The No. 4-seeded Spartans won their first-round match at home 2-1 against Mount Pleasant.
Upcoming events
Following a home scrimmage last Thursday against Tipton the regular season opened Tuesday with a visit from Regina Catholic (Iowa City). The Spartans will host a triangular Saturday, March 30 with Clinton and West Branch starting at 8:30 a.m. Mount Vernon visits Tuesday, April 2 with a 7:30 p.m. start following the varsity girls’ match. The Spartans travel to Marion Friday, April 5 with a 5:00 p.m. varsity start and JV to follow.
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Junior keeper Zander Stookey (at right) keeps a watchful eye as freshman Elliott Sutton (8) and sophomore Tucker Spence (10) attempt to get the ball out of the box during a varsity scrimmage match last Thursday at home against Tipton.