Holy Cross is the only team to be able to unseat Covington Catholic in the 35th District since it was formed in 2012, doing so in 2019 when they were able to claim the district title.
But since 2012, it’s been all Colonels for 10 out of the 11 years when it aligned with the current set of teams. But a rising Beechwood team and a more competitive Holmes team should make for some more parity in the 35th District this season.
Covington Catholic (12-11-1 in 2022)
The Colonels have made five straight 9th Region title games, winning a 9th Region championship in 2021. With nine seniors graduating, they’ll have their work cut out for a sixth straight trip.
Helping offset the departures will be forwards Andrew Roland and Aiden Leach, Roland leading the team with 12 goals last season while Leach tied for second on the team with 11 goals and tied for the team lead with eight assists. Roland and Leach will help head an attack that led the 9th Region in goals scored as a team last season with 69.
Cole Hubert will be the captain in the midfield while Lucas Short and Auggie Eilerman will compete for the keeper spot. Tanner Robertson will help man the back line of defense.
“We have players that are pushing other players during training sessions not only to just compete as individuals, but compete as a team,” Colonels coach Jeremy Robertson said.
Another stacked schedule will have the Colonels ready for when it matters most…early to mid-October. They play 7th Region powers Trinity (Aug. 12) and St. Xavier (Aug. 19) and take on reigning 9th Region champ Ryle on Aug. 24.
Beechwood (10-10-1 in 2022)
Since implementing the soccer program in 2015, Beechwood has yet to finish above .500, but took a step toward doing so in 2022 under first year coach Zachary Young. The Tigers went 10-10-1 last season, winning five in a row down the stretch before losses to Covington Catholic in the district championship and St. Henry in the first round of the 9th Region tournament.
The Tigers played in a lot of low scoring games last season, 10 of the 21 having a combined three goals or less in them. The low scores show in the total scoring for the season, Beechwood scoring 42 goals on the year and surrendering 43.
They’ll need to find scoring replacements for two of their top five goal scorers last season, Andrew Goodwin and Jared Aguilar departed due to graduation. Breaden Trejo, Andric Aguilar and Cole Bishop are the returning leading goalscorers, with six and the latter two with four, respectively.
Isaac Cardosi is a player to watch this year according to Young while Warner Platt recorded 139 saves in 21 games with seven shutouts last season in his freshman year.
“These players are the ones that will stick out to any team that they are special. Their work ethic, soccer IQ and overall quality are just exceptional,” Young said. “But we know we have many special players who will sneak up on teams and be remembered after the contest.”
The Tigers won the 9th Region All “A” title in 2021 and the goal is to get the top spot back after a tight 2-1 loss to St. Henry in the first round last year. They’ll also look for their first 35th District title in program history and a return trip to the 9th Region tournament for a third straight season.
“This program is establishing the same mindset of the other exceptional programs Beechwood is known for,” Young said. “We believe last season proved this, and moving forward the rest of the region know it’s going to be a game.”
Beechwood will get a glimpse of where they’re at right away with Highlands (Aug. 10) and Ryle (Aug. 15) out of the gate on the schedule. They get Newport Central Catholic in the first round of the 9th Region All “A” tournament on Aug. 24 and close the season at Covington Catholic on Sept. 30.
Holy Cross (7-11-3 in 2022)
After making the 9th Region tournament for four straight seasons from 2017-20, the Indians have missed out since, losing to Beechwood in the 35th District semifinals the past two seasons.
Sitting at 7-6-1, the Indians went 0-5-2 down the stretch to finish 7-11-3 in 2022 with six graduating. They return seven seniors who have come into practice competing at a high level to not duplicate the past.
“This group of seniors enjoy competing against and with one another,” Indians coach Dave Groneck said. “That competitive nature will be fun to watch this season.
Two of the top three goal scorers return in Nico Voight and Logan Brunk while Gabriel Reed, Brady Reusch and Will Fisk will be some others to watch, Groneck said.
Groneck enters his 16th year as head coach of the program. The Indians open their season Aug. 8 at Boone County.
Holmes (4-15-1 in 2022)
The Bulldogs celebrate their 40th year as a program this season and hope to build off a 4-15-1 campaign in Austin Gullett’s first season as coach.
They graduated eight seniors, but return their top two scorers in Colton Anness and Max Tafoya along with keeper Miguel Kennedy who finished seventh in the state with 293 saves last season. Tafoya led the team in assists and Dalton Blevins is making the switch from midfield to center back to anchor the defense.
“Last season as a first year coach was a learning year for us and this year I’m excited to see where we can go,” Gullett said.
Stringing together a full 80 minutes is one of the team’s goals towards making progression.
“Last season there were too many times we would play a competitive 40 minutes, but would have let downs in the second half,” Gullett said. “Having a better mental approach when preparing for a match will help with that.”
The Bulldogs will celebrate the 40th anniversary on Alumni Night on Sept. 7 against crosstown rival Holy Cross.