All four teams in the 37th District have won a 10th Region crown since the current alignment took shape in 2012, but Montgomery County has won it three of the past four seasons and could do it again this year.
In the 8th Region, no one outside the 29th District (comprised of the three high schools in Oldham County) has won it since the current format came about ten years ago. Simon Kenton Head Coach Jeremy Wolfe is optimistic that could change this year.
8th Region, 32nd District
Simon Kenton Pioneers
The Pioneers may have struggled to a 6-15-2 mark last year, but they still won the 32nd District Tournament crown. They drew South Oldham in the region quarterfinals and lost.
Wolfe returns eight starters from that team and saw only four seniors graduate. The top scorer from last year returns, junior forward Dominick Dornbusch, who had 11 goals and two assists for 24 points last year. Senior C.J. Neidenbach hopes to contribute, too.
“We have a lot of talent. We have good sophomore and junior classes and seniors to go along with them,” Wolfe said. “We have high hopes for this season. I like their chemistry. They like each other and they play well together. I think that’s the biggest aspect. Last year’s team was the same way and they carried it into this year. They motivate each other.”
The Pioneers are looking to several midfielders to control possession: senior Ayden Theobald, juniors Andrew Petty and Draven Dean, and sophomore Erick Herrera.
Senior Connor Sandusky and sophomore Cole Garnett return to anchor the defense. Junior Owen Thoerner will start at goalkeeper after seeing limited varsity action last year.
Simon Kenton opens the season Aug. 9 at home against Newport Central Catholic. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona Bearcats
Jeremy Riggs returns for his fifth season hoping to lead the Bearcats back to the 8th Region Tournament for the first time since 2013.
The Bearcats finished 12-7 last year and graduated three seniors from the team. One of the returning starters is third-year goalkeeper Sam Kunkle, who had 169 saves last year. Senior Carson Grizovic, junior Drew Howe and sophomore Dagen Turner are looking to make impacts as defenders.
The Bearcats return their top point-scorer from last year in senior forward Arif Ceylan, who had 14 goals and one assist for 29 points. Senior Mateo Mains could also make an impact at forward.
Walton-Verona is looking at three midfielders to control possession: juniors Tyler Wolfe, Logan Pronk and Mason Morwessel.
“These guys have been playing together since elementary, middle school,” Riggs said. “A lot of them play club together. We trust these guys. We’re going to put a ball here where no one is at because this guy will be there by the time the ball gets there.”
Walton-Verona opens the season Aug. 9 against Henry County at home. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
10th Region, 37th District
Bishop Brossart Mustangs
Ron Dunlevy takes over a Mustang squad that finished 14-7-2 claiming the 37th District Tournament crown for the second straight season and a third consecutive All “A” 10th Region championship.
Bishop Brossart received a bye to the 10th Region semifinals but eventual region champion Montgomery County knocked off the Mustangs, 2-1. The Mustangs last won the region in 2013.
“We’re a younger team so some of the guys that didn’t play a lot of varsity last year are going to have to pick up systems and roles that we want them to play,” Dunlevy said. “Fitness coming off the offseason and dead period is always an issue. The heat does not help us because it prevents us from working them hard to get them fit. But at this time of year, it’s about bringing everyone together and trying to form a cohesive unit.”
The Mustangs graduated seven seniors. Dunlevy and staff welcomed back senior goalkeeper Lucas Steffen who made 82 saves last year.
Junior midfielder Tyler Smith is also back. He led the Mustangs, scoring 18 goals and recording 19 assists for 55 points.
Bishop Brossart also returned two defenders in senior Colin Ratcliff and junior Carter Goodman. Dunlevy said the other positions are up for grabs.
The Mustangs play host to Conner on Aug. 9 to open the season. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Campbell County Camels
Campbell County graduated 13 seniors from last year’s district tournament runner-up team. The Camels lost 2-0 to George Rogers Clark in the 10th Region quarterfinals at Harrison County.
The Camels have one senior, 15 juniors and 13 sophomores on varsity this year. Junior Kaden Rose is the leading returning scorer after scoring three goals and recording five assists last year for 11 points.
Juniors Broc Sorgenfrei and Tate Glass could have big roles at the forward positions. Junior Noah Rittinger and sophomore Austin Bush are looking to contribute at forward or midfielder. Juniors Ethan Kaiser and James Besecker look to anchor the back line with junior Brycen Faulkner and sophomore Alexander Jenkins splitting halves at goalkeeper.
“They show up and they’re constantly asking how they can get better,” Newman said. “What more can they do? We just returned from an overnight camp at Lindsey Wilson College with more than one dozen programs represented. Our program had the highest numbers that attended. It was a good percentage of our team. We take great pride in developing these groups.”
The Camels open the season Aug. 9 at home against St. Henry. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Scott Eagles
Scott finished as state runner-up in 2014 but the Eagles haven’t returned to the 10th Region tournament since. The program even suffered through two winless seasons (2016, 2017).
First-year head coach Chris Rogers has been an assistant the last six years including the winless campaigns.
But the Eagles have two 10-win seasons in the last three years including a 10-8-1 mark last year that ended in a 1-0 loss to Campbell County in the 37th District semifinals. Scott graduated 11 seniors from that team.
Rogers has some nice pieces to build around starting with senior forward Carlos Marshall. Marshall scored 31 goals and tallied seven assists for 69 points last year.
Junior Aiden Taylor also returns for his third season as starting goalkeeper. He had 118 saves last year. Rogers expects junior Marshal Minor to anchor at defender. He also likes what he’s been seeing from three midfielders in seniors Sam Wynn, Ross Hobler and junior Ethan Rogers.
“It’s going to be more offensive production from our midfield,” Coach Rogers said when asked about keys to taking next steps. “We can’t just be reliant on Carlos. But he is definitely a key to us getting there. The leadership from the older group is phenomenal. The older group has the experience to help the younger group get through the tougher times.”
The Eagles open the season Aug. 9 at Beechwood. Game time is 8 p.m.
