“I like the work rate and attitude of the players,” Reedy said. “They seem to want to prove that they can have a successful season.”
The Comets ran through a perfect 2015 before falling in the state semifinals, going 19-1-2, claiming the Greater Miami Conference, sectional, district and regional titles along the way.
However, the Comets lost five first team All-GMC selections, all playing in college now. Bryce Curran (Xavier), Gary Zhao (University of Chicago), Evan Couchot (Endicott University) Drew Grisham (Transylvania University) and Jacob Petrey (Northern Kentucky) have all departed.
But the Comets return second team All-GMC selections Joseph Grimes, who has committed to the Air Force Academy, Max Mitchell and Danny Loehr.
“We will have a lot of first-time varsity players on our roster this season who will need to contribute if the team is to reach its goals,” Reedy said.
Among those goals is to defend the GMC crown as preparation for making another deep run in the tournament.
Reedy, though, knows claiming the GMC crown will not be easy.
“The GMC should be extremely competitive this year with several teams capable of winning the league including Lakota West, Sycamore, Lakota East and hopefully Mason,” Reedy said. “Our season expectations always begin with the goal of trying to win the GMC. This year’s team will have to steadily improve in order for that to happen.”
Lebanon reloading: Coming off a record run, Lebanon coach Stephen Jaynes knows a repeat will be tough but not impossible.
The Warriors, behind a solid senior class, finished 12-3-3 before falling in the district finals to Sycamore.
“Our expectations are high as usual,” Jaynes said. “While we did lose eight seniors, three of whom are continuing their careers at the college level, we want to compete for a league championship and compete with the best schools in Cincinnati in the postseason.”
Lebanon does return second team All-GWOC South Division Alex Narog as well as three-year starter Jacob Brunka.
Add in freshman Cole Leverage and the Warriors continue to reload.
Jaynes has seen some up and down days in the preseason as all the new pieces get used to playing at the varsity level and the group adjusts to playing without eight key pieces.
“With a lot of new faces this season there have been growing pains,” Jaynes said. “We played well in a scrimmage against Lakota West but then struggled against Walnut Hills.”
The up days will have to come together quickly as Lebanon has a non-conference schedule that includes Beavercreek and Centerville as well as Mason, Loveland and Carroll.
“I’d be surprised if anybody else in Dayton has a harder schedule than us,” Jaynes said.
Panthers blending: Little Miami enters the season with a new target on its back.
The Panthers finished 4-1 in the Southwestern Ohio Conference to claim their first title en route to going 10-3-1.
But all new faces will be making the run to try and defend the title after 10 starters graduated, including both keepers.
“Our expectations are always to be highly competitive, more so this year as defending SWOC Champs,” coach Kyle Smiddy said. “The SWOC is always a challenging conference and it gets stronger every year.”
Little Miami does have some key components back in defender Jake Grubb along with midfielders Josh Maile, Jesse Grubb and John Valentine.
Sophomores Zach Day, Aiden McReynolds and Gerrin Hoffman make the move up to varsity.
Even with all the new faces, Smiddy has been pleased with what he has seen throughout the preseason.
“We’re blending together very well,” Smiddy said.
Kings experienced: Knights coach Erik Poggi sees a lot of positives.
Kings, coming off a 9-7-2 mark, returns the bulk of its team and expects that experience will translate into more success.
“We have 16 returning players so one of our expectations is to compete at a higher level inside our league than we have in years past,” Poggi said. “We are gunning for our first league title in 12 years and hope to surprise a few teams along the way.”
The Knights’ experience starts with two-time All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference selection Foster Martin and first team pick Rey Canteria.
Logan Gray is back after being named second team while Jared Doll was honorable mention.
Nico Melton, a junior transfer from Germany, and sophomore Fredy Martiniez, from El Salvador, give the Knights more weapons.
“This group of boys is special,” Poggi said. “They work hard each day and push each other to their max. It is a close-knit group that will pay dividends as the season progresses.”
Turpin, Walnut Hills and Anderson look to challenge Kings for the ECC title.
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