Wichita’s best 50 boys soccer players: Meet the area’s biggest game-changers in 2020
The Kansas high school boys soccer season starts Friday.
Although the status for Wichita Public Schools remains up in the air, many programs in the Wichita area are ready to roll and some of the best players in the state are primed to shine again.
Here are 50 players to watch for in the Wichita area this fall:
1. Ivan Quezada, Wichita East, FWD, Sr.*
If Quezada is allowed to play this season, he has a chance to go down as one of the best players in City League history. He led the league in goals again last year with 33. He earned first team All-State honors in Class 6A and All-Metro honors for a second time.
2. Raul Gerhardus, Maize South, FWD, Sr.
Gerharus was one of two underclassmen to earn All-Metro honors last season. After fighting through a potentially life-threatening seizure late in the season, he returned to lead the Mavericks to a second straight state championship game. He scored 33 goals last season.
3. Landon Eskridge, Maize South, FWD, Sr.
Eskridge was a hair away from making the All-Metro team last year. His value to Maize South is equal with Gerhardus. Eskridge scored 20 goals and had an amazing 16 assists last year, which, with a year still to play, already put as the school’s all-time leader with 36 assists in his career.
4. Monty Almaliky, Wichita Heights, MID, Jr.*
Stricken with injuries late in the season, Almaliky wasn’t able to show Kansas his best late in the season when Heights went on its postseason run. Almaliky will be hoping the COVID-19 virus won’t take more playing time away as he is one of the most skillful players in Kansas.
5. Hunter Salinas, Eisenhower, DEF, Jr.
Salinas is a new-age outside back. With pace down the flank, a beautiful right foot and even a scoring touch around the box, he is a threat on both ends of the field. Eisenhower lost a few big names from last year’s title-contending team, so Salinas will be key.
6. Carlos Vidrio, Eisenhower, DEF, Sr.
Like Salinas, Vidrio is going to be one of Eisenhower’s most valuable players. The Tigers’ defense will be stout with both of them at the back. Vidrio offers up a wealth of experience that the Tigers leaned on last season as they finished third in Class 5A.
7. Hasaan Alamood, Campus, FWD, Sr.
Alamood has been banging in goals at Campus for years now. The Colts have gone through a bit of a resurrection over the past few years, but Alamood has been a bit of a role player. 2020 is his year to take control of the team.
8. Corey Gleason, Eisenhower, MID, Sr.
With a pair of outstanding defenders behind him, Gleason’s presence in the midfield is going to be wildly important for Eisenhower this season. He is the metronome that will keep the Tigers moving forward.
9. Adam Dyer, Maize South, MID, Sr.
Dyer comes into his junior season with already two championship game starts under his belt. A creative midfielder with a rocket of a shot, he, like Gleason at Eisenhower, will set the pace for the Mavs this season.
10. Cem Worpel, Andover, DEF, Sr.
Worpel has been a staple of Andover soccer for year. A rising player in the club ranks, Worpel’s strength and speed make him one of the best defenders, but he is also one of the best leaders in the Wichita area.
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11. Carson Arndt, Wichita Northwest, MID, Sr.*
12. Aiden Albers, Bishop Carroll, DEF, Sr.
13. Calixtro Gutierrez, Wichita East, FWD, Sr.*
14. Andy Nam, Maize, FWD, Jr.
15. Isaac Iseman, Bishop Carroll, DEF, Sr.
16. Cody Achilles, McPherson, DEF, Sr.
17. Evan Jensen, Wichita Heights, DEF, Sr.*
18. Faisal Arshad, Wichita Heights, FWD, Sr.*
19. Sebastian Vizcarra, Bishop Carroll, FWD, Jr.
20. Alaa Alamood, Campus, MID, Jr.
21. Mikey Valasquez, Newton, MID, Sr.
22. Jared Cromly, Andover Central, MID, Jr.
23. Zack Pappan, Maize, DEF, So.
24. Tanner Prophet, Maize, MID, Sr.
25. Max Shea, Maize, MID, Sr.
26. Anthony Orocio, Augusta, MID, Sr.
27. Leo Wurth, Andover Central, FWD, Jr.
28. Seth Lewis, Andover, MID, Jr.
29. Payton Ball, Augusta, FWD, Jr.
30. Caden Spooner, Andover Central, FWD, Sr.
31. Grant Davis, Andover Central, DEF, Sr.
32. Bergen Loveless, Bishop Carroll, MID, Jr.
33. Wyatt Pankratz, Augusta, DEF, Sr.
34. Oliver Jaberg, Maize South, DEF, Jr.
35. Brandon Bumgarner, Andover Central, GK, Jr.
36. Ethan Cary, Trinity Academy, DEF, Jr.
37. Elijah Harbin, Wichita North, FWD, Sr.*
38. Alec Hinojos, Campus, MID, Sr.
39. Seth Barclay, Trinity Academy, FWD, Sr.
40. Allessandro Sosa, Campus, GK, Sr.
41. Landon Green, Trinity Academy, FWD, Jr.
42. Vitor Geromel, Maize South, MID, Fr.
43. Matt McDaniel, Trinity Academy, DEF, Jr.
44. Cade Martin, Valley Center, MID, Jr.
45. Santiago Fernandez, Newton, FWD, Sr.
46. Eddy Rachedi, Wichita Southeast, GK, Jr.*
47. Jeffrey Ju, Valley Center, FWD, Sr.
48. Alex Sanchez-Cortinas, Newton, DEF, Sr.
49. Connor Inlow, Wichita Southeast, MID, Jr.*
50. Ben Dixon, Trinity Academy, DEF, Jr.
*: Players compete in USD 259, Wichita Public Schools, whose season had been canceled as of Wednesday.
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 3:06 PM.