Collin Hershberger helps elevate Newton boys soccer team to Kansas high school elite
The superb play of senior midfielder Collin Hershberger has elevated the Newton High boys soccer teams to one of the top contenders in Class 5A this season.
Hershberger broke the program record for most goals in a season last year with 20 netted, but he’s improved his play even more in his final season with the Railers. Not only is he scoring at the same pace, he’s not upping his assists for a Newton team that won 10 of its first 11 games.
“I like to call him our Michael Jordan,” Newton coach Scott Jantzi said. “He’s our motor, our captain, the one who brings everybody together and makes everybody better. He’s really having a phenomenal season for us and doing it on both ends.”
Hershberger was an all-state midfielder last season and has been a standout player on a strong Kansas Rush Wichita club team for years.
Hershberger, who has signed to play college soccer at Fort Hays State, also uses his talents to serve as the football team’s kicker on Friday nights.
“He’s the guy that other teams will scout and try to take away, but he just moves so much on the field that it’s hard to track him,” Jantzi said. “His pace is phenomenal and he changes the game as soon as he steps on the field for us. The way he reads the game and how he’s able to bring his teammates together.”
Surrounded by a strong senior class and a handful of promising young talent, Hershberger is leading the way for what is shaping up to be a memorable season for Newton. Following Thursday’s season finale at Hutchinson, the Railers figure to be a top seed for next week’s Class 5A regionals.
Newton also has standout seniors in Jesus Renteria, Eduardo Lopez-Garcia and Ezra Entz, while underclassmen Chris Abrego, Victor Medina, Jonathan Galvin, Juan-Pablo Salgado, Enrique Mercado-Arellano and Abram Wall have also contributed to the team’s success this season.
“This is a really special team,” Jantz said. “We have a good combination of older guys and younger players and I give a lot of credit to the Newton soccer club here in town. We’re getting more and more kids that are coming to us with club experience now and really knowing the game. That’s helped us turn teams around faster and makes it easier for us at the high school level.”
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