Wichita North boys soccer eyes City League crown behind midfield standouts
The Wichita North boys soccer team knows exactly what it’s chasing this fall, and it believes it has the pieces to make it happen.
After winning 10 games last season but falling in a Class 6A regional championship, North opens the season Friday at South with its sights set on a City League title, something the program last claimed in 2021.
Head coach Curt Wullschleger believes the blueprint is already in place.
“That was a special group and I see a lot of those same qualities in this group this year,” Wullschleger said. “We’re excited to hopefully follow that same path.”
If North is going to get back to the top of the always-competitive City League, the central midfield pairing of junior Jose Anima and senior Gus Bielefeld will likely be the engine.
Anima, the breakout star of 2024 with a team-best 17 goals and 11 assists, brings flair, vision and creativity. There have been a handful of truly dynamic players at North during Wullschleger’s time — Anima might top the list.
“The kid is everywhere, all at once, all of the time,” Wullschleger said. “He runs down every ball. And he’s so creative when he gets on it. He sees things that other players don’t see and is quick enough to get there and make it happen. He loves setting up teammates for goals. He’s a true playmaker and great teammate.”
Bielefeld, meanwhile, has been North’s steadying presence for years, doing the dirty work in multiple roles on the field. Now both will anchor the midfield — Anima pushing forward in attack, Bielefeld offering defensive balance — but each willing to cover the entire field when needed.
“They are such a joy to coach and they make my job easy,” Wullschleger said. “I just try to put them in positions so they can be successful and challenge them every day in training. They are just workhorses. They’re creative, tough, smart. They communicate well. So those two in tandem together, it’s going to be fun to watch.”
North has plenty of senior leadership and depth in its attack with players like Jairo Mandujano-Lopez, Juan Ramirez, Omar Ibarra, Fabian Banuelos and Kevin Gallegos. Anchoring the defense is three-year starter Erick Gaspar at goalkeeper.
In a league where every game demands a team’s best to stay in the title hunt, North believes it has the right mix to contend.
“We just need to pay attention to the details, find the right combination of players with chemistry and have it all balance out so we can be attacking but also sound defensively,” Wullschleger said. “If we do those things, then we’re going to compete for a City League title.”
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM.
.jpg)