By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
West Plains finished 2019 with an 8-14 record and a semifinal loss in district play to Lebanon. Highlights included a third place finish in the Lebanon Tournament and the Zizzers’ second win in program history over a talented Rolla team.
“We are looking to build the program to even higher levels this season,” said head coach Justin Frazier, entering his fourth year in charge. “We had a setback last season in terms of wins and losses, but we made great improvements as a team in the style of soccer we want to play.”
The team will carry on without six of their eleven varsity starters from last year’s team, including all-conference and all-district Tommy Keller and Jakoby Hansmann. Keller was a four-year starter and two-year team captain covering multiple positions.
Three seniors will be key pieces for the Zizzer attack plan: Daegen Green, Nate Thomas, and Sam Pietroburgo. “All three will be called on as forwards for the majority of the time, and all three have great speed and a knack to score,” said Coach Frazier.
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“Thomas will also see time as a central midfielder,” added Frazier. “He is always willing to take players on and is always looking to score. Daegen is probably our fastest player and can really stretch opposing defenses with his speed. Sam always seems to be in the right place at the right time and never quits on a play.”
The junior class is loaded with returning talent. Will Jones starts his second season as goalkeeper and classmate Ethan Keller returns to anchor the defense as a center back.
Brayden Wall and Noah Denton will assist in defense alongside Micah Mattsfield, who will also assist at the goal. Quinn Curtis and Mina Giurguis will take over the outside midfield positions.
Junior Landon Casey will “look to be a catalyst that the offense runs through in the central midfield,” said Frazier. “He is a high motor player who has improved both in skill and confidence in the offseason.”
Cole Shipley and Caleb Christopher are the returning sophomores for the team. “Cole is one of those players who is not afraid to go up against players twice his size and never backs down,” said Coach Frazier. He will return to start as center defender. Caleb will also seek varsity minutes as a defender.
The team will welcome a large group of incoming freshmen, helping to make up for the graduation losses. This crew includes Karmi Lopez, Dagan Joiner, Jose Ayala, Josiah Legler, and Milas Thompson.
Coach Frazier expects his group to be competitive and to seek chances to win, and they also want to outwork their opponents. “We are going to take the preseason and try to get our conditioning to the highest level,” he said. “The Zizzers’ goal remains winning a district championship and continuing in postseason play. We will have to be a more complete team and rely on everyone working hard and playing as a team after losing so many starters. The boys have been working hard this summer and are looking forward to getting the season underway.”
West Plains kicks off their season at the Lebanon tournament on August 28.
