2025 BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW
 

CLASS 6A

2024 State champion: Shawnee Mission East

2024 State runner-up: Dodge City

2024 Review: Shawnee Mission East celebrated the program's first state championship as the Lancers (19-1-1) held off Dodge City for a 1-0 victory to hand the Red Demons their only loss of the season. East rode a 19-member senior class to the title as it allowed just eight goals on the year and none in the playoffs during the Lancers' 19-1-1 season. Brady Neuman's lone goal late in the first half proved to be the difference. Dodge City (20-1) came up one win short in its bid to become the only program in the state with three undefeated state championship seasons. The Red Demons had perfect seasons in 2016 and 2020. Washburn Rural finished third as it downed Shawnee Mission West in the third-place game, 3-1.

2025 Contenders: Shawnee Mission East will have to reload its roster after graduating 19 seniors a year ago, including the Sunflower League Midfielder of the Year (George Hartman) and Co-Defender (Chris Hastert) and Co-Goalkeeper of the Year (Lukas Lowry), but head coach James Kelly is looking to try and bring the Lancers back to the state tourney. Dodge City suffered its only loss of the season last year in the state championship game, but the Red Demons do return two of their three top goalscorers and assist leaders from a year ago in Rodrigo De La Cruz and Kevin Almendarez. The biggest loss is head coach Saul Hernandez, who is now the girls coach at Olathe West, after he built the program into one of the state's best over the past decade. Washburn Rural will try and take another step forward in 2025 as it tries to build off its back-to back third place finishes and won its 30^th straight Centennial League title. The Junior Blues return four all-league players from a year ago, including Centennial League player of the Year in forward Dylan Willingham and senior Brandon Hamilton, who also finished with double digit scoring. Draden Chooncharoen and defender Liam Morrison are also back to lead the Junior Blues. Shawnee Mission West nearly had rematch with Shawnee Mission East in the state championship, but lost a tough 1-0 contest to Dodge City in the semis. Although the Vikings lost several starters from a year ago, they do return a pair of all-league players in junior defender Manny Hernandez, along with senior goalie Luke DeAngelis, who has started all four years. They will try for their fourth straight state appearance. Blue Valley West lost a tough one to the Vikings in the state quarters in a match that ended in penalty kicks and the Jaguars are hopeful for another strong season. The Jags graduated 11 seniors last season, but have 11 players back, including senior midfielder Colsen Odgers and defender Finn Persaud, who are both returning all-league performers. Mill Valley finished 9-9 a year ago, but made a nice run into the state tournament, which included a regional championship overtime victory over Olathe North, before bowing out to the eventual champion. Mill Valley lost several starters from a year ago, but returns all-league first team All-Sunflower League defender Landon Vincent, who had 10 assists on the year. Liberal, who finished with a 13-4-1 record, lost a bulk of its key performers to graduation, including career goal scoring leader Suain Moncayo. The Redskins return centerback Joshua Garcia, a first team All-WAC selection, to lead their defense. Wichita East made a splash as it knocked off previously undefeated Wichita Southeast in double overtime of the regional championship to earn the program's third state tournament appearance in 2024. The Blue Aces return all-league defender Alejandro Valenzuela to lead East, while Southeast will try and rebound as they graduated six all-league players, but return an all-league defender Luundo Wamasakala and goalie David Mlendja.
 

CLASS 5A

2024 State champion: Blue Valley Southwest

2024 State runner-up: Maize South

2024 Review: For the fourth straight season, and the sixth time in the last seven years, Blue Valley Southwest and Maize South found themselves in the championship game. However, this time it was all Southwest. The Timberwolves completed a perfect season (21-0) under coach Erik Jones with a 7-0 victory over Maize South to win the 5A title. Southwest's Crew Alvarez led the way with a hat trick and gave him 89 career goals, which is the most in program history. Eli Mick, Alex Beeman, Bryden Liem also scored for the Timberwolves. Maize South ended its year with an 18-3 record and edged St. James Academy, 3-2, in the state semifinals. St. James ended its season with a victory as the Thunder blanked Salina South, 2-0, in the third-place match.

2025 Contenders: Defending champion Blue Valley Southwest might have lost the program's leading scorer in Crew Alvarez, but the Timberwolves return a core of players from last season's title team. One of those is senior forward Eli Mick, who broke the program's single season assist record and had 14 goals, along with first team all-league midfielder Dane Christensen. Southwest also returns a first team all-state defender in Aidan Buckneburg. After winning state titles in 2022 and 2023, Maize South will once again try to earn the top spot after losing a pair of first-team all-league players, but return forwards Skylur Staley and Aldo Acosta. Staley was a first team selection and the Ark Valley Chisolm Trail Co-MVP, while Acosta was second team. St. James Academy, which finished 14-7 last year and posted the best record in school history, will try and get back to state tournament, but will have to replace seven all-league selections overall. Senior defender Jaxon Wright returns to lead the Thunder. Spring Hill fell to St. James in the state quarterfinals, 3-2, and the Broncos will try to build off that 14-4-1 season in 2024. Junior attacking midfielder Aidan Odell will look to build off his 10 goal and 12 assist performance to lead a Bronco team that lost some key pieces, including first-team all-state striker Jake Rainforth. Salina South made it to the state semis last year with a 4-3 win over Valley Center and ended with a 17-4 record. The Cougars return a core of that group from a year ago, including a first team all-league defender in Damon McDonald, along with senior forward Rodrigo Palacios and midfielders Juan Escobedo and Adrian Lara-Castro who were second-team honorees. Palacios will look to take on a bulk of the scoring in the absence of the Co-MVP of the Ark-Valley Chisolm Trail in Rylan Snell, who was lost to graduation. As for Valley Center, the Hornets made their second straight trip to the state tournament after a 13-4-1 campaign and return seven key pieces from that team, including their leading scorer in junior Juan Diaz. Micah Martin, who was first team all-league in the midfield, is also after a strong sophomore season. Hays ended last season with a 10-9 record and earned its first state tourney berth since 2017. The Indians, who lost four all-league players to graduation, will be led by junior forward Ivan Maldonado, who is the team's top returning scorer.
 

CLASS 4-1A

2024 State champion: Wichita-Trinity Academy

2024 State runner-up: Rose Hill

2024 Review: Wichita Trinity Academy became the first state champion, not named Bishop Miege, in almost the last decade as Miege saw its string of eight straight championships come to an end. The Stags fell in the state semifinals with a 2-0 loss to Rose Hill. The Rockets nearly blasted their way to a state title, but Trinity outlasted Rose Hill in a 4-3 victory in the championship match. Trinity's Wyatt Afman scored three goals to lead the way in what was his freshman season, and Nolan Wilson added the other, as the Knights finished the year with a 17-4 record. Rose Hill put together an 18-2 mark on the season, including the upset of Miege in the semifinals. Baldwin, who fell to Trinity in the semifinals, knocked off Miege for the first time in program history to win the third-place match, 2-1.

2025 Contenders: After watching Bishop Miege's string of state titles come to an end, Wichita Trinity Academy is looking to start one of its own after winning in 2024. The Knights will be looking for their fourth title in program history and return a couple of key pieces from last season's state championship team. Trinity returns its leading scorer in sophomore Wyatt Afman who had 24 goals as a freshman, along with senior Landon Hale, who had 13 goals and 18 assists last season. Defensively, the Knights return senior centerback George Diefenderfer, who was an all-state player a year ago. As for Rose Hill, the Rockets will be out for revenge after a close loss in the state championship. They also bring back their two top scorers in juniors Brady Liebl (27) and Josh Herrera (18). Senior midfielder Jordy Kaba will also be a big factor the Rockets this season after he had six goals and nine assists a year ago. Baldwin, which finished third, returns its top scorer in senior forward Cooper Carr who broke the program's single season goal record with 30. The Bulldogs also return a pair of all-state defenders in Leo Schoenberger and Ethan Smasal. Miege has its eyes set on another state run as the Stags return their leading scorer in senior Wyatt Garr, who had 24 goals in 2024 and is closing in on the program's all-time record for goals scored. The Stags will also bring back midfielder Julian Salas, who was among the team leaders in assists. Wichita Classical pushed Rose Hill in the state quarterfinals in a 1-0 loss and will look to take that next step this season. The Saints return senior forward Kai Krieger who led the team with 21 goals a year ago, along with sophomore midfielder Charlie Ochs, who had nine assists on the season. Berean Academy will also look to get back to the state tournament after winning a regional title a year ago, before falling to Trinity in the quarterfinals. The Warriors return leading scorer in junior forward Mason Balzer, who had 16 goals in 2024, along with junior midfielders Wyatt Friesen and Jace Unruh. Kansas City Christian put together a successful 14-4-1 record last season with a regional championship, before falling to Miege in the quarterfinals. The Panthers return one of the team's top scorers in senior forward Justin Trott, who was a first team all-state selection, along with senior defender Hayden Beckley. Ottawa (12-5-2) knocked off Eudora in penalty kicks to win the regional championship. The Cyclones will return five players who started as freshmen last season, including goalie Cort Wilson, but lost two of their top scorers and defenders.