Boys soccer preview: The teams to beat and potential sleepers in Southwest Idaho
Idaho’s latest reclassification cycle leaves its largest mark on the Treasure Valley’s boys soccer scene.
Caldwell, Bishop Kelly and Ridgevue all moved up to the state’s largest classification, now called 6A. Middleton and Nampa dropped to the second division, now called 5A. And Emmett moved down to the new 4A Snake River Valley conference.
The end result is a record-setting 14 teams in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference while only five teams remain in a now wide-open 5A SIC.
So who will emerge atop the latest scramble, and who are the Treasure Valley’s top players to watch? We attempted to answer both questions below.
6A SIC
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 15-3-1, 10-1-1 5A SIC
Coach: Bill Taylor, eighth season
Players to watch: Rylan McPhearson, sr., F; Kevin Juarez, so., M; Gabe Hernandez, jr., M/W
Outlook: The reigning conference champ, district champ and state runner-up starts as the heavy favorite for more hardware, receiving eight out of 14 first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Eight starters return for the Grizzlies, including McPhearson, who scored 26 goals for conference and state player of the year honors. He remains a terror on the front line, but Juarez also returns to lock down the midfield after making the all-conference first team as a freshman. A potential concern lies on defense, where Rocky Mountain graduated two center backs and their goalkeeper after giving up just 18 goals last season.
2. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 18-2-2, 10-1-1 5A SIC
Coach: Adrian Kane, fourth season
Players to watch: Zach Taylor, sr., M/F; Kai Anitok, jr., F; Amuza Shanti, jr., M; Aidan Kearney, sr., D
Outlook: The Wolves made history last year, capturing their third straight state title, a first in Idaho’s top boys soccer classification in the IHSAA era. Timberline will gun for a fourth with five returning starters, including the all-class Gatorade player of the year. Taylor (21 goals, 10 assists) carried the Wolves at state, scoring all five of their goals, and remains one of Idaho’s most feared players. He, Shanti and junior Patrick Kane form a dynamic midfield that will work with Anitok (eight goals, eight assists) up top. But two goalkeepers, Channing Beck and Faustine Nyangere, will attempt to replace Bryce Elder, a rock-solid option in net.
3. BOISE
Last season: 16-4-2, 9-1-2 5A SIC
Coach: Mike Darrow, 24th season
Players to watch: Tucker Smith, sr., D; Baraka Dayi, sr., F; Travis Bartich, sr., GK; Confiance Ishimwe, jr., M/F
Outlook: The perennial power brings back six starters after taking third at state and second in the district tournament. That group includes three of its four defenders, creating another stout back line led by Smith, a three-year captain and a first-team all-state pick. Graduation cost Boise its leading scorer. But it returns one of the league’s top offense threats in Dayi (20 goals, 14 assists), another first-team all-state selection. He’ll pair with Ishimwe (eight goals, five assists) as an explosive duo up front.
4. BORAH
Last season: 10-6-4, 6-2-4 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Shields, second season
Players to watch: Rayle Juarez, sr., F; Christian Griffith, jr., GK; Isaac Alford, jr., D; Magnus Bell, sr., D
Outlook: A young Lions squad made the state tournament last year and returns nearly intact with 10 starters back. Borah will continue to build around two dominant center backs in Bell and Alford, who holds an offer from Washington State. Alford and Juarez (22 goals in two seasons) were both second-team all-state picks last year, and Griffith returns in net after playing every minute of every game since his freshman season. Borah also added a key transfer in former Mountain View midfielder Carter Rojas, a reigning first-team all-conference selection.
5. CALDWELL
Last season: 14-3-2, 10-0-2 4A SIC
Coach: Rhys Yeakley, 12th season
Players to watch: Fabian Arguello, sr., M; Horacio Hernandez, jr., GK; Walter Romero, so., M/W; Luis Alonso, so., M/W;
Outlook: The Cougars join the top division after a dominant run at the old 4A level that includes nine straight trips to state and three championships. Five starters return looking to prove Caldwell belongs in 6A, including Arguello (12 goals, seven assists), a four-year starter and two-time all-state pick. Look for him to coordinate the attack and pounce on any opportunities to join it. But he has plenty of weapons to work with on the wing in Romero (11 goals) and Alonso (nine goals, 11 assists), who both shined last fall as freshmen. Hernandez also returns in goal after leading Caldwell to an undefeated season in 2022.
6. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 16-3-3, 9-1-2 4A SIC
Coach: Eneko Bereziartua, third season
Players to watch: Justin McGrew, sr., GK; John Ciovacco, sr., W/F; Diego Nava, jr., F
Outlook: After finishing third at state and four straight trips to the state tournament in Idaho’s second division, Bishop Kelly chose to join the state’s top classification. The Knights enter the season in transition with just four returning starters, and one of their top returners, junior Jackson Stephens, joined Austin FC’s academy earlier this month. But the Knights still bring back a four-year starter in goal, McGrew, and 42 of their 75 goals from a year ago. Look for Ciovacco (19 goals, 11 assists) and Nava (nine goals, two assists) to regularly fill the stat sheet.
7. EAGLE
Last season: 12-7-3, 7-3-2 5A SIC
Coach: Austin Rogerson, first season
Players to watch: Walker Ybarrondo, sr., D; Lucas Boockholdt, sr., W; Adrian Ochoa, jr., D; Matt Macner, sr., F
Outlook: An offseason coaching change saw Rogerson join the team after leading Owyhee the past three seasons. He starts the season with plenty of returning talent from a state qualifier. Boockholdt (13 goals, two assists) returns as the Mustangs’ leading scorer and a second-team all-conference selection. He’ll pair with Macner to lead the attack, while Ybarrondo and Ochoa return to anchor the defense.
8. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 13-8-1, 8-3-1 5A SIC
Coach: Kevin Mayhugh, third season
Players to watch: Dylan Rayon, sr., D; Jackson Guinn, sr., D; Aiden Wendel-Kessinger, jr., M
Outlook: The Patriots made it to state last year. But six key returning players transferred out of the program, including their leading scorer and an all-state selection, leaving just three returning starters for Centennial to rebuild with. The Patriots will rely on their defense with Rayon returning as a captain and Guinn moving from midfield to the back line. But Centennial will need new talent to step into scoring roles to make another run to state.
9. OWYHEE
Last season: 5-9-3, 3-6-3 5A SIC
Coach: Darion Green, first season
Players to watch: Greyson Pew, jr., D; Jordan Shupe, jr., W; Easton Estes, sr., M; Graham Herzog, sr., W
Outlook: Boys soccer remains the last team sport at Owyhee looking to make its state tournament debut. The Storm bring back seven starters this fall trying to join the party, including two of its top offensive weapons in Shupe and Herzog. Green said Owyhee will field a potent attack with speed all over the field. But he cautioned that as a first-year coach, it will take time for the team to adjust to him, and for him to adjust to the team.
10. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 4-8-3, 3-7-2 5A SIC
Coach: Alex Saldaña, first season
Players to watch: Ryan Fugal, sr., D; Drew Brown, sr., F; Isaac Manning, sr., GK; Jace Obechain, jr., D
Outlook: The Mavericks begin a new era under Saldaña after missing the state tournament four years in a row. A strong defense led by Manning in goal, Fugal at center back, Obechain at outside back and a host of upperclassmen remains Mountain View’s calling card. A young midfield will need to step into varsity roles quickly to relieve pressure and to contend again. But Saldaña said the commitment he saw over the summer leaves him encouraged.
11. CAPITAL
Last season: 2-13-0, 2-10-0 5A SIC
Coach: Alex Erazo, fourth season
Players to watch: Parfait Niyonkuru, sr., M; Angel Ayala, sr., M; Mansoor Musuuke, sr., F; Miles Langhaim, sr., D
Outlook: The Eagles missed the eight-team district tournament each of the past two seasons. But with six returning starters and loads of multiyear varsity players, Capital has set its eyes on making the tournament again. Niyonkuru and Ayala anchor an experienced midfield, and Erazo said to watch out for Musuuke (four goals, two assists), who’s taken a big step after a strong club season.
12. MERIDIAN
Last season: 6-7-3, 4-5-3 5A SIC
Coach: Jake London, first season
Players to watch: Tanner Hislop, jr., M; Nathan Lynch, jr., M
Outlook: The Warriors put together their best season in decades last fall. But Meridian hits the reset button with just three returning starters and a new coach as it seeks its first state tournament berth since 2002. London said he expects Meridian to build off its upward trajectory with a young and talented group used to being overlooked. Lynch (six goals, six assists) steps into a larger role creating and finishing goals. But nine seniors graduated, leaving the Warriors with new faces all over the field.
13. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 5-9-4, 4-5-3 4A SIC
Coach: Rene Gutierrez, third season
Players to watch: Angel Escutia, jr., M; Peyton Gurney, sr., M; Felipe Galbier, sr., D/M; Levi Hernandez, fr., F
Outlook: The Warhawks join the state’s top classification with just two returning starters. Escutia (seven goals, 13 assists) provides Ridgevue with a three-year starter and an offensive weapon to build around. Gutierrez said the team’s chemistry and understanding have improved in his third year at the helm. But varsity experience remains in short supply beyond Escutia, and the Warhawks must replace their entire back line and goalkeeper.
14. KUNA
Last season: 1-11-4, 0-8-4 5A SIC
Coach: Brian Lee, first season
Players to watch: Christian Logan, sr., M; Sawyer Lee, sr., D; Jose Rangel, sr., M/F
Outlook: Lee takes over as the Kavemen’s third coach in the past four seasons, but he starts the season with an enviable amount of talent with 10 starters back. Seniors Robert Foster, Walter Hendricks and Kai Herrera will continue to rotate in goal, providing Kuna with flexibility. Climbing back up the standings, though, starts with finding more consistent offense after just 18 goals last season. Logan (nine goals, 11 assists) leads that charge as a central midfielder, but look for Rangel (three goals, four assists) to take on a larger role this year.
5A SIC
1. VALLIVUE
Last season: 11-5-3, 7-3-2 4A SIC
Coach: Christian Adamson, eighth season
Players to watch: Elijah Grimaldo, jr., M; Diego Rangel, sr., F; Marcos Madrigal, jr., M
Outlook: After falling one win shy of state for three straight years, the Falcons start as the favorite in the new 5A SIC, receiving three out of five first-place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll. Vallivue brings back seven starters looking to fill the power vacuum left by Caldwell’s and Bishop Kelly’s elevation to 6A. That list starts with Grimaldo, a first-team all-conference striker with 26 goals and 11 assists last season. He’ll pair with Rangel, a converted defender, to form a frightening duo on the front line. But Vallivue will need to shore up its defense early in the season with limited returning experience there.
2. COLUMBIA
Last season: 7-9-3, 4-6-2 4A SIC
Coach: David Duran-Arrendondo, third season
Players to watch: Jaime Gaona, sr., M/F; Diego Arredondo, jr., GK; Darey Negrete, jr., F
Outlook: The Wildcats went young last season. Now they get to reap the rewards with 10 returning starters as Columbia shoots for its first state tournament berth since 2010 and its first district championship. Gaona (21 goals, five assists) headlines the team once again as a three-time all-conference selection and an electric goal-scoring machine. Columbia added a second weapon with Negrete (15 goals, seven assists) transferring from Ridgevue. But it’ll need to fill a few key roles on defense to start collecting trophies.
3. MIDDLETON
Last season: 2-11-2, 2-8-2 5A SIC
Coach: Ben McCallister, second season
Players to watch: Evan Sumsion, sr., D; Tyler Robinson, sr., F; Ethan Blanes, jr., M/F; Jacob Kofoed, jr., M
Outlook: The Vikings took their lumps during two seasons in Idaho’s top division, posting a combined record of 4-23-3. But Middleton moves back down a classification with five returning starters looking for its first trip to state since 2018. Robinson (six goals) is back after leading the team in goals a year ago, and he’ll team up with Blanes and Kofoed to form a creative attacking third. McCallister said the Vikings continue to progress in his second season, but youth and a lack of size remain concerns.
4. SKYVIEW
Last season: 3-12-1, 2-9-1 4A SIC
Coach: Manuel Reynoso, 11th season
Players to watch: Emanuel Giron, so., F; Nino Loza, jr., M; Ryan Lungren, sr., M
Outlook: The Hawks bring back five starters as they seek their first state tournament berth since 2017. That group includes a strong attacking third with Skyview’s leader in goals (Giron) and assists (Loza) returning. Lungren adds another weapon as a backstop in the midfield. But limited turnout created limited depth, meaning those three will log tons of minutes.
5. NAMPA
Last season: 1-12-2, 1-10-1 5A SIC
Coach: Clifton Thomas, second season
Players to watch: Makai Venegas, jr., F; Jack Seabaugh, sr., M; Lucas Sprik, sr., GK
Outlook: The IHSAA allowed the long-struggling program to move down a level with 6A enrollment numbers. Now the Bulldogs will try to reverse their fortunes with 10 returning starters. Thomas said all that experience leaves Nampa more confident, organized and sure of its roles as it seeks its first trip to state since 2006. Venegas (five goals) headlines an attack with multiple options while Seabaugh remains the metronome in the middle, keeping everyone connected.
