The varsity arena can be an intimidating one for the newcomer.
The athletes are bigger, stronger and faster. The competition is intense, and the crowds are larger than ever. It’s a stage that can make or break a player.
Luckily for many boys soccer squads in the Local.News1.org coverage area, there are plenty of battle-hardened athletes who have “been there and done that” returning to the pitch.
Waynesboro brings back plenty of talent from last season’s playoff squad, while backyard rival Greencastle-Antrim is aiming to bounce back from a losing season with a roster stocked with returners.
Fairfield, a squad that tasted a winning record last fall after claiming just two victories in 2023, is eager to prove its successful campaign was no fluke.
Not all squads are flush with experience. Just ask North Hagerstown, perhaps the best squad in the area last fall, which has numerous holes to fill after graduating a bulk of its 15-win team.
We’ll take a closer look at these teams and more in our preview capules for the 2025 season. Stick with Local.News1 in the days and weeks to come as we continue to preview the fall sports season before it kicks off later this month.
Below are team-by-team preview capsules for the seven boys soccer teams in the Local.News1 coverage area:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Corey Duesler
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 9-9-1, 6-7-1 division
Top projected returners: Jack Knepper (So., F), Alex Williams (Sr., Wing), Gilberto Cruz (Sr., Wing), Evan Drake (Sr., Wing), Michael Gearhart (Sr., Wing), Andres Velazquez (Sr., M), Jackson Sites (Sr., GK), Logan Kennedy (Sr., M), Landen Kennedy (Jr., D), Eric Knepper (Sr., D), Jude Rogers (Jr., Striker), Justus Walters (Jr., Wing)
Notable: Waynesboro is aiming for a return to trip to the District 3-4A Championships after grinding its way to the postseason last season … The Tribe will be led by forward Jack Knepper, who dazzled as a freshman on his way to a First Team selection on the Colonial Division All-Star squad … Knepper was one of four All-Star picks for the Tribe last fall, with the others being Gabe Blake, Eric Jacobs, and Julian Mencia, all of whom have been lost to graduation … Waynesboro returns plenty of others with varsity experience, including Alex Williams, Gilberto Cruz, Evan Drake, Michael Gearhart, Andres Velazquez, Jackson Sites, Stephanos Gladhill, Logan Kennedy, Eric Knepper, and Alfredo Velazquez … The Tribe will be angling to qualify for districts for the 17th time in program history.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at home for Waynesboro Kickoff Tournament
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Tim Carey
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: 5-12, 4-10 division
Top projected returners: Cooper Noblit (Sr., F), Nolan Sullivan (Jr., F), Joe Lofton (Sr., GK), Garrett Oberholzer (Sr., M), Mason DeVaughn (So., M), Evan Shaull (So., M), Ryan Kilcup (Sr., M), Biruk Facchina (Jr., M/D), Jesse Fye (Jr., M), Tayten Martin (Sr., D), Caleb Noll (Jr., Wing), Ethan Heinrichs (So., M), Jose Bautista (Jr., D), Logan Andou (So., D), Brian Marroquin (So., Striker), Blake Gilroy (Jr., Striker), Landon Koontz (So., Striker), Kaiden Ankerbrand (Sr., M), Adam Seylar (Sr., M), Nathan Cain (So., Wing), Jackson Harper (Sr., M), Jack Michalsky (Jr., M), Bryce Wilson (Jr., M), Blaine Martin (Jr., M), Collin Flynn (Jr., M), Calvin Divelbliss (Jr., M), Carter Kuykendall (So., GK)
Notable: After a losing season last fall, Greencastle-Antrim will be aiming to return to its form from 2023, when the squad went 15-1-2 … The Blue Devils graduated a handful of point-scorers in Eli Christophel, Caleb Fritz, and Liam Fulton, but Greencastle has reason to be optimistic as it returns a solid group on the pitch … The Blue Devils bring back a couple of Mid-Penn Colonial All-Stars in Cooper Noblit (Second Team) and Nolan Sullivan (Third Team), not to mention starting goalkeeper Joe Lofton … Greencastle will be looking to midfielders Garrett Oberholzer and Mason DeVaughn to help facilitate the offense … The top athletes on the team will be pushed by a deep roster of returning reserves … If all the pieces come together, the Blue Devils will be aiming to qualify for the District 3 postseason for the 19th time in program history.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at home vs. Hershey
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Corey Grove
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: 5-10-2, 3-7-2 division
Top projected returners: Izhais Jean (Sr.), Noah Mulewich (Sr.), Edwin Ramirez (Jr.), Tyson Shanholtz (Sr., GK), Eli Herbert (Sr., D), Adrian Barrientos (Sr., D), Noah Brena (Sr., D), Brandon Arana (Jr.), Adrian Olvera (Sr., D), Benny Interiano (Jr., F), Wilhelm Smith (Jr., D), Jayden Mendoza (So., M),
Notable: After making the District 3 playoffs for the 21st time in program history in 2023, Chambersburg finished outside of the playoff picture last fall … The Trojans will be aiming to rebound with a squad led by senior midfield player Izhais Jean, a Commonwealth Division First Team selection last season … Jean was one of three All-Star picks last fall, with the others being graduated midfielders Colton Hunsecker and Elvis Lopez … As the Trojans work to plug the holes in their lineup, expect them to build off an experienced defense that includes returners Eli Herbert, Adrian Barrientos, and Noah Brena, as well as goalkeeper Tyson Shanholtz … Projected returners Noah Mulewich and Edwin Ramirez-Morales each possess some offensive pop.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 23, at home vs. Manheim Township
Fairfield Knights
Coach: William Jenkins
Division: YAIAA III
Last season: 7-6-1, 6-5-1 divsion
Top projected returners: Michael Phelan (Jr., M/F), Jude Willock (Jr., GK), Collin Jones (So.), Kaylen Rhoads (So.), Ben Sharp (So.), Collin Putt (So.), Collin Harbaugh (Sr., D), Johnathan Wastler (Sr., M/D), Jeremy Talcott (Jr., M/F), Nathan Davis (Sr.), John Perez (Sr.), Joey Sharp (So.), Lucas Horrell (So.), Jacob Wehage (So.)
Notable: Fairfield took a large step forward last fall, rolling to a winning record after going 2-10 in 2023, with Knights’ skipper Brad Willock being named YAIAA III Coach of the Year … The squad will be looking to keep its momentum going this season, but instead under the guidance of new head coach William Jenkins … Fairfield has lost to graduation a trio of YAIAA First Teamers in midfielder Ciaran Phelan and defenders Brock Herb and Victor Garazo … The good news is the Knights are projected to return a Second Team selection in junior Michael Phelan, a slick-dribbling midfielder/forward, as well as starting goalkeeper Jude Willock … A laundry list of others with varsity experience return for Fairfield, which will be aiming to improve upon last season’s fourth-place finish in the division.
Opener: Tuesday, Aug. 26, at home vs. Littlestown
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Uriel Galvan
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 15-2-1
Top projected returners: Darius Geaman (Sr., GK), Cooper Byard (Jr., D), Hector Diaz (Jr.)
Notable: North Hagerstown had a season for the ages last fall, with the Hubs winning a 3A West Region I title for the first time in school history and advancing all the way to the state quarterfinals, where their campaign eventually came to an end with a 3-2 loss to Mount Hebron … Repeating the feat this season will be no easy task, as the team graduated a quartet of key players, most notably Drew Lobley, who led Washington County with 28 goals and 14 assists and was honored with selections to the All-CMC, All-County, All-Region, and All-State teams … Factor in the graduation of Bryson Rohrer, who posted 16 goals and six assists last season, and it’s clear that the Hubs will have some big shoes to fill on the front line … With less offensive pop, North Hagerstown will rely more heavily on the services of senior goalkeeper Darius Geaman, who was named Second Team All-State after pitching 13 shutouts and allowing just eight goals over 18 games … Geaman will be supported on the back line by junior defender Cooper Byard, who was an All-CMC Large School Honorable Mention selection last year.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 2, at home vs. Middletown
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: N/A
Classification: 3A West Region I
Last season: 1-11-3
Top projected returners: Jeremiah Acquah (Sr., GK), Leo Cruz Escobar (Sr.), Hazael Sanchez (So.), Taylor Alas Valenzuela (Jr., D), Randall Ortiz (Jr.), Trevor Rhodes (Jr.), Jefferey Robles (Sr., M), Armando Guandique (Jr., M/D), Juan Coreas Martinez (Jr., D), Ethan Erkin (Sr.), Melvin Augustin (Sr.)
Notable: The season is just weeks away, and South Hagerstown is still searching for a head coach to replace Josiah Norris … Once the Rebels find a coach to lead their program, the priority will shift toward rebuilding from last season’s one-win campaign … South Hagerstown, which scored 10 goals last season, graduated a couple of key players in defender Mikey Anderson and forward Billy Misse … Look for the Rebels to rally behind senior goalkeeper Jeremiah Acquah, who was an All-CMC Large School Honorable Mention last season … Leo Cruz Escobar brings some goal-scoring pop to the lineup, while Randall Ortiz, Jefferey Robles, Armando Guandique, Juan Coreas Martinez, and Melvin Augustin all have varsity experience and are projected to return to the pitch.
Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Catoctin
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Morgan Keplinger
Classification: 1A West Region
Last season: 0-12
Top projected returners: Trace Lingg (So., F), Brayden Burke (So., D), Jacob Nussear (Sr., D), Brentyn Ruck (Jr.), Franco Saavedra Young (So., D), Brayden McClure (Sr., D), Maximus Boumel (Jr., GK), Noah Shepley (Sr., GK), Gunnar Summers (Sr., F), Robert Mellott Meza (Sr.), Daniel Partlow (Sr.), Marlon Lazo (Jr., M), MacMillan Shuster (Jr.), Preston Coffman (Jr.)
Notable: The Leopards are aiming for some traction this fall after suffering a winless season in 2025, which culminated with a 3-1 loss to Clear Spring in the 1A West Region Quarterfinals … Smithsburg, which totaled 12 goals last year, will be feature a revamped lineup following the key graduations of Caden Herbert, Jack Krumpe, Tyler Miller, and Keagan Daughtridge … Three of those four players were defenders, so the Leopards will have to restructure their back line, and could possibly do so with experienced returners Brayden Burke, Brayden McClure, Daniel Partlow, and Jacob Nussear, a versatile player who posted three goals in a single game last fall … Forward Gunnar Summers is projected to return, as is midfield player Marlon Lazo and goalkeeper Noah Shepley, who recorded more than 50 saves last season.
Opener: Saturday, Aug. 30, at Clear Spring
