Iowa City Regina continues boys’ state soccer success with newcomers, old and new

DES MOINES — As Iowa City Regina returned to Cownie Soccer Park with three straight state championships to the boys’ soccer program’s name, it did so with a lot of new faces.

Not all of them are freshmen and sophomores, though.

Senior Levi Quinlan made his state debut and scored the second goal of the game late in the first half in the No. 3-ranked Regals’ 3-0 Class 1A quarterfinal win over No. 12 Greene County on Tuesday.

“He just comes in and all he wants to do is be part of the team,” Regina Coach Rick Larew said. “He’s not asking to be a hero. He’s not asking for any sort of special privileges. He just comes and works hard, runs the sprints with everyone else and doesn’t make excuses when he makes mistakes.”

The midfielder already has state championship experience on Regina’s football team, alongside Alec Wick, The Gazette’s area offensive player of the year in 2020 who was the only returning starter for the soccer team this spring.

“Alec talked me into it,” Quinlan said of his decision to lace up his soccer boots for the first time since seventh grade. “Wanted to help him make a run for state.”

Quinlan has been watching the team as it won state titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019. It’s the 13th straight year Regina is at state, so he had high expectations.

“I know Regina has had a good couple state runs for soccer. Now I know what it’s like,” Quinlan said.

“I see why they’re always good.”

Until this season, Kaleab Wendy has been watching Regina’s success from the stands, too.

“I’ve been watching the team since seventh grade,” said Wendy, a freshman attacker. “I know how they play.”

Wendy has fit right in, scoring 17 goals and assisting on 10 others this season. He scored the opener Tuesday when he worked a 1-2 with Wick and dribbled into the box until he was nearly in the net himself in the sixth minute.

“We worked on it before,” Wendy said. “We studied (Greene County). I worked with Alec and other attacking players on 1-2s and shooting on goal. I wasn’t surprised.”

Wick, an all-state forward in 2019, scored Regina’s third to increase his team-high total to 30.

The Regals will meet a state tournament newcomer in Thursday’s semifinals, but not a typical debutant. Burlington Notre Dame/West Burlington is 21-1 and ranked No. 1. The Nikes blasted Waterloo Columbus 4-1 in the quarterfinals.