Iowa high school boys’ soccer 2023: Gazette area players and teams to watch

Here are some of the top Gazette area players and teams to watch entering the 2023 Iowa high school boys’ soccer season.

Players to watch

Calen Claypool, sr., Marion — All-state honorable mention was second among Class 2A goalkeepers with a 92.2 save percentage.

Andre Fuentes, sr., North Fayette Valley — The midfield string-puller for a Class 1A state qualifier totaled 15 goals and 15 assists and was named first-team all-state.

Diego Hernandez, sr., West Liberty — A Class 1A all-tournament midfielder last season as the Comets advanced to the state semifinals.

Lwings Kabula, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy — Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division Player of the Year was an all-state honorable mention in Class 3A.

Jackson Kirsch, sr., Marion — Drake University signee returned from injury with a bang last season, leading all classes with 55 goals for a state qualifier. Class 2A first-team all-state.

Gavin Lewis, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — Top returner in goals (12) and assists (11) from a team that reached the Class 3A state semifinals. All-state honorable mention and first-team All-MVC Mississippi.

Jadon Lingren, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, sr. — All-state honorable mention midfielder in Class 3A last season and first-team All-MVC Valley.

Michael Nelson, sr. Iowa City West — Set the school record with 30 goals last season for a Class 3A state tournament team. Named second-team all-state.

Aiden Neumann, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — An all-state honorable mention in Class 3A. He made 13 saves in a state quarterfinal shutout last year, the program’s first win at state.

Dylan Schwarz, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — Named to the Class 3A all-tournament team for his work in the midfield as the Hawks advanced to the state semifinals for the first time.

Kaleab Wendy, jr., Iowa City West — Brings another attacking threat to the Trojans after leading Class 1A substate finalist Iowa City Regina with 15 goals last season.

Kaleb White, sr., North Fayette Valley — Led a Class 1A state qualifier with 29 goals last season and received all-state honorable mention.

Teams to watch

Cedar Rapids Prairie — The Hawks made their state semifinal breakthrough last spring in their fifth tournament appearance since 2015. Four players who received all-conference honors return to a squad that will compete in the new Class 4A.

Iowa City High — A team that has lost by a goal in the substate finals each of the last two years. All-MVC midfielder Emmit Hansen is a returning captain.

Iowa City Liberty — Ranked No. 1 at one point last season, the Lightning came up a goal shy of the state tournament and remain in a smaller Class 3A this season. Matt Harding takes over as head coach after recording nine straight winning seasons with the Clear Creek Amana girls.

Iowa City West — A program that has been to the state tournament a record 22 times in the last 25 seasons is a team to watch by default. The Trojans, last year’s Class 3A No. 3 seed at state, will be in the new Class 4A this spring.

Marion — Five All-Wamac selections are back from a 16-2 team that advanced to the Class 2A state quarterfinals. The Wolves, now in a new-look 3A, have been to state four of the last five seasons.

North Fayette Valley — In three varsity seasons, the TigerHawks have been to two state tournaments. NFV had only three seniors last year and remains in 1A.

River Valley Conference — Let’s group these teams together, as the RVC is sponsoring soccer for the first time this spring and should feature an intriguing race. West Liberty has been to the state semifinals each of the last three seasons. Iowa City Regina’s 13-year state tournament streak was snapped last year. Dyersville Beckman moves in from the Wamac, looking to reload after reaching the state semifinals. Mid-Prairie (now in 2A), was ranked No. 1 at one point last year. West Branch has been a program on the rise, going 24-5 the last two years.

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com