IAC BOYS SOCCER: WAVERLY COACH BELIEVES WOLVERINES HAVE INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS IN 2022 (2022-08-30)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly boys soccer coach Eric Ryck believes the Wolverines have all the ingredients to be successful in 2022.

“We’re young, we’re athletic, and we’re skilled,” he said. “Out of the 15 on our roster, 13 are good players, and the other two will improve as we go along.

“We have some depth on the bench to be able to help out the position players who will be running a ton,” he noted. “We can actually sub this year, and not feel like we’re punching holes in our line-up.

“One of our strengths is a detriment in practice, but will help us in games is how tight our core group of juniors is. Those guys are really, really tight, and they play together all year long.

“They communicate without talking when the ball is in our possession, and defending as well,” added Ryck. “It makes it easier to fill in around them, and keep things moving smoothly.

One concern for Ryck is replacing four-year starter in goal Cameron McIsaac.

Jon Searles, Tyler Mitchell, and Aiden Doherty are currently vying for time in the net.

“We have three keepers to choose from this year, and they’ll all probably see some time in net this year,” said Ryck. “All three played well in our scrimmage.

Sam Knight and Nehemiah Anthony will anchor Waverly’s defense at center-backs in its 4-5-1, with Tyler Mitchell, Andrew Larrabee, Porter Dadonna, Logan Roskow, and Zack Morant vying for time at outside backs.

“I think our inexperience in goal is a concern,” said Ryck. “I don’t think you’re going to see the spectacular saves, or the 30-save games that Cam (McIsaac) had … our goal keeper is a question because they are new — they don’t have a ton of time in the goal.

“I think our organization defensively is a concern as well, but that’s something we can cure as we move throughout,” he noted.

We have to make sure our center-backs — Sam (Knight) and Nehemiah (Anthony) — become leaders back there and run the show in that backline and keep things organized, so we’re not allowing  easy chances on our goalkeepers,” added Ryck.

Charlie Larrabee, senior Sheldon Huddleston, and Peyton Robinson will man the center-mid spots.

“Those three in the middle are inter-changeable, they work well together,” said Ryck. “They’re good with the ball at their feet, are very composed, and exactly what we need in the middle of the field to run and distribute in our offensive attack.

Ethan Gorsline will start at left-wing and Alex Emanuel will start on the right side, but Andrew Larrabee and others not playing at outside back could see time on the win.

Junior Griff Schillmoeller will start at forward.

“(Schillmoeller) has a nose for the goal,” said Ryck. “He scored 20 goals last year, and we’re hoping to put him in a position to score even more this year.”

Ryck sees the middle of the field as a big strength for the Wolverines.

“I’m pretty confident with the center of our field, from Griff (Schillmoeller) all the way back to Sam (Knight) and Nehemiah (Anthony),” he said. “We’re younger on the outside, but those positions where we have a lot of players to move around and allow each of them to grow throughout the season and improve.”

AROUND IAC: “Just like every year, the (IAC) has the perennial powers in Lansing and Trumansburg — those teams are always good,” said Ryck. “Dryden is well-coached, and Newfield really came on last year. Their coaches have done a great job, and are really building a program there.

The game we really have to learn how to win, the team we need to figure out how to beat is Spencer-VanEtten / Candor. They’re the ones standing in the way of us winning a division title.

“I don’t know exactly what’s going on at Notre Dame. I’ve heard they have a bunch of kids from Brazil who are going to play,” noted Ryck. “They are a wild card.

“I thought out division was between us and SVEC, but Notre Dame could throw a wrench in the works, depending on what they come out with,” he added.

Waverly opens the 2022 season Wednesday at Lansing.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly’s Griff Schillmoeller.