IAC BOYS SOCCER: FIRST-YEAR TIOGA COACH EXCITED TO GET 2025 SEASON UDERWAY (2025-08-26)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — First-year Tioga boys soccer coach Donnie Van Dusen is hoping his team's hard work, positivity, and communication will pay dividends in 2025.

Both (assistant coach) John (Pipher) and I, as well as the kids, are excited to see what is to come this season," said VanDusen.

"I think we have three good senior leaders who everyday help the younger kids as much as they can and encourage them to fix mistakes, but also pick them up when those mistakes are made," he noted. "I think with this positivity we can go into the season with some hunger and hopefully it plays out for us. 

"Overall, John and I are super excited to be in this position to coach a great group of kids throughout this season and can't wait to get into some games," noted VanDusen. "Hopefully see the hard work these kids have put in pay off.

"I have told the kids our ultimate goal is to work hard to be better than yesterday," he added. "Another goal of this team is to put together some wins and, hopefully, let it fall into place at the end of the season."

David Van Dusen will start at keeper for the Tigers in 2025, with Jed Decker serving as back up.

Decker, Caden Rapp, Alan Seaberg, Skylar Nelson, Damian DiRose and Cayden Fuller are all competing for time in the defensive backfield.

Kyler Roberts, Brady Landmesser, Jace Schanbacher, and Colin Wilson will start in the midfield.

James Miller will start at forward, with Matthew Martin likely to see time there as well.

Van Dusen believes his upper classmen — Miller, Van Dusen, and Landmesser — are players to keep an eye on this season.

Van Dusen expects Wilson and Roberts to make an impact as newcomers this season.

The rookie coach sees a definite strength in his team in the early-going.

"I think the biggest strength is the on-going communication," he said. "The team seems very connected through these communication efforts and I hope that it grows throughout the season."

Getting his young players use to the varsity game will be a big key, says VanDusen.

"Right now, I think the big concern is meshing the young talent into the speed of the game, and meshing the team together play-wise as many of these kids haven't played much as one unit," he noted. "It will take a little time to get on the same page." 

Tioga opens the 2025 season Wednesday at home against Marathon.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Brady Landmesser. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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