By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
No coach wants to finish at 2-17, but Panther soccer coach Chuy Loera had a young team in a difficult league last year. Most of the squad returns for Great Bend High School this fall, and Loera is ready to look beyond last year.
"We all have energy and we're ready to go," he said. "The expectation is, if we can get around the .500 range, maybe a game or two over, I think that's a pretty good turnaround for us to get us back to where we want to be. Returning experience and returning numbers and depth, I think it's going to put us in a good position to take us to the next level, and that's to compete in every game."
Part of the struggle last year with underclassmen was simple youth: smaller and slower bodies compared to some of the older teams in the Western Athletic Conference and in Class 5A. This year, the Panthers get that bit of growth along with some added mental aspects of the game.
"We were able to put in some work in the offseason," Loera said. "The learning part of the game is going to be huge for us, at least learning the roles in the formation, where to move and where to shift. I think that's what we focused on mostly was the knowledge of it. Along with their natural growth and speed that they're going to increase in, that knowledge is really going to boost us."
Loera will be working with a large roster in 2023. He said the varsity side feature should feature 15 or 16 players at the varsity level, double the number from a year ago. In all, 46 players will fill out varsity and junior varsity rosters. Many of the players played in some 20 summer-league games in the offseason.
"There's no shortage of reps," said Loera. "It's just a matter of putting the pieces together for this year's puzzle and going from there."
One key returner this fall is senior Ramiro Rocha at forward. He's earned a spot on KSHSAA's Top-25 Players to Watch in Class 5A list.
"He's a 16-year-old senior, so he's on the young side for a senior," Loera said. "For as young as he is, just the level of play he can bring and his leadership ability to lead these guys, he doesn't always have to be a vocal leader but just lead by example. I think he does a really good job of that."
Senior Gus Alvarado returns at midfield after helping captain the squad last year. Senior Pedro Enriquez will head the defensive side. Other seniors include Mario Enriquez at keeper, Marcos Castanon, Angelo Breitenbach, Diego Sanchez, and Jaden Hartshorn on defense, and Jonathan Lira in the midfield.
The squad unofficially opened the season on Tuesday with a Jamboree in Salina against South, Central, and Hays. The Panthers open the season on Aug. 31 at Liberal. As much as the players have at stake, Loera is just a pair of wins shy of becoming the all-time wins leader at GBHS.
"Coach Aldo (Rodriguez) and I have been coaching together all eight years I've been here," said Loera. "I think that will be great for us to get, but really, we want more than two wins."