FHS boys soccer to have 'growing pains,' but expectations don't change

The names and the faces change year to year. But the tradition and the consistency of the program do not, and that is a denominator Findlay High boys soccer coach Kevin Shenise is banking on this season. "We've always had that next-man-up mentality, and this year we will test that," Shenise said as he prepares for his fifth season as FHS head coach. "We've got a lot of young guys who have a lot of experience, but not necessarily at the varsity level. But they have talent, so we'll see if they can answer the bell when the bell rings, if they can answer the whistle in game one against a team like Anthony Wayne that's been a power in Northwest Ohio for the last 10 years or so. "We'll have some growing pains in the beginning. But we have that next-man-up mentality. That's what we're preach. That's what we're going with, and I have the utmost confidence these guys will get it done." Findlay enters the 2022 season with, unofficially, 593 career wins since Albert Laux initiated the varsity program in 1976. That win total would rank Findlay as the fifth winningest program in Ohio prep soccer history. Graduation hit the Trojans hard, however, costing the program 12 players who helped Findlay go 14-5-1 and reach the Division I regional finals in 2020, and 10-4-5 with a district final appearance a year ago. Headlining that list of losses was Andrew Allsop, a two-time all-Ohio player and last year's Three Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Allsop scored a team-high 30 goals last season. Four other all-league players graduated, first-team defender Ryan Shindeldecker, second-team defender Payton Hildebrand and second-team midfielder Haden Harris. Ethan Ernst, another defender who received honorable mention all-TRAC honors, also graduated, along with goalies Zach Gremlin and Andrew Sorg. Shenise does have some talented veterans back, though, especially in the midfield area with the return of junior Joe Gerardi, a first-team all-TRAC pick in 2021. "We have to replace our leading goal scorer (Allsop) and we're counting on Joe for that," Shenise said. "This year, though, I think we'll be doing that more by committee than relying on a single individual." That committee will include seniors Mike Kennard, Arda Dastan and Jadyn Barney, junior Lewis Warner and sophomore Adrian Stechschulte. Kennard (broken leg), Barney (MCL) and Lewis all missed part or all of the 2021 season with injury. Shenise is looking forward to having the group back on the pitch, especially Lewis. "He probably has the best skill set on the team. He's a silky smooth player," Shenise said. "He spent a lot of time playing in the Columbus Crews Academy system down in Columbus. We're fortunate to have him, and excited about all those guys coming back." Shenise knows replacing a player of Allsop's skills is a rarity. But his depth of midfielders this season creates opportunities. "One of the nice things is the flexibility of our players up top," he said. "I can play three or four guys in three or four different positions, giving us opportunities to attack from different areas. The last couple of years we had that with Carson Dale and Andrew (Allsop) and last year with Andrew and Joe (Gerardi). "When you can move players around like that, it's tremendous . It's awesome to have that flexibility." Heading into the 2022 season, defense is Shenise's primary concern. "Defensively, we're replacing the whole back line. Ryan Shindeldecker , Payton Hildebrand, Ethan Ernst, Davis Sprague … Those guys had a high level of experience and most were all-league," he said. Senior Owen Clevenger returns as the most experienced defensive player from a Findlay team that averaged 3.4 goals and allowed just 1.5 in 19 games last season. "We've always been able to score, but we kind of have to change our mentality to defense first this season," Shenise said. "We allowed only 28 goals last season. We have to do that again. We've got to be stout, we've got to sell out, we've got to be all-out when it comes to defense. "We're still melding that (defensive) group a little bit, but I think we'll get there." Epitomizing Findlay's youthful trend, which will likely see as many as seven sophomores and freshmen on the varsity roster, is the Trojans situation in goal. Xochiel Galvan, a senior, would have been Findlay's most experienced goalie, but he will be out of action until, possibly, late in the season. That leaves the keeper duties up to two freshmen, Wes Nelson and David Roberts. "Right now they will be playing JV halves and varsity halves and just getting experience until one maybe emerges as the leader," Shenise said. "It's a tough leap for a ninth-grader to do, especially with the schedule we play. I think Jon Runion (697 career saves, 1998-2001) was the last player to start in goal as a freshman, and that's been awhile." Findlay's youth will tested from the get-go with the Trojans hosting Anthony Wayne in their season opener on Aug, 18, and a week later facing Sylvania Southview, the team that edged them 4-3 in last year's district final. "We're not easing into the season. We have to be ready to go from game one," Shenise said. "We're probably going to have some growing pains in the beginning, but we'll have a different look by the end of the season. The maturity will be there. I think we'll be okay." 2022 FHS BOYS SOCCER SCHEDULE Aug. 18 Anthony Wayne at Findlay, 7 Aug. 25 Sylvania Southview at Findlay, 7 Aug. 27 Findlay at Ashland, 1 Aug. 30 Findlay at Fremont Ross (TRAC), 5 Sept. 1 Ottawa Hills at Findlay, 7 Sept. 3 Findlay at Wooster, noon Sept. 6 Findlay at Toledo Whitmer (TRAC), 7 Sept. 8 Findlay at Perrysburg, 7:15 Sept. 10 Cin. Summit Country Day at Findlay, 2 Sept. 13 Toledo St. John's at Findlay (TRAC), 7 Sept. 15 Findlay at Springfield, 7 Sept. 20 Oregon Clay at Findlay (TRAC), 7 Sept. 27 Findlay at Toledo Central Catholic (TRAC), 7 Oct. 4 Findlay at Toledo St. Francis (TRAC), 7 Oct. 6 Findlay at Sylvania Northview, 7 Oct. 11 Lima Senior at Findlay (TRAC), 7 2022 VARSITY ROSTER SENIORS: Owen Clevenger, Arda Dastan, Michael Kennard, Jadyn Barney, Seth Franks, Levi Ernst, Jack Kinn. JUNIORS: Joe Gerardi, Lewis Warner, Graham Sprague. SOPHOMORES: Adrian Stechschulte, Eli Pinion, Aiden McCord, Chris Huff, Ethan Humm. FRESHMEN: Wes Nelson, David Roberts. COACHES: Kevin Shenise, Matt Feczer.