(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list photo credit as well.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
Michigan Soccer Network Web and Content Editor and Director of News Dan Stickradt scouts the schools No. 41 through No. 50 in our third annual Super 50 Boys Soccer Teams. Games through Sept. 5 were considered and three rounds of preseason surveys were issued in August asking for coaches’ input from across the state.
41. DEARBORN FORDSON (12-8-1): The Tractors are a program that has been substantially better over the past decade than in their past. This year Fordson is working on its defensive end, as they scored 58 goals last season but conceded 48 goals and only posted four shutouts. Fordson is off to a 4-1-2 start with a 26-6- scoring edge and three shutouts, signaling some mass improvements on the defensive end. The team finished second in the KLAA-East Division last season before losing in the Division 1 district semifinals to Detroit U-D Jesuit (2-1). Seniors Omar Faraj (M, All-State Third Team) and Basher Orthman (F/M, All-State First Team) are polished players with both earning All-League and All-State honors last season. Fellow seniors Hadi Saad (M/D, All-League First Team), Hassan Tlays (CB/F), Isaac Hazamy (F/CB), Yacoub Al-Hassan (F/M), and Hanafi Elboraei (CB/M) are all experienced players. Sophomore Quasi Almahwat (G), senior Rayan Ghadlieh (G/D), junior Medsi Alhasnawi (M) also return. Another huge arrival that has helped elevate this team is senior Mahmoud Mido Assi (CB/F), who spent the last couple of years with the Michigan Wolves MLS Next Academy.
42. KALAMAZOO LOY-NORRIX (10-7-1): Since veteran Scott Forrester took over Loy-Norrix a few years ago, the program has conducted a nice turnaround. Last year, the Knights won 10 games, outscored their foes 39-33 with four shutouts and were tied for fourth in a very deep Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. This year, Loy-Norrix and Mattawan may be Portage Central’s biggest challengers for the SMAC crown. The Knights are 6-1-0 to start the season, scoring 30 goals while conceding only five and posting four shutouts in the first couple of weeks. Senior Sam Schnell (M, All-League First Team, All-District) is a fourth-year standout who is being courted by Hope College and Kalamazoo College and is off to a fine start. Seniors Brody Adalbert (G, All-League Honorable Mention), Mario Asbeury (M, All-District, All-League First Team), Jonathan Pile (M, All-League First Team) and Luke Fried (D, All-League Honorable Mention) all earned various types of postseason honors. Seniors Christian Vargas (F), Jonathan Lara (M), Tony Castillo-Gyllstrom (M), Owen Nichol (F), Anelka Faria (F), Matthew Kelly (D), Abubakr Quismzoda (D), Bryan Vera (D) and Oscar Markovich (F) are the other seniors that are part of a large class. There are also three juniors, three sophomores and three freshman on this roster who hope to become nice depth pieces this year. Loy-Norrix has at least five students who are playing in-state or out-of-state at one of several MLS Next Academy organizations in the Midwest.
43. WATERFORD KETTERING (5-13-2): The Captains broke into the Division 2 state rankings this season behind a sterling start and one of the best starts in program history. That is significant since Kettering had not been ranked in the state since briefly during the 1999 campaign up in Division 1. A year ago, the Captains’ sailing was not smooth, as they finished dead last in the Lakes Valley Conference and were knocked out in the pre-district round of the Division 2 state tournament. This year, Kettering is 9-1-0 to start and engaged in a dogfight for the conference title as it tries to attempt the rarity in sports by going last to first. Part of this year’s numbers include a 33-4 scoring edge and six shutouts through Sept. 5. Will this team continue its torrid pace and become one of Michigan’s grand turnaround jobs or will Kettering fade as it has not played very many significant games against state-ranked schools the last couple of years. Seniors Ryan Novak (M, All-League First Team), Payton Maternowski (CB, All-League Honorable Mention) and Jack Haskins (D/M, All-League Honorable Mention) all return, but what has really helped the Captains tighten their grip on the defensive end is senior goalkeeper Kuba Mroczek, who came back after playing in the Michigan Jaguars MLS Next Academy system the last few years. Mroczek is a brilliant student with a 4.3 GPA and is also a NCAA Division I or Division II talent on the pitch. Junior Cooper Cahoon (F) and senior Cyrus Schurman (D) and Dyan Leach (D) are also experienced players who have quickly helped revitalize this program which has appeared to pull a 180-degree turnaround job since last October. Freshman Valentino Galavez (F) has been a sparkplug in his debut season. There are 10 returning players that started some games last season and a host of newcomers that have also aided the rebuild job. Last season the team was outscored 50-24 and was shut out seven times. That is now a distant memory. The only thing missing is some blockbuster wins over some of the premier programs in Michigan to help validate, which is why Kettering is down this list despite its numbers.
44. CALEDONIA (7-9-3): The Fighting Scots have a new coach for the third straight season with Luke Dishnow taking over the program. Caledonia returns a good number of athletes and welcomes in one of the state’s best players who has never played high school soccer before. Senior Drew Diebolt (D/M) spent last school year competing for the Columbus Crew MLS Next Academy youth team, while he also spent the eighth grade through his sophomore year competing for the Midwest United MLS Next Academy team in his age group. The versatile and talented Diebolt, who recently committed to NCAA Division I University of Michigan, has made an impact for a team that started 4-1-0 overall and should be in contention in the OKC-Green Division after moving over from the OKC-Red. The Fighting Scots already own a 15-3 scoring edge with three shutouts, while in comparison only had seven wins, four shutouts and a 35-31 scoring edge in 2023. All indications are that this side is much improved. Seniors Simon Hilton (G), Parker Chapp (CB), Omar Aganovic (M), Silas Haan (M, All-League First Team), Austin Licari (M), Carter Johnson (D) and Garrett Ruhle (D), another player that has former MLS Next training, have all made impacts Junior Gage Helinski (D) and sophomore James Visser (D) are also back, while another talented newcomer is sophomore Rocco Calabrese (M), who comes over from the Midwest United MLS Next Academy. Sophomore Nicolas Long (G) is a fast-rising prospect, while juniors Brecken Byrd (D), Brayden Snow (M), Charlie Doan (D), Noah Moberly (M), Robert Day (F) and Jadyn Washington (F), sophomore Trey Curnow (F/M) and are senior Mason Langeland (M) are also key contributors.
45. SALEM (13-6-3): The Rocks reached the Division 1 state semifinals in 2022 and were still highly competitive in 2023 despite a middle-of-the-pack finish in the deep KLAA-West Division and a district finals loss. This year they’ve competed with only two returning starters back in uniform but a bunch of quality players from a multitude of clubs in the area helping out to keep the Rocks a worthy opponent once again. Senior forward Bryan Baker is one of the best targets in the two-division KLAA, while senior Jordan Perko (D, All-League First Team) are the only returning starters. Baker is enjoying a breakout campaign and may end up on a college roster next year. Sophomore Chase Lieb (F/M) is a talented newcomer coming over from the Michigan Jaguars MLS Next Academy, while seniors Isaac Bomgaars (D/M), Marcel Jackson (F) and Dylan Fletcher (D) all were key reserves last year and now full-time starters this year. Junior Brandon McGlynchy (M) played limited minutes last year but has thrusted himself into a more prominent role, as has senior Cooper Austin (G), who waited behind three other goalies that graduated. Last year, Salem outscored the opposition 36-17 during a difficult schedule but recorded 12 shutouts and were only blanked four times during a rugged schedule that included a district finals loss to Northville (3-2). This year the Rocks are off to a 5-3-1 start in just under three weeks but have outscored the opposition 18-11 with three shutouts.
46. BRIGHTON (19-4-2): For everything that went right for Brighton last season, not so much has gone right to begin 2024. The Bulldogs finally cracked the Division top 15 rankings late in the regular season last year before embarking on a long journey which ended with a 2-1, double-overtime loss to Troy Athens in the Division 1 state finals. Brighton outscored its seven tourney foes 14-4 last season and 57-15 for the entire year and that included 13 shutouts. They also finished second in the loaded KLAA-West Division, beat Northville twice, and won district and regional championships. This year Brighton has already been banged up with a revolving door of injuries which has aided a slow 1-3-2 start. That includes being outscored 14-11. The Bulldogs are trying to replace most of their backline and their facilitator (Colin Robertson) in the midfield and are in desperate need of some new starters to step up. Still, Brighton has one of the state’s top players in returning All-State Dream Team honoree Devlin McGinnis, which is still a load up top and entered the year as a Mr. Soccer candidate. He is currently injured but will be back in mid-September and once McGinnis returns expect some much better results for the Bulldogs. Senior Owen Buckley (M/F, All-State Third Team) is back, along with senior Andrew Bowman (CB), junior goalkeeper Reece Meyer (G), a part-time starter last year, and senior Cayden Tadros (M) as returning starters. Senior Rudy Tappen (M) also gained a ton of minutes last season, while seniors Braeden Allen (D), Carlos Insignares (M), Owen Blush (D), Isaac Alexander (M) and Jack Hamilton (D) also return. Look for juniors Max Bosch (M) and Alex Levoska (F) and senior Luke Compton (D) to be amongst the top newcomers.
47. ROCHESTER (5-10-4): The Falcons dipped last season into a rebuilding mode, but a cast of newcomers have helped lift them up again into levels of respectability. After Rochester defeated Bloomfield Hills, which won a Division 1 district last season, 7-0 back in late August, the Falcons look to have taken flight once again. Rochester was outscored 30-21 last season and was shut out six times, including its last three games, and suffered six one-goal losses last season. This year, Rochester owns a 19-9 scoring edge through five games and both losses were to top-15 Division 1 teams Berkley (1-0) and Rochester Adams (4-0). Senior Leo Comfort (M) returns after spending last year in the Vardar MLS Next Academy system and is joined in the starting lineup by three freshman, Liam Trimble (M/D), Christian Pocialik (M) and Zach Chamberlain (G), while fellow ninth-grade prospects Leyton Moore (D) and Jacob Nimmoor (M/F) are getting minutes. Nimmoor already notched a hattrick this season. Senior Isaac Wood (F/M, All-State Honorable Mention) is being courted by some NCAA Division I and Division II schools and is an underrated player. Seniors Chase Foster (M/F), Colin Simonis (D) and Owen Glover (M) and juniors Luca Nickel (M) and John-Lucas Peteqi (F) all started games last season and have been key in the school’s resurgence this year. Sophomore Bryce Phillips (G), junior Diego Resendiz (G) and seniors Joey Bansen (D), Cameron Dotson (D), Rishi Jinka (F), Pedro Rodrigues (M), Tymon Szawiela (D) and Yuta Kitano (M) are part of a class that would love to help restore the winning tradition. Rochester won district crowns in 2016 and 2017 but have been unable to advance out of one of the state’s toughest districts in the last six seasons.
48. ANN ARBOR SKYLINE (10-8-1): The Eagles have won two state championships (2013 and 2019) since opening their doors as a third high school in Ann Arbor in 2008 and last year was somewhat of an off year by Skyline standards. The Eagles did finish second in the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference-Red Division and reached the district finals in Division 1, but the team only scored 23 goals all season and conceded 20 goals. This year the Eagles are much more potent offensively and could emerge as a title contender for a league and district championship this season. Skyline opened the season 4-0-0 through Sept. 5 with a 19-3 scoring edge and two clean sheets, nearly hitting last year’s offensive marks. Senior Devin Palmer (D), juniors Jude Carlson (CB), Alex Szentkialyi (M) and Jacob Carbone (M) and sophomore Patrick Sawyer (M) are returning starters. Senior Shea Parker (F), who has been on an offensive tear this year, seniors Angel Behnke (M) and Josh Hetrick (M) and sophomores Ben Pawlowski (D), Jack Collins (G) and Kareem Almadani (F) also return and have seen increased minutes. Juniors Ty Meagher (D) and Limamou Seck (D/F) and sophomore Lucas Webb (F) are newcomers who have been trying to crack the rotation. Veteran coach Chris Morgan believes his team is tactically better than in recent years and could be the darkhorse to make a run.
49. GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS CENTRAL (16-4-1): After graduating 14 players from last year’s team, results have been all over the map for the Rangers this season despite some high-level club players on the roster. Last year, Forest Hills Central won 16 games, outscored its 21 opponents 74-18, recorded 11 shutouts and at one time pitched nine clean sheets in a row. The Rangers also finished second in the deep Ottawa Kent Conference-White Division and lost in the Division 2 district finals to eventual state champion Grand Rapids Christian (3-1). This season started with a 2-3-1 record entering September but also saw the Rangers outscored 10-9. FHC did upset state-ranked Grand Rapids Christian (2-1) in late August and is looking for better fortunes later this season with a significantly younger lineup this season. Seniors Andrew Moeller (M, All-State Honorable Mention) and Santi Tanner (M) and juniors Eli Lipke (CB) and Micah Scholtens (CB) all started some games last season. Juniors Ben Bachert (M/F) and Ethan Moon (D) and freshman Lucas Moeller (M/F) have stepped into starting roles as newcomers.
50. (tie) LAKE ORION (11-9-0): Following the 2022 season, no team in Michigan lost more players to graduation than the Dragons, as 20 total players departed, including all 11 starters. Last year in coach Chris Corteg’s final season, Lake Orion only had three players with varsity experience and none of them were starters in 2022. So, the Dragons started slow and they were dealt some baptism under fire early on but got better and better throughout the campaign. The result was 11 wins and a third-place finish in the OAA-White Division before the team was ousted in the Division 1 district semifinals by state-ranked Oxford. Lake Orion ended up with four shutouts and a 51-29 scoring edge over the course of the 2023 campaign, showcasing its rapid growth in a little bit more than two months. This season the school welcomed in new head coach Jason Wise, a former All-State goalkeeper from Troy who has had some success coaching at the club level. The Dragons brought back a bevy of experienced players this time around, including senior forward Billy Kepler (All-League First Team), senior center back Broden Janczarek (All-League First Team) and junior back Joey Gayton (All-League First Team). Seniors Jake Verlinden, Drew Hyttnen, Deniz Redzep, Matias Ballina-Loza (M/F), Luke Wilson, Nicol Lasso and Will Jeakle (M) are back, as is junior Brendan Zale (G) and sophomore JP Piccirilli. Lake Orion started 4-0-1 with a 12-4 scoring edge through five games and added two shutouts. This shows again that the Dragons are back on the rise and this team should contend in the OAA-White Division this season.
50. (tie) ZEELAND EAST (3-15-3): The Chix are enjoying a grand turnaround much like Division 2 state-ranked Waterford Kettering, as they have started the campaign 5-1-1 overall and ranked in the state in D-2 as well. Zeeland East has four shutouts already and outscored its opposition 10-4 in seven games. In comparison, East was outscored 39-21 last year and shut out 10 times. Two years ago, the Chix captured their very first conference and district crowns (Division 2) in program history but last year had mostly a new roster with multiple freshmen and sophomores starting or gaining minutes. Senior midfielder Tyler Ragan (All-League First Team) and junior midfielder Tyler Vandenheuvel (All-League Honorable Mention) earned postseason honors last season, while sophomore Levi Rodrigues (F) is fast approaching double-digit goals as a returning starter. Sophomores Cam Augustine (M) and Joyce DeWitt (D/M) are also key players this season for Zeeland East, another program on this list that will find themselves in a loaded district group come mid-October.
(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list photo credit as well.)
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 41-50: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/boys-soccer-super-50-teams-positions-41-50
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 31-40: https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/post/boys-soccer-msn-super-50-teams-positions-31-40
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 21-30: BOYS SOCCER: MSN Super 50 Teams Positions 21-30:
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 11-20:
BOYS SOCCER: MSN SUPER 50 TEAMS POSITIONS 1-10: TBA
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out on coverage
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.
And we want you.
The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.
The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.
The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.
Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?
Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.
PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.
"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”
The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.
“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”
“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”
The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.
PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.
“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”
And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.
To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.
For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.
The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.
Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)
