Introducing the players on 2022 Wichita Eagle high school boys soccer All-Metro team

The Wichita Eagle announced its 19th annual All-Metro boys soccer team on Thursday, recognizing some of the best high school soccer players in the state of Kansas from the 2022 season.

The All-Metro first team features the top players and the top coach from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties, based on statistics, team success, postseason recognition and area coaches’ feedback. Maize South junior midfielder Vitor Geromel was named the Player of the Year after scoring a program-record 42 goals and helping the Mavericks win an undefeated Class 5A state championship.

Editor’s note: Goddard players Brian Aleman and Dominic Zuniga were incorrectly identified in an earlier version of this story.

2022 Wichita Eagle All-Metro boys soccer team

Brian Aleman, Goddard senior

The left-footed assassin at the top of Goddard’s formation always forced opponents to account for him. Aleman finished the season with 14 goals and 10 assists and helped lead Goddard to a 13-win season and the program’s first regional championship since 2014. The senior forward was named second team all-state in Class 5A and was a first team all-league player in AV-CTL Div. II.

Goddard coach Josh Hansen: “Brian just has immaculate touch and distribution. His soccer IQ is so high and he always knows where to be in the right spots, and then his left foot is so dangerous. Everybody knows Brian is left-footed, but it doesn’t matter. He still gets by people even when they know he’s going left, he still beats them going left. He’s a really quality finisher. He rarely has those glorious rocket shots, he just has excellent placement on his goals.”

Andrew Cole, Maize South senior

After waiting his turn for three years, Cole was superb in his first season starting in goal for a Maize South team that finished off a perfect 21-0 season with the Class 5A state championship. He notched 10 shutouts and allowed 13 goals in 21 starts with an 81% save percentage, which earned him the nod as the Goalkeeper of the Year and first team all-state in 5A honors.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez: “Andrew really stepped up in the past when he was called upon and this was the first year where he was given the reins. As a goalkeeper, he was a dependable, reliable and consistent force for us in the back. He never had any major mistakes. He never gave up any unnecessary goals. He was just consistent all season long. We never had a doubt about anything with him in goal.”

Vitor Geromel, Maize South junior

Everyone in the Wichita area knows the No. 10 for Maize South, the unquestioned top player who is committed to play in the ACC for Clemson. Geromel’s skill with the ball at his feet is unmatched and the junior central attacking midfielder proved to be a devastating offensive force that helped power the Mavericks to a perfect 21-0 record and Class 5A state championship. He finished with the program’s single-season record for goals with 42 and tied the all-time single-season assists record with 18, which earned him Midfielder of the Year honors in Class 5A and the MVP of the AV-CTL Div. I once again.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez: “Vitor didn’t shine when we played teams at the bottom of the standings. He shined whenever we played the best teams on the schedule. He dominated the midfield against Blue Valley Southwest, St. Thomas Aquinas and Kapaun. He scored five goals in the regional championship game and he was always his best in the most important moments of the season. The tougher the competition, the higher level the game when the pressure was the highest, that’s when Vitor really stepped up and showed why he’s going to play in the ACC.”

Collin Hershberger, Newton senior

Arguably the best player in program history, Hershberger helped take Newton back to the state semifinals for the first time since 2000 with a 17-win season and fourth-place finish in Class 5A. Playing the No. 10 position for the Railers, Hershberger finished his career as the program’s all-time leading scorer (51 goals) with his finest season to date with 21 goals, a single-season record at Newton, and 13 assists. The Fort Hays State signee was a first team 5A all-state choice and a first team all-league midfielder in AV-CTL Div. I.

Newton coach Scott Jantzi: “He just had a phenomenal career for us. His freshman year when he got knocked around, you knew he had potential. Then his sophomore year he had a little more growing to do and then junior year he just erupted and his game went to another level. And then he followed that up with an even better season this year. One thing that I really liked was that we talked to him about getting more people involved and he went out there and did that in a major way.”

Gael Landeros, Wichita East senior

After playing behind a star player for three years, Landeros made the most of his first year starting with a breakout campaign at forward. He finished as the City League’s leading point scorer with 23 goals and 12 assists to help East win 13 games, the City League championship and reach a Class 6A regional championship. He was named a second team all-state 6A forward and was a first team all-league player in the City League.

East coach Fred Koepp: “He was a big-time leader for us and he stepped up in a captain role for us and played that very well and trusted his teammates and his coaches. The best thing about Gael was that he came up in the big moments and he was definitely a big-game player who played well with the team. I think his composure when he gets the ball is incredible and then mixed with his speed of play, he’s just a really tough player to stop.”

Victor Medina, Newton junior

Newton reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2000 and won 17 games because of an offensive explosion this season, which included the improved play of Medina. The junior forward was a reliable scoring threat and paired with fellow All-Metro pick Collin Hershbeger to form a dangerous attack for the Railers. Medina was named a first team all-state 5A forward and a first team all-league player in the AV-CTL Div. I.

Newton coach Scott Jantzi: “Victor and Collin worked so well together and Victor really found success when he was able to peel off and get into open space. When he got the ball in the box, he was usually pretty reliable to put the ball away. And then in the open field he’s even more dangerous because of his speed. Scoring just seemed to come naturally to him this year. It felt like he had a lot of confidence and he is a fun player to watch play when he has confidence.”

Jack Moll, Andover senior

The heart and soul of the midfield for an Andover squad that made a surprise run in the postseason, Moll was superb in his senior year for the Trojans. He helped Andover win a regional championship, then gave eventual 5A champion Maize South its toughest test of the season in a triple-overtime game in the quarterfinals. Moll was one-third of the co-MVP in the AV-CTL Div. II and secured second team all-state honors in 5A with his play as a central attacking midfielder.

Junior Quezada, Maize South senior

A first-year transfer gave the Maize South attack even more juice with his speed and technical ability at forward. Quezada finished with 24 goals and 18 assists, which tied the program’s single-season record, and netted three crucial goals during Maize South’s postseason run. He helped the Mavericks win an undefeated state championship and was named the Forward of the Year in Class 5A.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez: “Junior has just an unnatural ability to beat players 1-v-1 and finish in front of goal. His skill set is very uncommon. He has this incredible composure under the tightest situations inside of the 18 and in front of the keeper. He has an extreme amount of maturity and calm, which allows him to pick the best shooting angles to find the back of the net. Most players at the high school age will break under pressure, but Junior seems to be more comfortable in those situations. That’s not natural, not normal and he made it look easy.”

Jesus Renteria, Newton senior

The development of Renteria as the center back of Newton’s back line was crucial in the Railers’ success, which included 17 wins and a fourth-place finish in Class 5A, the best postseason run for the program in more than two decades. Renteria was the rock in the back and helped Newton secure nine shutouts this season, which earned him first team all-state honors in 5A and first team all-league honors in AV-CTL Div. I.

Newton coach Scott Jantzi: “Jesus was just a big, solid guy on the back line for us. He was a solid player and grew so much throughout his four years. Just his vocal ability and being able to see the field and his partnership with our other center back was so important to our success. He really took on a leadership role this season and he did a fantastic job of leading our back four.”

Holden Schaefer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

One of the most skilled midfield players in the City League, Schaefer was key in helping the Crusaders navigate their difficult schedule to a 10-win season and regional title game appearance. The junior was a box-to-box midfielder for Kapaun and finished with eight goals and a City League-high 17 assists, which earned him second team all-state honors in 5A and first team all-league recognition in the City League.

Kapaun coach Anthony Cantele: “Holden is just a competitor. He was a great leader for us and the kids really respect him. As soon as he steps on the field, he’s one of those players that dictates everything. He’s tough on himself and he pushes the guys around him to be better and that’s the most valuable quality about him for me. He’s just an all-around solid player who will help start the attack and then he’s not afraid to get back and cover defensively. He’s just an all-around workhorse who scored most of his goals from set pieces or shots from distance.”

Tyler Smalley, Wichita Northwest senior

The leader of the back line for a feisty Northwest team that was competitive in the City League, won 11 games and reached a Class 6A regional final. Smalley developed into a standout center back for the Grizzlies by his senior season, which helped the team secure six shutouts. He earned second team all-state honors in 6A as a defender and first team all-league recognition in the City League.

Northwest coach Austin Clifton: “He’s an imposing presence on the field because he’s a big body and a tall kid and he’s fast. He’s just very good technically with his feet and an all-around defender who can do everything you need. He was our safety pin. If someone snuck in behind, he was always there to clean it up for us. We’ll see what he does, football or soccer, but I think he could be great at either and he was a big reason for our success this year. He really stepped up his play and made our defense even better this year.”

Nate Stephens, Andover Central junior

The engine of the attack for the Jaguars, Stephens helped lead the team to a 14-win season and an appearance in the Class 5A regional finals. The junior central attacking midfielder finished with a program-record 23 goals to go along with five assists, which earned him first team all-state honors in 5A and co-MVP honors in AV-CTL Div. II.

Andover Central coach Steven Huskey: “Nate is not the loudest on the field, but he’s super competitive and he’s always trying to develop his game and improve. He doesn’t waste time with the traditional teenage distractions. He is laser focused on his goals and I don’t think we’ve had someone with that kind of focus to prepare to play in college in the nine years I’ve been here. Nate can take a touch at full speed and it would be among the best in the city. His ability to control the ball and then get off shots from long range is up there with the best of them, too.”

Angel Vielmas, Derby sophomore

Derby won 14 games and reached the Class 6A quarterfinals once again because of its defense, but also because of the brilliance in the midfield from Vielmas. Just a sophomore, Vielmas’ skill on the ball was evident and helped provide the Panthers with the punch they needed in the attack. He finished with 11 goals and eight assists, which earned him second team all-state honors in 6A as a midfielder and first team all-league status in the AV-CTL Div. I.

Derby coach Paul Burke: “Angel is a very creative player and is always looking to create for other people. He’s also able to create for himself, but he has great vision and looks to connect with other players. He formed a nice partnership with another one of our guys late in the season and that player ended up scoring seven goals in seven straight games and I think Angel had assists on five of them. Angel was always dangerous for us and he put himself in a position to be successful all the time.”

Caiden Wait, Maize South junior

The high-powered offense drew the headlines from Maize South’s undefeated run to the Class 5A state championship, but Wait’s defense on the back line was vital to the team’s success. The Mavericks only played three on their back line because Wait was so good in the middle commanding the defense, which recorded 10 shutouts. Wait was named the Class 5A Defender of the Year and also earned first team all-league honors in AV-CTL Div. I.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez: “Caiden is one of our many unsung heroes and he probably had the biggest impact on our team of any of those players who often aren’t noticed. The reason we’re able to score as much as we do is because of Caiden and his ability to defend and cover. The reason why we only play with three in the back is because Caiden Wait and his ability to do his job, his ability to time tackles and judge oncoming players and read the ball in the air. He really is second to none and he went up against some college-bound, Division I players at state and allowed no goals in the championship game.”

Dominic Zuniga, Goddard senior

The calming presence in the middle of the field for Goddard, Zuniga always presented a matchup problem for defenses. The Lions had a dangerous attack with Zuniga running the show, as he finished with 19 goals and 11 assists to help Goddard win its first regional title since 2014. Zuniga was the co-MVP of the AV-CTL Div. II and named a first team all-state player in Class 5A.

Goddard coach Josh Hansen: “The thing that stands out about Dom is his soccer IQ, his touch is immaculate and his ability to attack multiple defenders at once. He really is the whole package. I think he could have scored way more goals, but he knew he didn’t have to be that guy for us because we had Carson Achey and Brian Aleman. A lot of his goals came in big games and game-winners. He’s a box-to-box midfielder and probably the hardest worker on the field for either team and you see it from him day in and day out. That’s why he was our captain and team leader.”

Rey Ramirez, Maize South coach

In the program’s fourth state championship appearance in the last five seasons, Maize South finally broke through this year. The Mavericks completed a perfect 21-0 run to the Class 5A state championship, becoming the first Wichita-area team to do so since 2002. Maize South was loaded with talent, but Ramirez pulled the right strings and helped the Mavericks knock off two Kansas City powerhouses (St. Thomas Aquinas and Blue Valley Southwest) to win the program’s first state championship.

Maize South coach Rey Ramirez: “I cannot describe the pride that I feel in our program, in our boys and their families who I have seen firsthand everything they have sacrificed, all of the training, all of the sweat. Seeing the emotion, seeing the tears, seeing the laughter, the joy on everybody’s faces is just the most humbling experience I’ve ever had on a soccer field. Being a small part of this all has been an absolute blessing and I’m so proud of each and every one of our boys and the way they performed and executed.”

All-Metro second team

Carson Achey, Goddard sophomore

Gavin Bowman, Maize South senior

Cooper Buell, Augusta junior

Cooper Carman, Andover Central junior

Elliot Casamento, Trinity Academy junior

Ian Davis, Campus senior

Jadan Denesongkham, Derby junior

Miles Edwards, Maize South junior

Dylan Gorman, Maize South junior

Erik Huerta, Bishop Carroll junior

Eddie Johnson, Andover senior

Eddie Lopez-Garcia, Newton senior

Zack Pappan, Maize junior

Logan Ruddle, Augusta junior

Braden Rupp, Andover senior

Cesar Saludes, East junior

Ben Scognamillo, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior

Martin Soto-Tovar, Northwest senior

Ben Thorson, Mulvane senior

Alex Truong, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior

Andruw Weeks, Rose Hill senior

Trenton Womack, Trinity Academy junior

All-Metro third team

Molelwa Abandelwa, Southeast junior

Cooper Brucker, Andover senior

Angel DeLeon, Maize senior

Bradin Dennett, Augusta junior

Jordy Dollof, Classical senior

Yoseph Espinoza, Goddard senior

Jonny Galvan, Newton junior

Jesus Garcia, East junior

Logan Glover, Eisenhower senior

Noah Gonzalez, Eisenhower senior

Aiden Haislett, Goddard senior

Gage Hosford, Bishop Carroll senior

Daylin Jantzen, Rose Hill senior

Hudson Lee, Bishop Carroll senior

Evan Locke, Northwest sophomore

T.J. Logan, Classical senior

Daniel McVay, Trinity Academy senior

Collin Meyer, Derby junior

Mikey Oliveraz, Andover Central senior

Jesus Ortiz, Northwest freshman

Enrique Perez, Maize senior

Caleb Roberson, Trinity Academy senior

Colton Ruggles, Andover Central senior

Juan-Pablo Salgado, Newton junior

Oscar Vitela, North senior

Luke Wolff, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior