After winning 11 of the last 12 5th-District boys’ soccer titles, including four in a row, the Trigg County Wildcats saw the trophy slip away with a 3-1 defeat to Lyon County in last season’s district final.
Second-year head coach Kyle Bleidt is charged with rebuilding his defense after graduation losses and aiming a youthful group back toward the top of the district mountain.
All-District defenders Timmy Cannon, Nik Kaster, and Caleb Coots all graduated, but the Wildcats return promising sophomore goalkeeper Cam McCormick. Last season McCormick was called on to make nearly eight saves per outing, allowing just over three goals per game with a shutout.
All-District midfielder Alex Hurt leads the returnees after pacing the Wildcats with eight goals and six assists as a sophomore. Another All-District selection, Marlee Reeves, is back to spearhead the attack after a six-goal sophomore campaign.
The Wildcats’ lone senior, Peyton Moore, will be asked to build on his three-goal tally from last season, and sophomore James Garnett will also be called on to pick up the scoring slack after finding the back of the net twice a year ago.
Junior Matthew Reeves is expected to make the move to the center of the back line to partner with freshman Nate Kelly. Juniors Slaton Carter and Lance Breckel will also help shore up the defense, while Kyle Choate should see significant minutes on the wing.
Trigg opens at Paducah Tilghman on Thursday and will welcome Fort Campbell to Cadiz on August 21 for their first home match.
