A combination of graduation and players not returning leaves the Todd County Central soccer team without nine starters from last season’s 14-6 squad that advanced to the All-A state tournament and finished runners-up in the 13th District. But Coach Mike Smith doesn’t see any reason three experienced seniors and a crop of talented underclassmen can’t continue to play at a high level in 2024.
The graduation of All-District selection Zack Robinson leaves a hole in the midfield after he led the team with 15 goals and was second with nine assists. The Rebels also need to replace 11 goals and six assists between Ivan Lopez and Chi Herrera, while defender Trey Osborne and goalkeeper Ric Garcia-Spears are now playing at Brescia University in Owensboro.
After back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 13th District tournament, seniors Tanner Henderson, Chris Salazar, and Cole Gilbert will look to cap their careers with a title. Henderson bagged eight goals and was tied for second on the team with nine assists a year ago, while Salazar pulled the strings in midfield with a team-high 13 assists to go with four goals. Gilbert will be asked to build on his six-goal output to bolster the Rebel attack.
Charlie Campbell and John Ross Cardwell appeared in every match as freshmen and Smith expects them to “take the leap” this season. Campbell was second on the squad with 10 goals and chipped in four assists while Cardwell found the back of the net six times.
Sophomore Tyler Baker was slowed by injury last season but now looks poised to contribute and fellow sophomore Mason Emrick will start on the back line after strong performances in the preseason.
Smith is particularly excited about a large and talented freshman class, including first-year goalkeeper John Mark Campbell. With the Rebels sending a pair of former goalkeepers to play at the next level, they were left without one coming into the summer. Campbell stepped up and Smith has been amazed with his progress and expects him to continue to improve.
Memphis Bell, Kollin Ensign, and Carson Caracillio all impressed on the defensive side over the summer, and Alex Figueroa, Carlos Trujillo, Gage White, Leo Flores, and Samuel Perez can all play multiple positions either as starters or heavy contributors off the bench.
Wins over Estill County and Pendleton County at Bluegrass Games give the Rebels momentum heading into their season opener at Hopkins County Central on Monday. They open play at home on Tuesday with a visit from Muhlenberg County and begin 13th-district play on August 22 when they host Logan County.
Entering his 22nd season as a high school coach, Smith says this young group has him excited for the future of the program and he’s motivated “to make this another great season for the three seniors I have from the past two historic seasons and set the stage for continued success for the foreseeable future.”
The Rebels are aiming to break Franklin-Simpson’s hold on the district title. The Wildcats have raised the trophy for four straight seasons, including one-goal wins over Todd Central in the last two finals. The Rebels swept three meetings with Logan County by a combined score of 21-0 and knocked off Russellville twice to finish with a 6-2 district mark in 2023.
