The Caldwell County boys’ soccer team is building around its youth.
With a lineup of mostly sophomores and freshmen, the Tigers look to be a team to contend with in the future.
How good Caldwell is in the present depends on how quickly those young players mature.
“I’ll start with Grayson,” said new Tiger head coach Cesar Turmero, who moved up from assistant coach after Tanner Reed left the program following last season. “Grayson Harris is probably the best athlete.
I would say probably the best keeper out here in western Kentucky. He’s just amazing.”
Harris is one of those aforementioned sophomores, along with Landon Lanham and the Turmero twins, Colin and Kale, who are the coach’s sons.
“Landon Lanham, he’s a great defender,” said the Caldwell coach. “He’s always on the ball. He breaks down really well, so he’s a great player.
“Obviously, the Turmero twins are really good players.
“And I think that’s going to be the players that we’re going to build around at this time.”
The Turmeros were the leading scorers for the Tigers as freshmen a year ago. Colin had 11 goals and eight assists while Kale added seven goals and four assists.
Meanwhile, Harris averaged over 12 saves a match last season as Caldwell fashioned a 4-12-2 record.
But one of those victories was a 4-2 decision over Hopkins County Central in the 7th District tournament semifinals. That win allowed the Tigers to play in the district championship game and also earn them a spot in the 2nd Region tourament field.
Caldwell lost those last two games to Madisonville-North Hopkins and University Heights Academy, but the Tigers’ youngsters gained valuable experience against two of the region’s stronger programs.
While Caldwell’s sophomore and freshman classes appear strong, numbers are down overall in the program.
“Well, I see a team that has a lot of potential,” said Turmero when asked what attracted him to the head coaching position. “I see a team of a lot of young players that can get this team to new heights.
“I think, for example, when we just went to the Bluegrass Games, we had a team full of
sophomores and freshmen. Only one senior, well two, but unfortunately one of our seniors got injured,
and then one junior.
“So I see the future of this program and I just want to take it to where it belongs.”
Caldwell will look from leadership from its two seniors, although one of them will be sidelined with the injury. Dillon Samuels figures to see a lot of action, but TreVaughn Copeland appears to be out of the lineup for the season.
The Tigers went 2-0-1 at the Bluegrass State Games in Lexington in July while playing its young lineup.
Turmero said he wants to put a team on the field that plays aggressively.
“Well, one of the things is, we’re going to be an attacking team. We’re going to be decisive when we attack. We’re going to take the ball and move it forward really quick. We’re going to be direct. We’re going to be vertical and score as many goals as we can.
“Obviously, on the defensive end, we’re going to be disciplined, which we always have been disciplined on defense. We’re just going to bring more of the attacking side of things.
“So we’re just really excited for the future of this team. We’re really excited for this season, because this is the season where we’re going to build our principles, make sure they understand what we’re trying to do,
and move it forward from now on.”
Caldwell hopes to eventually challenge Madisonville-North Hopkins in the 7th District. However, that will be no easy task, as the Maroons have won 13 straight district championships and are routinely one of the top teams in the 2nd Region. Caldwell is 1-27 all-time against the Maroons.
“I’m really impressed with the Madisonville program,” said Turmero. “I know they’re a big high school, and they have the numbers to put a really good team together. But it all comes down to coaching, to philosophy, understanding what they want to do.
“That’s the thing about these really good teams. It’s not that they’re better than us in terms of talent. It’s just they know what they want to do. They understand it really well. They have the leadership to implement it and execute it, and they do it.
“So that’s what we’re trying to do with our team.”
For now, the Tigers are still trying to decide on a lineup and which players fit best at each position.
“For me, a good year is a year where our kids get better and develop,” said Turmero. “I’m seeing this as a long-term project versus just this season. Obviously, I do want to win. Everybody wants us to win. But what I want to do is develop the players to be their best.”
