By Michael Krieger

The Rossford varsity boys soccer team is admittedly in a rebuilding cycle.

With only one player remaining from league champion squad in 2019, sixth-year Head Coach Pete Wilson will turn to a lineup featuring six sophomores and even a few freshmen when they take the field this season. That being said, Wilson believes there are some worthy players at both of the younger grade levels. “The sophomores have made strides and improvement from last year,” he explained. “They are more mature, and they are working harder and giving more effort.” He added that the freshmen on the roster are an athletic group who seem anxious to learn. “It’s going to be exciting to watch their growth,” he noted. Key upperclassmen returning for the Bulldogs are Second Team All-League defensive player Justin Bayer, the one mainstay since 2019’s title run. Fellow senior Andres Trejo has proven early on he has leadership skills and has been particularly good at working with the younger players.

Junior Landon Reiter returns in a utility capacity. “He’s played every position except goalie,” said Wilson, “and he’s done everything that’s been asked of him.”

The coach would like to see his team be competitive in every game, regardless of the outcome.

“No matter whether we win or lose, as long as they don’t stop on the field and compete, that’s all I am looking for,” Wilson said.

The coach is optimistic about the Bulldogs’ potential.

“We will need to be able to gel. This is a brand new lineup, and they will have to rely on each other and will need to build confidence as a team, rather than as individuals.”

Wilson credits a lot of the team’s success in recent years to the work of longtime assistant coach Ray Miller.

“He has been a huge asset to the younger players. He is often the glue that holds things together.”

Rossford opened its regular season August 20 at home against Wauseon.

“They are typically good,” Wilson said, prior to the match. “They are always a strong, bonded team. Playing them will set the mark for our younger players about the expectations for the season.”

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