Prairie's Gavin Lewis, 10, of the Johnstons' Ameer Orrick during the 4A quarterfinal game of the 2023 IHSAA State Soccer Tournament at Cowney Soccer Park on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. Head the ball in front of a player (10 years old). (Jim) Slosialek/The Gazette)
Here are the Gazette area players and teams to keep an eye on during the 2024 Iowa high school boys soccer season.
Youth Soccer 2024: Featured Players in the Gazette Area
Andre Fuentes, Sr., North Fayette Valley — Fuentes, a Class 1A first-team all-state midfielder, led the Tiger Hawks in 2023 with 12 goals.
Aidan Newman Sr. Cedar Rapids Prairie — Newman earned All-State Second Team (Class 4A) honors last season and was Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division Goaltender of the Year with an 88.5 percent save percentage.
Eddie Petersen, Sr., Iowa City Regina — Petersen scored 12 goals as a midfielder in 2023 and earned Class 1A second-team all-state honors.
Flori Gembo, Sr., Iowa City Liberty — Gembo was the second-leading scorer (16 points) on last year's Class 3A state championship team.
Gavin Lewis, Sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — Lewis was a 2023 All-State (Class 4A) and All-Conference (MVC Mississippi) first-team midfielder. He led the Hawks in points (10).
Joe Hamman, Sr., West Branch — Hamann earned honorable mention in Class 1A after leading the Bears in scoring with 26 goals and finishing 14th among all classes in Iowa.
Kaleab Wendy, Sr., Iowa City West — Wendy, a Class 4A second-team all-state forward, led the Trojans with 15 goals.
Keegan Conway Jr., Solon — Conway was a second-team all-state midfielder in Class 2A last season. He was second in scoring for the Spartans (seven points).
Kyler White Jr., North Fayette Valley White earned Class 1A first-team All-State defensive honors with the Tigerhawks last season.
Jack Hoover Sr., Iowa City Regina — Hoover, a Class 1A second-team All-State midfielder, led the Regals with 16 goals.
Mason Eggelston Jr., Williams Barg — Eggleston earned several honors last year, including second team All-State (Class 2A) and first team all-conference. He was also named Wamack West Player of the Year.
Youth Soccer 2024: Gazette Area Featured Teams
iowa city liberty — Last year's Class 3A state champions will look to defend their title. The Lightning started 2-7 and then picked up steam, winning 11 of their last 12 games and defeating Norwalk 5-0 in the final. Liberty lost several leading scorers from 2023, but second-leading scorer Flori Gembo returns.
iowa city west — The Trojans finished as Class 4A runner-up after a 2OT loss in the championship game against Johnston. West returns leading scorer Kaleab Wendi and several key returners.
marion — The Wolves reached the Class 3A state semifinals last year, but lost to eventual state champion Iowa City Liberty. Marion returns a number of key players, including Jordan Fisher, Cole Angell and Grayson Kirsch.
Center Point Urbana — The Stormin’ Pointers advanced to the Class 1A state quarterfinals, but lost to Sioux City Heelan. Experience will be an advantage for CPU in 2024, as four of last season's top five scorers were juniors.
iowa city regina — The Regals' 2023 season ended with a shootout decision in the Class 1A state semifinals, losing to eventual Class 1A state champion Western Christian. Regina's top three scorers, the senior trio of Jack Huber, Eddie Petersen and Quinn Warren, return with another shot at qualifying for the provincial tournament.
west liberty — Offensively, the Comets had an unparalleled performance in 2023, leading the state in points (127) and scoring 15 more points than the next closest team. They lost 2-1 to Regina in the first round of the Class 1A state tournament. They will be without leading scorers Juan Mateo and Joshua Zeman, but double-digit scorers Bruce Tsonga and Uriel Andrade will return.
cedar rapids prairie — Several All-State players return to the Hawks lineup this season (Gavin Lewis and Aidan Newman). Prairie finished the 2023 season at 15-3, losing to eventual state champion Johnson in the Class 4A state semifinals.
