By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ANTONIO AGUIRRE, Highland Park
A junior, Aguirre played a major role last season as Highland Park posted a 10-7-1 record, with Aguirre a first-team All-Meadowlark Conference selection
JAIME ALVARADO, Topeka High
A junior, Alvarado received All-City and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season, helping Topeka High post an 11-6-0 record.
CARTER FREEMAN, Shawnee Heights
A junior goalkeeper, Freeman earned All-City and All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention last season after helping Shawnee Heights post an 11-6-1 record and earn the UKC title.
CHRIS GOMEZ, Topeka High
Gomez, a junior, received All-City and All-Centennial League honorable mention last season, helping Topeka High post an 11-6-0 record.
ISAAC GONZALEZ-TALAVERA, Topeka West
Gonzalez-Talavera, a senior defender, earned first-team All-City honors season last season and was a second-team All-United Kansas Conference pick after helping the improving Chargers post a 3-13-1 record last fall.
BENETT HALLAUER, Washburn Rural
A senior team captain, Hallauer scored seven goals and had an assist last season for Washburn Rural, which went 16-5-0, won its 28th straight Centennial League championship (outright or shared) and finished fourth in Class 6A. A four-year varsity player, Hallauer was a second-team All-Centennial League pick in 2022.
GRIFFIN HEINEN, Washburn Rural
A senior team captain, Heinen earned second-team All-Centennial League recognition last season after helping the 16-5-0 Junior Blues win a 28th straight Centennial League championship (outright or shared) and finish fourth in the Class 6A state tournament. Heinen contributed five goals and six assists last season and has nine goals and nine assists for his career.
KAELIN LOY, Seaman
Loy, a junior forward, is one of several players being counted on to help Seaman make strides in the United Kansas Conference this season after a 3-12-2 record a year ago. Loy received All-City honorable mention last fall as a sophomore.
BILLY LUTZ, Topeka High
Only a sophomore, Lutz burst on the city scene as the Trojans' starting goalkeeper as a freshman. Lutz was named the Centennial League newcomer of the year last year and played the most minutes of any player on the Topeka High team and finished the season with 68 saves. Lutz also earned second-team All-Centennial League honors and received All-City honorable mention.
JACK MARTIN , Shawnee Heights
A senior forward, Martin received All-Class 5A honorable mention and second-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last season, helping Shawnee Heights post an 11-6-1 record.
JACOB PADILLA, Hayden
Padilla, a senior forward, is being counted on to play a major role for Hayden this fall on the soccer pitch after making the transition from the Wildcat football team.
JADEN PATTERSON, Topeka West
A senior midfielder, Patterson earned second-team All-United Kansas honors last season after helping Topeka West post a 3-13-1 record.
JACK PHILLIPS, Shawnee Heights
Phillips, a senior defender, Phillips earned second-team All-United Kansas recognition last season after helping Shawnee Heights post an 11-6-1 record and capture the UKC championship.
DEVON RUTSCHMANN, Washburn Rural
A senior forward, Rutschmann helped Washburn Rural post a 16-5-0 record, a fourth-place state finish in Class 6A and a 28th straight Centennial League championship (outright or shared) last season. Rutschmann earned first-team All-City and All-Centennial League recognition and second-team All-6A honors last fall, scoring 16 goals with 17 assists. A team captain, Rutschmann has 25 goals and 26 assists in his two seasons at Rural.
LOGAN TOWNSEND, Seaman
A junior forward, Townsend is expected to make a major contribution for the Vikings this season as Seaman begins its second season in the United Kansas Conference.
ETHAN UHLRIG, Washburn Rural
Uhlrig, a senior goalkeeper, earned All-City honorable mention last fall as a first-year starter for the 16-5-0 Junior Blues, who won their 28th straight Centennial League title (outright or shared) and posted a fourth--place state finish. Uhlrig allowed 29 goals on the season while recording six shutouts.