Note: Teams whose coach declined to respond are listed with last year’s record at the bottom of the page. All stats/starters were provided by information listed on the Varsity Bound site.
Yankton Bucks
Last Season: 15-1-1, State Champions
2021 All-State: Ethan Yasat (1st), Jacob Kirschner (2nd), Zach Loest (2nd)
Last season was a season of dreams from the Bucks.
They performed brilliantly done the stretch, and won a very tough state championship against a talented O’Gorman team. Looking ahead to 2022, and the Bucks are going to have some talent to replace. All 3 All-State players are gone, as well as 5 other starters from the state tournament match.
Senior Braylen Bietz (S) was the leader in points with 10 goals and 7 assists, and classmate Milo Johnson (MF) will be back as well with junior defender Ty Binde from the championship lineup.
Letterwinners Brady Blom (1 goal, 1 ast.), Lance Dannenbring (2 goals), Alex Nockles (2 goals, 1 ast.), Sam Huber (1 goal, 1 ast.), and Cole Pederson are back as well, and will look to play valuable roles on the team this year.
It will be hard for the Bucks to repeat a historic run in 2022, but a lot of talent returns with plenty of experience that could put the 605 on notice.
State Champions: 2021
O’Gorman Knights
Last Season: 7-7-3, State Runner-Up
2021 All-State: Evan Beier (1st), Gabe Ripperda (2nd)
The Knights are returning a ton of talent from last year’s runner-up team. Senior Carter Manson looks to take charge in the goal, while fellow seniors Wesley Zimprich (MF), and Rory McManus (D) will maintain leadership roles this season.
O’Gorman also returns a trio of junior starters from the state championship, including Nickolas North (F), Savisn Walton (MF), and Dominic Ripperda (D).
Every single one of those returners has been apart of 2 state championship appearances during their time with the program, and are as hungry and poised as any team for a 3rd straight final.
State Champions: 2020
Stevens Raiders
Last Season: 12-3-0, State Semifinalist
2021 All-State: Trey Bradley (1st), Zach Williams (1st), Ryan Gaughn (2nd)
The Raiders are losing 2 All-State players from their excellent 2021 season, but Stevens is bringing an upperclassmen-heavy lineup to the field this fall.
5 seniors return from the starting lineup, including Keegan Blaha, Ryan Gaughan, Seth Schuelke, Sam Tschetter, and 1st Team All-Stater Zach Williams. Senior goalkeeper Shawn Bauer will also look to step into a big role with this team.
State Champions: 2015
Jefferson Cavaliers
Last Season: 11-2-1, State Quarterfinalist
2021 All-State: Andrew Hirsch (1st), Garret Boll (2nd)
One of the benefits of starting a new school is that you don’t have a ton of seniors. In fact, the Cavaliers are returning 9 of their starters from last autumn, including All-State selection Andrew Hirsch. Points leader Byron Ochoa Ochoa (15 goals, 1 assists) will look to lead the offense this year, along with senior Jamison Wear (5 goals). In the goal, junior Carter Locy is back after making 71 saves (87.7%) in 2021.
Other starters returning include: Mitchell Mueller (SR, 2 goals), Theodore Hajek (SR, 5 assists), Jordan Shanks (SR), Kaden Wagner (JR), and Josh Vandewater (SO). The coaches poll ranked Jefferson at #2 to start the year, and it’s easy to see why. These guys are going to be frightening to opposing teams!
Aberdeen Central Golden Eagles
Last Season: 11-3-0, State Quarterfinalist
2021 All-State: Marcos Ramos Garcia (1st), Sekou Gogue (2nd)
State Champions: 2016
All eyes will be on the Golden Eagles, as they take over the new season as the top ranked team. They will lose first team All-Stater Marcos Ramos Garcia to graduation, but fellow All-Stater Sekou Gogue is back for this final year.
Gogue will be joined by 6 other seniors: Jack Riggs (D), Preston Keber (D), Pablo Belaunde Ledezma (D), Isaac Hugen (F), Gabe Johnson (F), and Parker Helwig (F). Junior goalkeeper Camden Fauth will join them for a roster that is loaded with upperclassmen talent.
It’s going to be a season of expectations after a quarterfinal finish last year, and the top rank this season, but Aberdeen looks to have the leadership to reach their goal of a title match.
Lincoln Patriots
Last Season: 6-3-5, State Quarterfinalist
2021 All-State: Ryan Schock (2nd)
A historically solid team, the Patriots are losing All-Stater Ryan Schock and top scorer Connor Denevan from a solid senior class.
However, they will bring Rikhav Thakkar (SR), Ethan Stadheim (SR), Simon Woods (SR), Falco Gerling (JR), Joel Murillo (JR), Mason McCoy (JR) and Tallen Dobson (JR). That’s a lot of experience returning, and a repeat or better performance from last year is well within reach.
State Champions: 2014, 2017
RC Central Cobblers
Last Season: 4-7-3, State Quarterfinalist
2021 All-State: Landin Winter (1st)
The Cobblers are looking to capitalize off of a quarterfinal finish from last season, and return 6 players from last years starting lineup. Junior goalkeeper Connor Warren made 83 saves last fall at a solid 76.1% rate. He will be joined by leading point scorer Caleb Hower (8 goals, 1 ast.), as well as Riley Roe (3 goals, 1 ast.).
Other starters returning include Jacari Morrell (SR), Cedric Munoz (SR) and Christian Green (JR). The Cobblers are going to have an experience core returning, so look for them to get above 50% in the wins category this season.
Huron Tigers
Last Season: 6-7-1
The Tigers return to play in 2022 after starting up to 7 underclassman last year. However, rebuilding equals experience, and Huron hopes to turn that experience into wins this next year. 4 All-ESD players return with defender Tah Hey Lawla Htoo, striker Sha M Sher (7 goals, 2 ast.), midfielder Ronaldo Pineda (1 goal, 4 ast.) and Abner Garcia Garcia.
Freshman Biat Say (11 goals, 2 ast.) and goalkeeper Edvin Bautista Rosales (76 saves) will look to make a big impact. Huron played both Yankton and O’Gorman to 1 goal last year so they have shown they can compete with anybody in the state.
Pierre Governors
Last Season: 6-6-2
2021 All-State: Cole Peterson (1st)
Those who follow the Governors’ football team know of Cole Peterson’s heroics in the state championship last season, but many do not know he was also a 1st team All-State selection, and the leading scorer for the Govs. He’s gone after graduating last spring, but Pierre has some great players returning.
All-ESD Forward Rylan Derry, who is the Gov’s all-time leading scorer with 19 goals and 18 assists, is back for his final year, along with goalkeeper Carson Ahartz (144 saves). They will help lead this program on the rise with a handful of fellow seniors.
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Roosevelt Rough Riders
Last Season: 2-8-2
2021 All-State: Gavin Groos (2nd)
The Rough Riders returned only 1 player with varsity experience after the split with Jefferson, so the 2021 season was a tough one for the Riders.
But it’s a new year, and Roosevelt has some talent returning to the pitch. Goalkeeper Dawson Aberson (JR) had 10 starts last season and made 81 stops. Offensively, forward Cabot Cleveland (SR) made 12 starts with 3 goals. The Tigers will be looking to gain more experience this season, and improve on their 2-8-2 finish from last year.
State Champions: 2019
Watertown Arrows
Last Season: 2-10-3
2021 All-State: Jaxson Fiechtner (1st)
Watertown was a young team last fall, and will now look to build off of a season of development. 1st team All-Stater Jaxson Fiechtner returns after scoring 36 points last year, including 13 goals. Fellow classmate Ryan Roby (12 goals) will make a tough 1-2 combo against any defense.
Sophomore Conner Schalt is back after starting all 15 games last season while junior Tommy Foley, senior Logan Stimson, and senior Ethan Bohling started in 12 games and look to take on a bigger role.
In the goal, freshman Blake Hight returns after making 161 saves as a middle schooler.
Harrisburg Tigers
Last Season: 2-10-3
After a difficult season last year, Harrisburg looking to reach the second round of the playoffs, as goalkeeper Josiah Hutton leads this new version of the Tigers.
Max Bates, Emory Johnson, and the entire back line returns as well for this team, so look for a young team to play some really tough defense in 2022.
Sturgis Scoopers
Last Season: 4-9-1
After graduating 14 seniors in the Class of 2020, last season was a rebuilding year for the Scoopers. Sturgis will now return to the pitch with some young talent that now has varsity experience. Leading scorer Carsen Wolter (8 goals, 7 assists) is back for his sophomore season, along with junior goalkeeper Christian Lemke, who made 112 saves last fall.
2021 starters Talan Kullborn (JR), Dash Schuster (JR), and Karsen Berndt (JR) will look to provide leadership along with transfer defender Caleb Allen (SO). Overall, the Scoopers may not have had the record from last fall that signifies a threat, but with some young experience returning, this team looks to be a dangerous group in the west river area.
D/RCC/NU Patriots
Last Season: 3-10-1
Just like most seasons, you never quite know what your going to get for talent out of Box Elder. We’ll know more about this team after the first few games of the year.
Mitchell Kernels
Last Season: 1-12-0
The Kernels had a tough season last year, but look to continue to get better this next year. They are losing 2/3 of their starters from 2021, but are returning 5 seniors with a focus this season on working hard for each other.
OTHER TEAMS:
Washington Warriors
Last Season: 9-2-3, State Semifinalist
2021 All-State: Harrison Dubsiar (1st), Alex Bittner (2nd)
State Champions: 2018
Spearfish Spartans
Last Season: 9-4-1
2021 All-State: Yohannes Petersen (2nd)
Brookings Bobcats
Last Season: 4-9-1
2021 All-State: James Park (2nd)
Brandon Valley Lynx
Last Season: 4-9-2
2021 All-State: Ayden Spicer (1st)
