Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Henry A. Wise High School boys' soccer coach Moses Olubo is very optimistic heading into this season and thinks that his team can make an inroads amongst the elite teams in the all-county 4A South region.
Olubo said that between 70 and 80 percent of last season's players return to a squad that lost just three seniors to graduation.
"Practice is going great," Olubo said. "The players have been very dedicated. They started with me before the season even opened so we are ahead of where we were at this time last year. They look like they're going to be very good."
Leading the Pumas' list of starters are senior goalkeeper Ken Korb and junior defender Cedric Harris. Sophomore midfielder Kendall Williams returns along with junior midfielder Renee Diaz. Junior newcomer Baraka Manipula leads a cast of about five newcomers that Olubo is very high on and hopes can get academic clearance to join the team.
Suitland
Seventh-year Rams' coach Charles Shuff hopes the Rams can bring up their numbers before the season starts next week. Shuff said Tuesday that the team had 10-12 players.
Helping the Rams this season will be four returning starters, led by senior goalkeeper Marcus Spriggs. Senior fullback Tyler Smith and sophomore midfielders Adan Vasquez and Josue Urias also are among the returning group.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne coach Patrick Noel is optimistic that the Lions can have a good season this fall. It was difficult to gauge just how successful a season the program had in 2007, as it played coed for the first time, due to numbers.
But Noel has 20 boys on his roster heading into Monday's opener at home against Takoma.
"It's good to see the guys all together for this year," said Noel, who attended the Upper Marlboro school during his middle school years and is entering his ninth season as soccer coach. He also coaches Freestate soccer in Bowie. "We started a little late last year and had a mixed bag of results. We weren't strong on numbers or number of games. Now we are having a reemergence. We are looking to be competitive."
Niko Paiz and Maurice Andrews are returning seniors and co-captains for the Lions. Both play the midfield. Junior Dean Bolt also returns at center midfielder, as does sophomore Steven Brown on the frontline.
Queen Anne has a pair of home games this season against Riverdale Baptist, Sept. 15 and Oct. 6.
E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net and Adam Rubenstein at arubenstein@gazette.net.
