Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Tuesday Bellarmine Prep 7 p.m.
Thursday at Shelton 7 p.m.
April 2 Gig Harbor Noon
April 14 Stadium 7 p.m.
April 19 Central Kitsap 7 p.m.
April 21 at Olympia 7 p.m.
April 26 Mount Tahoma 7 p.m.
April 28 at Bellarmine Prep 7 p.m.
May 3 Shelton 7 p.m.
May 5 at Gig Harbor 5:15 p.m.
Coach: James Ritchie, second season.
Key returners: F-MF Dallas Brewster, sr.; D Matthew Christenberry, sr.; MF Diego de la Cruz, jr.; MF Kieran Prince, so.
Top newcomers: MF Mike Nation, so.; F Joey Starr, so.
Key departures: F Austin Arper, graduated; MF Nico de la Cruz, graduated; D Dixon Hammer, graduated; D Ian Jose, graduated; D Gavin Klein, graduated; D Boyd Shelby, graduated.
But it generally is used to describe a single season.
South Kitsap coach James Ritchie could apply that word to describe his team for a second straight year.
Ritchie inherited the Wolves a year ago from Michael Krug, who guided the team to its lone state championship in program history in 2009. South graduated 10 players off that team, including standouts such as forwards Justin Moore, who now plays at Western Washington University, and Brent Ricigliano. Despite that, the Wolves had a 9-6-2 overall record last season and advanced to the West Central District Tournament.
But reaching that point might be even more daunting this season as South features arguably its youngest teams in years.
“We’re all kind of newcomers,” said junior midfielder Nico de la Cruz, one of the team’s few veterans.
De la Cruz started on the championship team as a freshman and now serves as a captain. He scored nine goals last season, but Ritchie is effusive in his praise of de la Cruz’s all-around game.
“If he bulks up and keeps working as hard as he has, I think he easily can be an MLS player at some point,” he said. “He can dictate a game and change a game.”
In addition to de la Cruz, Ritchie moved senior Dallas Brewster, who scored nine goals as a defender last year, to the front line. He played both forward and midfield in a 5-0 win Tuesday night against Olympia.
Beyond those players, Ritchie will count on some sophomores to score. Austin Arper, who scored a Kitsap County-high 19 goals last year, graduated. Ritchie mentioned midfielder Mike Nation, who sat out his freshman season in 2010 because of a broken leg, and forward Joey Starr as possibilities. The latter scored two goals against Olympia.
“He’s got a nose for the goal,” said Ritchie, referring to Starr.
On the defensive end, the Wolves graduated stalwarts such as Ian Jose, Gavin Klein and Boyd Shelby. Despite that, defender might be South’s strongest position with seniors Matthew Christenberry and Evan Hancock and sophomores Austin Hammer and Bryce Klatt.
“We’ve got the experience in the back and you can see that,” Ritchie said. “We’re very calm.”
Goalkeeper also is another position where the Wolves feature depth. Senior Quintin Harris, sophomore Jaxom Beverage and freshman Kyle Metzger all have played this season.
And while a championship might be too much to request, Ritchie is hopeful that South can advance to state for a sixth time in the last decade.
“If these boys keep developing and working hard, they’ll be competing all the way through it,” he said. “I’m just hoping that we can get through to the tournament. That would be a massive thing for the school this year with such a changeover on the roster.”
