Knights, Warriors return to field in a new-look soccer conference

The Colony Knights and Wasilla Warriors are in the new-look Railbelt Conference in the ASAA Division I ranks.

Juneau-Douglas moved to Division 1 after the closing of Thunder Mountain High School, and Eagle River and Chugiak have both rejoined the Cook Inlet Conference. That places Colony and Wasilla in a conference that now features Juneau-Douglas, West Valley and Lathrop.

Colony Knights

The Colony boys are looking to have another good season after winning the state championship in 2023 and finishing as the runner-up in 2024. The Knights are also the back-to-back conference champs.

Senior returners include captains Owen Dietz, Isaac Villa and Finn Hofmann along with leading goal-scorer from 2024, Johnny Figgins. and senior goalkeeper, Mason Irsik.

Senior Eli Ingle is returning to the team after a two-year stint out of state playing at Shattuck-St Mary's Prep school in Minnesota and junior Axel Simeck will be holding down the defense along with Devon Smith, Mason Carveth and newcomer Aiden Donahue after the departure of three-year starting center back duo of Tyler Swartz and Matthew Crawford.

Head coach Jeremy Johnson enters his 31st season with the Knights and joined the exclusive 400-win club last season, and starts this season with a total record of 403-107-50 and is one of two coaches in the 400-win club along with Juneau-Douglas head coach Gary Lenhart.

The Colony girls are looking to build upon a very successful 2024 season which saw them win the Railbelt Conference title for the fourth time in seven seasons under Johnson, who doubles a the boys and girl head coach, and finished third at the state tournament.

The Knights return leading goal scorer Avrie Geigerich, captains Asha Gerteisen and Kendall Ketchum, along with starters Sammy Gerteisen and Anika Lang. Freshman Calico McIntyre, Wurth Ford and Daisy Gerteisen are also looking to make an impact for the Knights this season. The Knights have big shoes to fill in replacing all conference players Emily Moses and Savannah Anderson, who both had successful seasons in college this year for Blue Mountain and Tacoma community colleges.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla girls soccer will be looking to make it back to the state tournament after missing out last year. They will be led by a pair of three-year starters in seniors Violet Schachle and Holly Marsh. Schachle, a defender and midfielder, is a former all-state tournament team selection. Marsh, a creative playmaker, was a second-team all-conference selection as a freshman and sophomore. She returned from an injury towards the end of last season and will be ready to lead the team as co-captain with Schachle.

Makenna Hanson, a two-time first-team all-conference selection will be joined by a large group of returning juniors: Allie Dollick, Danielle Steiner, Delany Tatum and Gracie Weisz.

Returning sophomores Lainey Kroon, Mickenzy Lofland, Morgan Mahoney and Jordan Sande will look to improve on their rookie seasons.

A trio of exciting freshmen — Chloe Fletcher, goalkeeper Larkynn Miner, and Molly O’Neill — join the team this year. Other newcomers to the team are a pair of seniors, Kayla Hinkley and Veronika Hutchings.

The team will also be looking for leadership from Mylee Anderson, who finishes out her storied high school athletic career on the soccer field after winning three state titles over the past two years in volleyball and basketball.

The Warrior coaching staff includes head coach JB Schwartz, and assistant coaches Allie Hewitt and Reese Sande.

The Wasilla varsity boys are looking to build on the year prior with a deep roster filled with a lot of talent, according to head coach Allen Bair. Some key players include senior defender Isaac Barron, senior midfielder Ryder Clark, and exchange student Dario Lluyot from Spain. Wasilla has brought in a strong freshman class, some of which are starters. A promising mixture of experience, both new and old gives Wasilla hope to break the state playoff drought this year.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.