By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Waynesville’s senior class will try to lift the Tigers out of a scoring doldrum that hindered them for much of the 2016 season.
Waynesville finished 6-15 overall last season. The Tigers had graduated a major piece from their 2015 team in all-time leading goal scorer and all-time points leader Caleb Rodriguez, a two-time 1 Awards nominee who’s now playing at Evangel University in Springfield.
Scoring goals was a challenge for Waynesville a year ago. While the Tigers netted 38 total goals, nearly half (17) came in blowout wins against West Plains and Hillcrest.
Veteran coach Mike Armstrong may look to implement a new style of attack in 2017.
“I do have some ideas on our formation that I think will play to our strengths,” he said. “We lacked a true finisher last year and are working hard at creating one. I think we have some players that are very hungry to score.
“Our possession style of play in the past doesn’t make for a ton of scoring chances. We will see if this year’s players can adapt to a new style.”
Waynesville has a deep senior class to lead the way.
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All-Ozark Conference selections Daniel Sesay (forward, first team) and Gunnar Coonrod (defender, second team) are back, along with fellow seniors Joey Cartwright (forward/midfield), Bryan Moose (midfield) and Brandon Burkett (midfield).
“I think we have strong group of seniors that really want to be successful,” Armstrong said. “With their leadership and hard work, I know good things will come. If the boys can come together as a team and we can create that finisher we need, we will be hard to handle. Our defense and conditioning is very strong so all we need to beef up is our scoring.”
The Tigers appear to have some key pieces for the future already in place, and more depth joining the program.
Goalkeeper Isaac Swanson is back after earning all-conference honorable mention as a freshman. Three more sophomores are in contention for significant varsity minutes: Garrett Long (midfield), Seth Cruz (midfield) and Nate Taylor (midfield).
“I am not sure what other newcomers we will have yet,” Armstrong. “We have a strong freshmen class coming in and I’ll have to wait to see if any can move up to the varsity level.”
The Tigers graduated three all-conference players in Brandon Hofmann (midfield, first team), Jorge Arriaga (defender, honorable mention) and Austin Cartwright (midfield, honorable mention).
“You can never replace players like those. I will just take what this new group gives and make a plan that fits them,” Armstrong said. “Our style of play is very much determined by what is best for our players at the time.”
Five of Waynesville’s six victories last season came in conference play.
The Tigers host a jamboree on Aug. 14. Waynesville faces Hillcrest on Aug. 22, the first game of a five-game homestand to start the regular season.
