By Chris Parker
Fair Grove soccer finished 13-12 last season and is looking for even more wins this season with eight starters and 14 lettermen returning.
Finn Harp (junior defender) and Jacob Shurtz (junior forward) will be team leaders.
“Finn Harp as he has been a starter on our back row for two years now and he is tough and as competitive as they get and a good communicator,” head coach Ryan Highstreet said. “Jacob Shurtz is a two-year starter and two-year all-state guy. (He is) not a vocal guy but more of a lead by example on the field.”
Shurtz scored 18 goals with 13 assists on his way to second-team all-state honors last season.
He will be in the midfield with Tyler Whitehead (sophomore) and Colten Miller (sophomore). Whitehead had six goals and three assists last season.
Jesse Elliston (senior) and Ryan Blecher (junior) will be at forward.
Harp will be joined on defense by Jon Peak (senior), Grant Fuller (senior) and Tim Barber (junior). Fuller had eight goals and four assists in his junior season.
Wes Hart will be the goalkeeper.
Communication and accountability will be keys for Fair Grove soccer.
“In order to be good at anything you need to communication and almost over communicate,” Highstreet said. “We believe that we can have success but the only way we will achieve it is if we hold each other accountable.”
Fair Grove opens the regular season on Aug. 29-30 at the Marshfield Tournament.
