JIM THORPE

Head coach - Anthony Dixon (5th season)Assistant coach - Lynn StellingDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Schuylkill LeagueLast year's record - 6-10-2 overall, 4-4-2 leagueKey Losses - Caleb Heller, Anthony Pavia, Steven Principe, Billy SterlingKey returnees - Jeremy Annan (Sr., Mid), Matt Miller (Sr., Def), Michael Schwartz (Sr., For), Andrew Rich (Sr., Def), Sam Gilkes (Sr., Def), Carter Rodriguez (Jr., GK), Jian Gentile (Jr., For), Cody Geiser (So., For), Cameron Condly (So, Mid), Jorge Macereno (So., Mid), Joseph Schwartz (So., Def), Jacob Burkhart (So., Mid), Todd Sterling (So., Mid)Others to watch - Luke Morris (Jr., Mid), Michael Boeres (Sr., Def), Chris Williams (Fr., For), Iam Motellius (Fr., Def).Outlook - According to Coach Dixon, the future is looking very good in that this year's squad is a very young team and could develop into a better team in the upcoming seasons. The Olympians have strength in their playmakers' skill sets. However, the lack of size could be a problem.Quotable - "This season looks very promising and even though we are a young team and inexperienced, if we play to our full potential and capabilities, we should have a successful season. I'm confident that we can qualify for districts for the third year in a row, but I'm also hoping that we will be able to finish in the top two in the league. We're looking forward to finding out how good we are against the rest of the league," Jim Thorpe head coach Anthony Dixon.LEHIGHTONHead coach - Dave Yob (5th season)Assistant coach - Joe Zarelli, Dylan SmithDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Schuylkill LeagueLast year's record - 12-9-1; MVC playoff runner-up, D-11 qualifierKey Losses - Anthony RossinoKey returnees - Dan Baka (Jr., Mid), Joe Marks (Jr., For), Zach Christoff (Jr., Mid), Cole Christman (Sr., Mid), Craig Serfass (Sr., Def), Tyler Dietz (So., GK)Others to watch - Ben Cordova (Jr., Mid), Frank Bokan (So., Mid), Josh Knappenberger (Jr., Def), Dylan Kleintop (Jr., Mid)Outlook - The Tribe will return a wealth of experienced talent from a season ago and hope to make some noise in league and district play. With last season being the first winning season at Lehighton in boys' soccer histroy, coach Yob is hoping to build upon that success. With low numbers, though, there are plenty of challenges that lie in the way of attaining that success.Quotable - "We have a good core back, but we'll have to be creative, due to low numbers in personnel. The defense will have to adjust to some new personnel and formation changes, but we're excited to join the Schuylkill League and hope to be able to challenge for a berth in the league playoffs, as well as earn another trip to districts," Lehighton head coach Dave YobNORTHERN LEHIGHHead coach - Rick Jones (3rd season)Assistant coach - Aaron HardingDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - ColonialLast year's record - 6-11-1Key Losses - Nate CzarneckiKey returnees - Nate Rex (Sr., GK), Bryce Moser (Sr., Def), Jakob Traca (Jr., For)Others to watch - Ashton Bevans (So., Mid), Everette Bevans (So., Def)Outlook - With only 15 players on the Bulldog roster, Jones is hoping to make the most of what he's got. The 'Dawgs do return plenty of experience and return a lot of starters to the lineup. However, adversity has been settling in the pre-season, as injuries are plaguing the already decimated crew. One of the more crucial injuries is to Zeb Shiffert, who re-aggravated an ankle injury a couple weeks ago. But Jones is optimistic about a quick recovery.Quotable - "We are optimistic about the season and hoping to qualify for districts for only the second time in school history. With the adversity that we've been dealing with so far, we're working on just getting to the first game and having eleven guys healthy and ready to play." - No. Lehigh Head coach Rick Jones.NORTHWESTERNHead coach - Nate Hunsicker (4th season)Assistant coach - Derrick Reinert, Josh GrossDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Colonial LeagueLast year's record - 17-2-1 overall, Colonial League championsKey Losses - Kyle Willis, Brandon Ettl, Matthew StricklandKey returnees - Cody Gangaware (Sr., Mid), Brandon Herb (Sr., Mid), JD Haff (Jr., For), Jonathan Blaine (So., Def), Kyle Bellhorn (So., GK).Others to watch - Andrew Goodolf (Fr., Def), Dominic Mertz (So., Mid)Outlook - Overall, Coach Hunsicker likes his team's skill and ability to possess the ball. The Tigers also have strength in their overall team speed and cohesiveness. Despite these assets, Hunsicker knows there are always areas to improve upon, like his squad's inexperience. Graduation took some key players and the Tigers may be one of the youngest teams in the league. Finally, what they lack in size, they can more than make up for in quickness.Quotable - "We would obviously love to defend our Colonial League title this season, but we plan on taking it one game at a time. We are aware of how hard we needed to work last year to accomplish what we did, so it will be tough to do. Also, we lost early in districts last year, so we'd like to avenge that early exit," Northwestern head coach Nate Hunsicker.PALMERTONHead coach - Ryan Sharkazy (3rd season)Assistant coach - James BuntingDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Colonial LeagueLast year's record - 4-14 overall, 2-11Colonial LeagueKey Losses - Austin Shupp, Gabe Scott, Jon SchwarzKey returnees - Rich Roselli (Sr., GK), Devon Santos (Jr., Mid), Harley Appelbaum (Sr., Def), Adam Moyer (Sr., For), Rio Kapur (So., For)Others to watch - Logan Blasiak (Jr., Mid), Jacob Oldt (Jr., Def), Stefano Tangero (Sr., Def)Outlook - Coach Sharkazy knows there are things that need to be worked on early on, such as knowledge of the game, positioning on the field and he is also hoping that his team's chemistry comes around. However, he is quite content with the younger guys being thrust "into the fire," and the way they handle it thus far. According to Sharkazy, senior goalkeeper Rich Roselli has been a beacon of positivity for the remainder of the squad and is helping to keep things moving in the right direction.Quotable - "This year, we're hoping to be competitive in every single game and possibly even surprise some teams on the schedule. We're just going to keep fighting, keep our heads up and good things will eventually happen," Palmerton head coach Ryan Sharkazy.PLEASANT VALLEYHead coach - Chris Pachuta (6th season)Assistant coach - Mike Dragotta, Alex Wunder, Chad FriendDistrict 11 Class - AAALeague - Eastern Pennsylvania ConferenceLast year's record - 19-2 overallKey Losses - Connor Phillips, Cole Bernier, Hako Beskovic, Brandon PerceyKey returnees - Brad Brickman (So., GK), Gabe Connell (Sr., For), Noah Fulcomer (Sr., Mid), Justin Habick (Sr., Mid)Others to watch - Enes Nikosevic (Jr., Def), Jacob Clifford (Jr., Def)Outlook - This season's Bears possess a very high soccer IQ and also have a passion to succeed, which Pachuta is hoping translates into another high quality season for Pleasant Valley. In order to accomplish that, he is aware that his roster will need to work on fitness and their overall team ability to defend.Quotable - "Our goals this season are the same as they always have been we want to win the division in this new league, and also contend for overall league and district titles," Palmerton head coach Chris Pachuta.TAMAQUAHead coach - Ian Blyth (2nd season)Assistant coach - Keith James, Alex Coleman, Greg SheelerDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Schuylkill League (Division I)Last year's record - 4-13 overall, 4-8 leagueKey Losses - Stephen BilletKey returnees - Roberto Borrero (Sr., For), Josh Delp (Sr., Mid), Ben Miller (Sr., Mid), Derek Keich (Sr., Def), Matthew "Swag" Sweigert (Sr., For)Others to watch - Hunter Bavanage (So., GK)Outlook - With only eighteen players on the Blue Raider roster (five seniors), Blyth is hoping to make the most of what is available to him. In the early-going, the Raiders display an immense amount of cohesiveness. According to Blyth, "what we lack in soccer skills, we more than make up for in teamwork and size."Quotable - "We're hoping to play one more game at the end of the regular season and make it count. We want something to be playing for at the end of the season. An overall record of .500 would be fine with me, and in order to do that, we're hoping to pick up some wins in our non-league games, as well." Tamaqua head coach Ian BlythWEATHERLYHead coach - Stephen Baade (1st season)Assistant coach - Josh Reiner, Brandon Hinkel, Cody CampionDistrict 11 Class - AALeague - Schuylkill LeagueLast year's record - 5-11-1 overallKey Losses - Josh Reiner, Adam Capone, Mark MillerKey returnees - Jake Stover (Jr.,Mid), Ryan Hoffman (Sr., Def), Nick Miller (Sr., GK), Drew Solonoski (Jr., Def), Derek Coombs (Sr., Def), Trent Dempsey (Jr., Mid/For),Others to watch - Lee Nyer (Jr., Mid), Paul Eckert (So., Mid), Kyle Osifat (Jr., Def)Outlook - Coach Baade is impressed with his team's ability to bond, as they've been communicating with each other well, both on and off the field. Despite the team's youth, and the fact that many of the Wrecker players have only been playing the sport for a few years, Baade is happy with his players improvements thus far and their willingness to learn.Quotable - "Naturally, we'd like to better our record. We also want to take our team to the next level, playoff-wise. The last time we made playoffs was in 2009, so we'd like to get back to that level. Finally, another one of our goals is to build our kids into being the best individuals they can be through sportsmanship," Weatherly head coach Stephen Baade.