Photo by Samantha Davis: The 2025 Lakeview soccer staff consists of (entrance row, left to proper) Joshua Potts, Braylon Breyfogle, Wade Hansen, Garrett Schafer, Kaiden Pringle, Landon Teske, Dustin Schlenner, Landyn Listul, Jordan Olsen, Jackson Staab, Cody Helmke, Jayden Montgomery, (second row, left to proper), Logan Herrick, Chance Kosel, Tucker Anderson, Blake Peltier, Jake Robinson, Conner Moseng, Jared Bot, Jaxon Hartke, Soren Louwagie, (third row, left to proper) Carter Nilges, Ashton Heidebrink, Gage Dimmick, Raiden Coyle, Beau Laleman, Aceson Isaacs, Chase Bryant, Austin Martin, Jamison Olsen and Cooper Caspers. Not pictured is Teagan Neuman, Elijah Huntjens, Brian Sego and Taedan Smith. The Lakers are coached by (again row) head coach Scott Hanson, and assistants Colton Andrea, Thomas Yahnka, Isaac Loe, Erik Lundberg, Russell Murphy, David Loe and Dave Nelson.
COTTONWOOD — With a brand new beginning quarterback and enormous group of younger returners led by 12 seniors, the Lakeview soccer staff is trying to continue its rebuild in the precise course forward of the 2025 season.
“Last year, we made a lot of progress. A lot of the players we have this year played last year. We have a lot of returning letter winners that are coming back,” Lakeview head coach Scott Hanson stated. “This group of kids has put a lot of time since last October in the weight room and is getting faster and stronger, so we’re really looking forward to that. We had a really good summer preparation.”
The Lakers completed their 2024 marketing campaign 3-6 general, choosing up their trio of wins sporadically. It was a rise from Lakeview’s 2023 season when it went 1-8, as this system has been rebuilding since its 9-2 run in 2022 and graduated a hefty group of 16 seniors that yr. The staff was Section 5A runner-up that season as effectively.
Lakeview’s season got here to an finish final yr within the part quarterfinals with a 36-6 loss to Canby, who it beat earlier within the yr on Sept. 2, 14-8. The Lakers’ different wins came visiting Yellow Medicine East and Lac qui Parle Valley.
“Last year, we had three games that we let get away from us that we should have won,” Hanson stated. “We’ve had a great start to our fall camp, and all we’re focusing on is just being 1-0 each week [this season].”
“We have team goals that we’ve set for ourselves, but all we’re looking forward to is each Friday night, taking one game at a time, getting better for that game and not looking too far ahead,” Hanson added as to the staff’s method this season. “We’re not looking back as to last year … I felt we’ve rebuilt ourselves last year, and now this year, we want to just reload and go.”
Lakeview graduated eight seniors final yr, together with quarterback Tyden Marczak.
Marczak completed the season with 48 full passes on 94 makes an attempt for 301 yards, with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He additionally had 126 speeding yards with a pair of touchdowns and 31 tackles.
Junior Logan Herrick would be the Lakers’ new beginning quarterback, who Hanson stated he noticed some varsity time within the place final season together with throwing the profitable landing towards Canby within the second sport of the season when Marczak had to sub out with an damage.
Other graduated seniors that Lakeview will look to alter to the lack of is defensive lineman Colton Schlenner, huge receiver and linebacker Dylan Caron and operating again and linebacker Jared Gregoire, who all had 58, 54 and 35 tackles respectively.
But, the Lakers have a number of returners who made vital contributions final season that the staff will continue to depend on this yr.
“We have really good senior leadership,” Hanson stated. “They all played as juniors last year, so we got a lot of experience coming back during the season.”
Senior linebacker and operating again Garrett Schafer led the Lakers in a number of classes final season, and can look to continue his versatility.
Schafer had a team-high 437 speeding yards on 103 carries with one landing, and in addition 161-receiving yards on 12 catches and one landing.
Other returners embody sophomore operating again and linebacker Chance Kosel, senior huge receiver and cornerback Braylon Breyfogle, senior linebacker Dustin Schlenner and senior offensive and defensive lineman Jackson Staab.
Last yr, Kosel adopted behind Schafer with 145 speeding yards on 40 carries with one landing. Breyfogle recorded 122 receiving yards on 20 catches with three touchdowns, together with 13 tackles.
Schlenner had a staff second-best 58 tackles, and Staab had 25.
“I would say we look for a lot of leadership out of those guys,” Hanson stated. “We’re just looking forward to the first game of the season … That’s all we’re focused on, is one week at a time.”
Hanson additionally famous he expects sophomore offensive and defensive lineman Jared Bot to play heavy minutes, who received vital time as a freshman and had 14 tackles on the yr.
Along with its giant group of 12 seniors, Lakeview will continue to construct up its younger expertise within the coming years, who maintain 19 mixed freshman and sophomores this season.
“What I really like the most about this group of players is that grades nine to 12, they’re all together, and they do things together,” Hanson stated. “When we take our water breaks at practice, it’s the whole team together. There’s no group standing off to the side. It’s the whole team, standing together.”
Hanson stated all gamers are wholesome to begin the season, aside from sophomore linebacker Jaxon Hartke who’s rehabbing an ACL tear from over the winter. He has been cleared to observe, and Hanson stated he needs to be on tempo to play close to mid-season.
Lakeview will open the season on Friday at dwelling when it hosts Madelia at 7 p.m. The Lakers will then hit the street subsequent week to Lac qui Parle Valley, additionally Friday at 7 p.m.