The first season of Sun Prairie West girls soccer in the spring of 2023 was a rousing success.
The Wolves, led by a talented 10-member senior class, took the Big Eight conference by storm. They finished third in the final standings with an 8-2 record and finished the regular season 12-3-2 overall. They were also a No. 5 seed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state tournament and earned the program’s first postseason win before bowing out to eventual state runner-up Kettle Moraine.
The on-field product will look vastly different in 2024. Almost the entire starting lineup has graduated, including six all-conference selections. West’s stability comes from its coaching staff. The contingency remains the same with head coach Alyssa Weymier, varsity assistant Nick Hanson, and junior varsity coach Analiese Eicher. This has helped ease the transition, especially without the chaos of being a first-year program anymore.
“I definitely have my feet under me this time around,” coach Weymier said. “I’m lucky to have the same wonderful coaching staff that has meshed really well together. I think we really compliment each other well which gives me confidence to lead in year two. It’ll look different, as happens with any high school team. We thank our graduated seniors for establishing a great culture here. I will miss them, but I’m also excited to see what those younger kids can do.”
While experience overall will be sparse, a pair of talented juniors have it in spades. Forward Mira Petri and midfielder Chloe Voung broke into the starting lineup as sophomores last season and both took home honorable mention all-conference honors for their contributions.
Despite the senior logjam ahead of her on the offensive attack, Petri still proved to be a valuable and dangerous portion of the team. She finished third on the team with 21 goals. This effort was headlined by a five-goal performance against Janesville Parker. Petri was voted as a team captain prior to the start of the season.
Voung will join Petri as a team captain. She netted eight goals from her midfield position last spring and was described by coach Weymier as “as passionate and knowledgeable about the game as she is talented.”
Joining Voung in the midfield will be the only freshman to make the varsity this spring, her cousin Alayna Voung. Much like her cousin Chloe, Alayna is a knowledgeable midfielder that sees the field well, works hard, and is very technically sound. This familial duo will be a rock for West to rely on this spring.
The Wolves also have the benefit of a dynamic one-two punch in goal. Junior Sophia Vriesema is the returning starter. She had a stupendous sophomore season last spring, pitching seven shutouts while holding five more opponents to only one score.
Sophomore Max Euclide has broken out as a serious contender for the position, as well. She’s described by coach Weymier as a “no nonsense, vocal leader” who’s already shown an ability to make some stupendous saves. The two will split time at the position to start the season.
Standing in front of them will be another of the few returning Wolves with experience, junior defense Brenna Uttech. Much like her classmates Petri and Chloe Voung, Uttech was able to break into the senior-heavy lineup last spring as only a sophomore. She’ll be a leader of the defense as a junior.
The primary conversation between the coaching staff and players during the offseason is remaining united as one pack. This season will look different, both because of the graduated seniors from last season and low numbers and some early injuries this season. While tapering expectations, the Wolves are still pumped to get out there and compete.
“One Pack, One Goal,” coach Weymier said. “That’s our motto. We want to come together every day with the same goals and expectations. We just have to win the day. That result might not be a win in the record book, but we have to continue accomplishing any size goal we set for ourselves. If we stay positive and keep our goals in mind, we can and will be successful.”
The Wolves’ new season should have already started, but a springtime snow storm eliminated a home non-conference matchup with Sugar River scheduled for Tuesday, April 2. Now, West will hope to kick things off with their annual home quad, hosted alongside Sun Prairie East at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium.
If the weather holds, competition will begin on Friday, April 5 against DeForest at 5 PM. The following day, West will take on Watertown at 11 AM. Sun Prairie West will then have four more non-conference opportunities before opening Big Eight play at home against Janesville Parker on Thursday, April 18.
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