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Blue Eagle Booters Ready To Make Noise In 2014

By Staff | Aug 20, 2014

The Magnolia Blue Eagle scoring machine, Oscar Celedon, is back to lead the boys’ soccer team to another stellar season from his center midfield position, in addition to six outstanding classmates who are ready to make a mark this season.
Celedon is the Eagles’ all-time leading male scorer, having laid in 81 goals in three seasons. In 13 games, he scored three or more goals, including nine goals against Wheeling Central last year.
This season, Magnolia will suit up a flock of speedy defenders who will give Celedon plenty more chances to score, including seniors Soren Shade, Zach Pritchard, and Tyler Akers. Other defenders will be juniors Michael Dantrassy, Kyle Goddard, and Troy Boughner. Each has the speed and agility to keep the ball from entering the box where senior goal-keeper Frankie Grilli will roam.
But, new recruits Riley Nice, Dylan Shimp, Kyler Cecil, and Jack Booth also have the speed and quickness to challenge for playing time. They will keep the well-oiled Big Blue Machine in tip-top shape defensively.
Also on the offensive side of the ball, Akers, Jacob Pancake, Aaron Scheibelhood, Alex Anderson, and J.T. Stillwagner will have opportunities to score for Magnolia. But, you can also throw in Daryon Ingold, Jaret Delaney, Aaron Pegg, James Moore, Jeremy Rodriguez, and a promising sophomore, Jentry Shultz, who will back up Grilli at keeper.
Leadership won’t be a factor, as senior lettermen Celedon, Shade, Pancake, Grilli, and Pritchard will lead by example, along with Akers and Shimp, to give the Eagles seven quality seniors to mesh with 15 underclassmen. It is one of Magnolia’s largest soccer teams.
Celedon is the go-to guy for goals. But. when teams try to double and triple team him, there are plenty of other capable players — like Akers, Anderson, Pancake, and Scheibelhood — to put the ball in the nets.
But, if the Eagles’ defense, which is their strength, can get the same type of play out of their midfielders, this team can and will make some noise in 2014.
“You can have all the skill in the world, but if you have no endurance it isn’t going to make much difference after about the first half,” stated Head Coach Mike Wolf. “We are focusing hard on our endurance and I think — at least at the beginning of the season — it should be one of our strengths.
“Our goal is to get better each practice and every game, and with an experienced bench, and a mix of younger players we should be okay. We have quality starters returning that I believe will translate into more wins,” said Wolf.
The team looks focused at the start of the season, has loads of potential, is unified, and should be fun to watch.
Wolf will have his booters in tip-top shape and ready for action when they open the season on the road Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. against the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights, before hosting the Tyler Consolidated Silver Knights Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. All home boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will be played at the field on New Martinsville’s Hydro Drive.