Columbus Crew defender Josh Williams is probably the most well-known of Copley HS soccer alumni. The Copley native has been a staple with the Crew for the past five seasons and is currently longest-tenured player at the club. He represents the pinnacle of a large number of NE Ohio natives that are currently playing soccer in the professional ranks.
Williams’ success is just one piece of the legacy that Copley HS boys soccer has created over the years. Locals have always known of the quality program, but national recognition finally came this season as the team was named to the NSCAA National Poll several times. The most recent put the Northeast Ohio school at #6 in the country ahead of national powerhouses like Pittsburgh’s Upper St. Clair and New York’s Martin Luther King Jr.
“It is an incredible honor to even be considered one of the best in the state of Ohio, let alone the country,” head coach David Antal commented. “Year after year, the teams that represent Ohio in the state tournament are fantastic players from fantastic schools led by fantastic coaches. So to be considered nationally from a great soccer state like Ohio is quite humbling. This is an amazing group of young men to work with. They are extremely competitive and fun to watch play.”
This success comes as no surprise as six former standouts find themselves contributing at the collegiate level. Brad Ruhaak (University of Akron), Riley Grant (Penn State University), Brandon Gathagan (Walsh University), Mike Dichlain (Cleveland State University), Rodney Csmiza (University of Mount Union), and Jacob Kimmell (John Carroll University) are all making a difference at their respective schools.
And this year’s squad is clearly making a difference back home. The program is experiencing a bit of a “golden age” as they are absolutely loaded with talent. The team is led by junior forward Chris Brennan, a returning All-American. Brennan leads the team with 18 goals and six assists.
Four seniors round out an incredible core of established players. Forward Franklin Kirui (14 goals, five assists) and midfielder Skye Harter (15 goals, 17 assists) lead the attack while goalkeeper Ameer Mubarak (seven shutouts) and Holden Torrens anchor the defense.
This is a team poised to make a run in the postseason. Copley will play the winner of Barberton and Akron Ellet on October 18th. There is no reason why they won’t dominate their district as no area team can match their potent attack and stingy defense. Simply put, expect to see Copley HS at Crew Stadium in early November for the state finals. It’s unlikely that they will face much of a fight until they get into the regional tournament.
After all, that is where you get the hardware, not in a national poll.
“Obviously they were excited to be recognized on a national level. They’ve remained focused on their schedule. They realize it’s an honor, but also know that the rankings at the end of the season carry more weight.”
All of this success can be tied to the tremendous support the team receives from the Copley and Fairlawn communities.
“Copley is supportive of all of its sports programs. The soccer team receives tremendous support both in the halls and in the stands.”
The Copley Athletic Association is a big part of the success; they features a highly respected travel program called the Cosmos. This program supports the high school team at games and out in the community. It really is a great situation for all involved.
Copley’s tennis, track, and golf programs have gotten some press lately as well. Even the girls’ soccer team, which happens to be the defending league champion, appears to be in the midst of a meteoric rise.
Simply put, it is a great time to be involved with athletics at Copley HS.
The ISN Ultimate 11 began as an effort to recognize the very best of high school soccer, a side of the game often neglected by the national media. That is certainly no longer the case as ISN leads the way in promoting the game at this level, honoring the young men and women that are the future of the sport.
Promotion of the ISN Ultimate XI will culminate in a major multi-state event in the summer of 2015.
