WJ boy’s soccer is heading back to regionals after a 2-1 win over Stow-Munroe Falls in the District Final on Saturday, October 25. The victory secured the Warriors’ fourth straight District Championship and improved their record to 15-2-3 this season, pushing their four-year mark to an incredible 66-14-7.
Senior captain Freddie Marcell said, “Our success doesn’t just come from winning games, the brotherhood we’ve been able to build off the field has been a major part of our success this season.” That brotherhood can be seen every game on the pitch. The team’s chemistry, confidence, and total trust in each other have turned this group into one of the most dangerous squads in Ohio.
The Warriors have outscored opponents 24-4 over their last six games and have allowed fewer than one goal per match all season. The back line has been a wall, organized and disciplined, led by captains Colin Locigno (“CLO”) and Josh Novak. “We had a rocky start to the season and conceded too many penalties, but we’ve put in the work every day and have been able to turn the season around,” Locigno said.
Defensive anchor Brody Moore added, “I believe our defense is the best in the state, we rarely get sloppy, and when we do, Quinn is back there to clean it up. It’s easy to be a great defensive team when you communicate with each other and everyone knows their assignment.”
The Warriors’ offense continues to deliver when it matters most. Senior Josh Novak scored his 20th goal of the season earlier in the playoffs, while teammates Marcell, Max Clark, Jack Regula, Reily Stummer, Alex Perduk, and Gavin Kohrs have all found the net during their postseason surge. Assists from Bora Dastan, Novak, Marcell, Stummer, Graham Lohnes, and Tyler Perse show how deep and balanced this lineup is.
Head coach Mr. Tony Catanzarite praised the team’s mindset after last year’s state-final loss. “Our goal hasn’t changed from last year. Our goal is a state championship, and I have all the confidence in the world that these boys can do it. And I know they believe that as well,” he said.
“Confidence is the key, we can have all the talent in the world but if we don’t believe that we can make it, we won’t,” Novak said. Junior Jack Oplinger echoed that determination: “Yeah, you know losing that many seniors definitely hurts but it’s time to move on and get back to work, finish what they started.”
That work has paid off. “This team is like my second family, I would do anything to play with these guys,” Locigno said. Senior goalkeeper Quinn Anderson reflected on how far the squad has come since last season’s heartbreak. “Last year we graduated twelve seniors, nine of them starters, so we knew this season wouldn’t be easy,” he said. “A lot of us had to step into new roles, and we’ve taken that on with a lot of hard work, courage, and optimism.”
Anderson said the win over Stow felt like a turning point. “It was an incredible feeling to lift that trophy with my teammates, pure joy,” he said. “We’ve got real forward momentum right now, and everyone in that locker room believes we can make it back to states. Only this time, we plan on winning it all!”
