Corinth Holders
Corinth Holders enters their third year of NCHSAA play under first year head coach Mike Castle. The Pirates will look to rebuild a bit in 2020 after graduating 3 of their top 4 scorers from last year (84 pts) and 11 seniors overall. If they are going to improve from 2019 they are going to need some key players to step up.
Coach Castle will look to Seniors Julian Marin (41 svs) and Eli Leeworthy (15gb) to step up and anchor the defense. Junior Arjaye Jenkins, and Freshmen Stepen Bunn and Allen Fonseca-Reyes will be asked to help fill in as well.
On offense, Seniors Brigston Vardy (13pt, 23gb) and Hunter Marshburn (15pt, 21gb) will look to spark the offense. Ayden Perez, Joe Palmer and Kolby Steidl (Fr) will step up and make plays.
A quartet of players return having each taken at least 20 face-offs in 2019. Raul Vargas, Luke Upperman,Jordan White, and Trevor Limper combined to take 128 faceoffs last season.
The Pirates will compete in non-conference matchups against Webb, Rose, Sanderson, Garner, Cape Fear, Green Level, and Jack Britt (We think for the Pirate's Chest).
Heritage
Heritage comes into 2020 after graduation SIXTEEN seniors in 2019. The 11-4 campaign saw Heritage come in 2nd in the conference before being knocked out of the playoffs by Apex. Coach Michael Smith will look to rebuild in 2020 and push to compete again for the elusive conference title and another playoff birth.
On offense Heritage will be without their top three scorers: attackman Gregor Horne (36g/ 21a) and midfielders Ryan Cornell 34g/ 13a) and Noah DeLucia (29g/18a). Justin Kwiatek (15g/24a) will lead the offense. Coach Smith will look to Riley Martin (23pts), Colin O'Brien, McGuire Hill, Hunter Falzon and Brandon Szczypinksi to support offensive production.
Defensively, Heritage will look to replace three major pieces in defender David Weeks (50gb, 22ct), LSM Michael Manaro (70gb, 28 CT, 10g), and goalie Iain Moede (63%, 127sv). Sophomore captain Dillon Bethea will front keeper Elliot Ward (26sv), and look to lead what is sure to be a relatively young defense.
The biggest loss of 2019 is probably FOS Nick Fields (70%). Returning players Daniel Nau and Cody Melanson combined for just 17 faceoffs in 2019.
Heritage will square off against Leesville, Friendship, Orange, East Chapel Hill, Sanderson, and Holly Springs in non-conference tilts this Spring.
Rolesville
Second year coach Jacob Smith enters 2020 looking to continue building the identity of this young program. The building process will have to continue without 2019 Seniors Nick Proffitt (A), Cam Oldham (M), and Anthony Nguyen(M).
The Rams to return a great core of players including senior defenders RJ Raby (St. Andrews) and Pete Giambattista. Coach Smith will also count on Nick Bouchard, Nate Piggott, Jake Reeves, Philip Duffield, Ben Reid to step up in 2020.
Rolesville plays non-conference games against Enloe, Orange, and Cary.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest is looking to build on a .500 conference season in 2019. The Cougars will have to do it with a lot of new faces, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Jack Garber and Omi Kalio led a veteran defense in 2019. This year Bailey Seaman, Parker King, and Ayden Dail return for senior campaigns to lead the defense. Goalies Brandon Howard (Fr) and Owen Geyer (Jr) will compete for time between the pipes.
On offense Ian Howard and Colin Speer return for the Cougars. They accounted for over 40% of the Wake Forest offense in 2019. With the departure of Lance Bradley (23pts), Coach Smith will look to Chase Dominique, Cael Fauceglia, and AJ Pacheco to step up the offensive production.
Wake Forest will face Garner, Holly Springs, Northwood, Friendship, Sanderson, Enloe, Millbrook, Jack Britt, and Chapel Hill in a full non-conference schedule!
Wakefield
Since the forming of the NAC Coach Derrin Vacca has kept Wakefield at the top of the hill. The Wolverines look to continue their reign in 2020. Much like the rest of the conference they lost a lot of key pieces.
The brightest point for Wakefield is the return of sophmore face-off specialist Colman Kraske (68%). In addition to Kraske Wakefield has Junior Jake Green also went (66%) last season.
Offensively the Wolverines will be without their top three scorers Kevin Ritter (84pts), Colby Lensing (59pts), and Connor Pirrung (36pts). Seniors Connor Santos, Cole Pirrung, and Tommy Petruccione all scored more than 15 points in 2019. They will be asked to lead the offense and fill in leadership roles. Coach Vacca also will look to Luke Pirrung, Matt Healy, Jake Green, and Davis Mann to help create offense.
On Defense Wakefield loses veterans Lucas Crenshaw, Sam Walters, and Ryan Santos (Barton). Griffin Broad (Newberry) returns between the pipes to lead a new-look defense.
Wakefield pulled no punches on their non-conference schedule, including games games against: Holly Springs, Green Hope, Hill Academy (CN), Hoggard, St. Anne's Bellfield (VA), and Leesville
Pre-season Conference Ranking:
- Wakefield
- Heritage
- Wake Forest
- Corinth Holders
- Rolesville
Back to Previous Page