LAST SEASON: Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Trojans in 2024. when they posted an amazing in 20-1-1 overall record. They won the O-K Silver conference championship (including the conference tournament title), outscoring their Silver opponents 47-4. Fruitport went on to win a Division 2 district championship and won in the first round of regionals, before bowing out in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime shootout loss to eventual state finalist Forest Hills Northern.
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RETURNING STARTERS: Fruitport fans might have good reason to be excited once again, because the Trojans return nine key contributors – including five starters – from last year’s amazing squad. The biggest name back in the lineup is Jorge Burgos-Yack, a senior midfielder who is one of the most gifted offensive players around. As a junior he registered 18 goals and 9 assists, securing first-team All-State honors, as well as All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honors. Also back after having success last year are senior winger Carter Gregor (9 goals as a junior); senior defender/midfielder Davis Johnson (8 goals, 4 assists), who earned All-Conference honors last season; senior midfielder Ryder Merkins (7 goals, 5 assists last year), junior midfielder Hudson Hazekamp (2 goals, 6 assists last year); senior centerback Nathaniel Cribley-Cotto; senior midfielder Satchel Norwood; senior midfielder Jayden Booker; and junior forward Jyles Smith, a speedy player who scored four goals in his 10th grade season.
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OTHER RETURNERS: Senior goalkeeper Mason Kettel, senior defender Ryder Chan, senior midfielder Riley Kanaar, senior midfielder Carson Maiden, senior defender Owen Tromp, senior defender/midfielder Braylon Richards.
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Senior midfielder/defender Ryder Doherty (transfer student from Washington state); sophomore winger Quincy McDaniels; sophomore forward/midfielder Caleb Chandler.
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ROSTER BREAKDOWN: 24 players, including 15 seniors, 5 juniors and 4 sophomores.
OVERALL TEAM STENGTHS: Experience and chemistry. Most of the Trojans have been playing together since youth leagues. The Trojans will be a very fast team that should light up the scoreboard, with the players who scored more than 70 percent of the goals last year back for another season. Most of the Trojans will also be able to handle pressure and big situations, because they have been in a lot of big games over the past few years.
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FIRST GAME: Friday, Aug. 15 at Boyne Mountain Invitational. First home game Tuesday Aug. 19 vs. Ludington.
COACH COMMENT: “We have a senior-heavy team that has really gelled over the last year. Most of the team has been lifting and conditioning since last November, in anticipation for this season. We start the season at the very difficult Boyne Mountain tournament, in which we will play some of the stronger teams from all over the state. That will set the bar for the rest of the season. We will play another season in the very challenging O-K Silver conference, with some really good teams. The goal of this team is to raise the bar that has been set by the previous years teams as far as our culture and competitiveness.” – Dan Hazekamp
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