Of all the ways a program can evolve, Watterson boys soccer coach Aaron Linden will take the hand he has been dealt.
“Every year I’ve been here, we have scored more goals [than the previous year],” said Linden, who has led the Eagles to two state tournaments in his four-plus seasons. “We’ve never had a team this attack-based since I’ve been here, and this is a team that can attack for days. Our defense is all back, but they try to attack too much sometimes. We’re just trying to fine-tune.”
That would sound like a winning formula for the defending Division III state champions, who return seven starters and got an immediate litmus test this season against two Division I district title contenders in Olentangy Orange (5-3 loss Aug. 14) and Pickerington
North (3-2 win Aug. 18).
Two more central Ohio teams – Dublin Jerome (Division I) and Worthington Christian (Division IV) – launched their own title defenses earlier this month. They return five and three starters, respectively, and both include a handful of talented underclassmen.
Here are 12 central Ohio boys soccer players to watch this fall:
Jack Collaguazo, Ready
A junior forward, Collaguazo’s 24 goals and four assists powered the Silver Knights to an 11-8-1 record and Division IV district semifinal last fall. Ready improved by three wins from 2024 and earned its first postseason win since 2020. Collaguazo was named first-team all-district and all-state, the latter of which consisted of one team per division for the second season in a row.
Will Hamill, Jonathan Alder
The senior forward racked up 23 goals and six assists for a Pioneers team that reached a Division III district final. Hamill earned first-team all-Central Buckeye Conference – in which his total goals and points (52) both ranked third – and second-team all-district.
Toby Hatzifotinos, Grandview Heights
Hatzifotinos is moving out of his comfort zone for his senior season, switching from goalie to attacking midfielder as the Bobcats try to improve on last year’s Division V district runner-up finish and reach their 10th regional since 2014. The four-year varsity player plans to play in college but is undecided on his destination, according to coach James Gerdes.
Maddox Keifer, Westerville Central
The senior forward should be crucial to the Warhawks’ chances of returning to the Division II state tournament, one year after making their debut after a regional final upset of defending state champion New Albany. Keifer led Central with 11 goals, added one assist and is one of several returnees despite the loss of 11 players to graduation.
Sam Meacham, Watterson
A senior midfielder who is expected to be a linchpin if the Eagles are to push for a championship repeat, Meacham had 13 goals and 10 assists last year. Watterson returns experience across multiple areas, including junior goalie Aedan Richardson and center back Grayson Davis, who added 11 goals in 2025.
Blake Miller, Worthington Christian
The senior forward and third-year starter led the Warriors in goals over the past two seasons, a span that includes the Division IV state title last year after a runner-up finish in 2024. Miller had 21 goals and 11 assists last fall on the heels of racking up 20 goals and six assists as a sophomore. He also is a football kicker.
Liam Neidenthal, Dublin Jerome
The senior midfielder was injured for most of the Celtics’ state championship run but returned for the tournament and has started fast this fall, according to coach Nate Maust, with a goal and two assists in his first two games. Jerome returns five starters and has a large senior class with “new talent from the sophomore class,” Maust said.
Kaden Procuniar, Fairbanks
The senior midfielder made his name last fall as both a scorer and facilitator, contributing 13 goals and 21 assists to the Panthers’ first district and regional championships. Procuniar should again be a leader on a team that returns 33-goal scorer Ty Schroeder (sophomore) and 20-goal scorer Nolan Baker (senior) after falling to eventual champion Cincinnati Summit Country Day in overtime in a Division V state semifinal.
Tyler Sammons, New Albany
One of four returning starters for an Eagles team that came up two wins shy of a Division II championship repeat, the junior center back should anchor the defense this fall under first-year coach Alex Finy. Sammons also stands out on the 2009 Ohio Premier ECNL team, according to Finy. New Albany allowed 10 goals in 18 games in 2025.
Carter Smith, Westerville North
A senior midfielder and Bowling Green commit who was ranked No. 1 on the preseason All-USA Ohio Top 25 boys soccer list, Smith powered the Warriors to their first regional since 2012 last fall. North went 15-2-3 and fell to New Albany in a semifinal. Smith entered his senior season with 26 goals and 20 assists in his career and was named first-team all-district and all-state last year.
Calvin Spitznagle, Tree of Life
The senior center midfielder had 27 goals and five assists to lead the Trojans (18-3) to a third consecutive district championship. They lost to Worthington Christian in a regional final. Spitznagle was Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League Player of the Year, first-team all-district and all-state.
Seth Tedla, Olentangy Orange
A senior forward who scored on exactly half of his shots on goal last year, Tedla’s 11 goals and five assists helped the Pioneers reach a Division I regional final against Jerome. Tedla is one of 11 seniors for Orange, a class that includes returning starting goalie Evan Hauszen, forward Jude Osei, attacking midfielder Ethan Weiser and defender Gavin Wheeler.
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school boys soccer players to watch in 2026 season
