The Mount Vernon boys’ soccer team said goodbye to 14 seniors, and are saying hello to 16 ninth graders.
But that doesn’t mean “rebuilding” to first-year coach Nate Grosse.
“I knew we’d have good numbers coming in,” Grosse said. “We’re young, but there are kids that have a tremendous opportunity.”
Grosse is also the men’s soccer coach at Cornell College.
“I’d been a volunteer assistant under Coach (Kevin) Murray,” Grosse said. “College season is in the fall, so that naturally opens the spring to do this, and Cornell was on board with me going for it. It fits together well.”
Grosse was hired at Cornell in 2013 and was the Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in 2017. He is originally from Omaha, Neb., and played college soccer at Truman State and Nebraska Omaha.
His challenge at Mount Vernon, in addition to a younger roster, is an offense that was not exactly high-octane last spring.
The Mustangs scored 41 goals in 16 games in 2023. And 29 goals came in three blowout wins (leaving 12 goals for the other 13 games).
“Americans like to see scores and goals,” Grosse said. “But 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, those are what you are going to get when you play teams that are on the same scale.”
And Grosse likes what he has seen from his defense, so far.
“A big part of my philosophy is really defending,” Grosse said. “Taking a lot of pride in keeping the other team out of the net. Then you only need to score one or two goals to win. It is a better situation.
“Do the blue-collar things that do not show up on the stat sheet. Celebrate that.”
But Grosse is confident the Mustangs will find ways to score, too.
Mount Vernon graduated 30 of its 41 goals. Matthew Mayhew is the top returning goal scorer, with five. He was honorable mention all-conference.
Senior Aiden Campbell and sophomore Cash Luneckas each had two.
State wrestling champion Klayten Perrault may also have a larger role as a senior in the midfield.
“We’re going to find a way to put the ball in the net,” Grosse said. “In our preseason scrimmage against Tipton, with a limited roster, we put the ball in the net six times.”
The program has grown over the past few years, and Grosse said it is important Mount Vernon now has a middle school program, even if it is not sanctioned.
More Mustangs are playing club soccer, and playing year-round. Giving young soccer players a venue after park-and-rec opportunities is critical.
“I think you’ll see the benefits of that this spring with our young guys,” Grosse said.
A couple freshmen will have big varsity roles right away, including Caleb Bartelt, Carter Gadberry and Jakob Yock.
“There may be five or six freshmen in the mix to be on varsity,” Grosse said. “They’ll make an impact.”
MUSTANG BOYS
Coach: Nate Grosse (first season)
2023 record: 9-6, 6-4 second in WaMaC East
Returning letterwinners (11) – Luke Stephens, sr.; Matthew Mayhew, sr.; TJ Nosbisch, sr.; Klayton Perreault, sr.; Uwen Boettcher, sr.; Aiden Campbell, sr.; Oliver Hinrichs, sr.; Lukas Schrock, sr.; Gavin Plathe, jr.; Landon Grosse, so.; Cash Luneckas, so.
The Mount Vernon boys hold a powwow on the field last season during a game.