The Ames High boys varsity soccer (12-5-0) ended the 2015 season with a close devastating loss to West Des Moines Valley 4-3 in the substate final. Their goal was to make it to state which they fell just short of. This upcoming year they clearly have higher standards to be the best. “We have high expectations this year again, we expect nothing but to be a state tournament team” junior Lincoln     Saxton said. Senior Tyler Griffin also added, “Our goal was to make it to the state tournament, last time we made it was two years ago in 2014 and we felt we had a chance to go all the way, this year we have that same mentality. The Valley loss has made  us work harder over the offseason and to get ready to take it all this year.”

The team this year consists of many players with a lot of prior experience such as the returning leading scorer Divyesh Kumar (ST), Ben Klein (ST), Tyler Griffin (ST/LW), Ben Feddersen (LB), Lincoln Saxton (G), and Ryan Pretzer (RB), also the team will need to add a couple of new faces to help the team, such as the standout freshman Felipe Hermann (CM), would for sure be willing to fill a spot to help the team.
This upcoming season the team starts out the year with none other than Valley. Also right afterwards is a tough stretch of Ankeny, Johnston, and Ankeny Centennial. Training this offseason and thinking about the Valley loss will give the varsity team a little extra jolt to work harder and to get better. Boys and girls “unofficial” pre-season practices have started for those that wish to get a head start. The Little Cyclones have unfinished business to take care of and show the whole state that they are for real contenders this upcoming year.