Now a 14-team league with the addition of Bishop Kelly, Caldwell and Ridgevue, more than a handful of schools in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference enter the season with state championship aspirations.
Timberline made history last season, becoming the first team in 5A to win three state titles in a row since the IHSAA began sponsoring the state tournament in 2000. Like last season, they’ll have to replace some of their top players heading into this season, but return their star who carried them to a state tournament championship.
Zach Taylor scored all five goals for Timberline in the state tournament, including a hat-trick in the championship against Rocky Mountain. He’ll have even more responsibility this fall with the Wolves losing three all-state performers. Taylor and his 21 goals and 10 assists are back, along with second-team all-conference forward Kai Anitok. He had eight goals and eight assists last season.
Rocky Mountain will feel good about their chances of returning to the state championship with Rylan McPherson back. The reigning conference and state Player of the Year broke out last season with 27 goals and eight assists. He was a nightmare for opponents to defend. Midfielder Kevin Juarez also impressed last season, earning first-team all-SIC honors as a freshman.
Goals won’t be hard to come by for the Grizzlies, but they’ll have to replace both starting center-backs and goalkeeper from last season.
It was a three-horse race in the 5A SIC last season between Boise, Rocky Mountain and Timberline. Throw in 4A 2023 state qualifiers Bishop Kelly and Caldwell, the league is on track to be as strong as it’s ever been.
Caldwell has won three 4A titles since 2018 and Bishop Kelly won it in 2021.
Brave forwards Baraka Dayi and Daniel Hirai formed one of the most dangerous scoring duos in the league last year, combining for 41 goals. With Hirai graduating, Dayi returns as the leading scorer to possibly improve on his scoring numbers of 20 goals and 14 assists last season. This season, he’ll pair with Confiance Ishimwe (8 goals, 5 assists) up top.
Caldwell should be strong in the middle of the park. Caldwell is led by first-team all-state midfielder Fabian Arguello. Fellow midfielder Walter Romero was first-team all-4A SIC as a freshman and midfielder Luis Alonso was honorable mention. They’ll be looking to prove themselves in Idaho’s top class.
Bishop Kelly has more to replace this season, losing the 4A SIC Player of the Year and six more all-conference players. First-team goalkeeper Justin McGrew, second-team forward Jack Ciovacco and second-team midfielder Jackson Stephens are the top returning players.
Borah has high hopes entering the season. Lions head coach Brian Shields said the goal of the team is to win 15 games and reach the state tournament. They had two players earn all-state honors last season in forward Rayle Juarez and defender Isaac Alford. With a roster of only juniors and seniors, experience is on their side.
Eagle made a run in the state tournament last year, finishing fourth. They return leading scorer Lucas Boockholdt (13 goals, two assists), senior defender Walker Ybarrondo and forward Matthew Mancer to lead the team this fall. Owyhee, led by first-year head coach Darion Green, is hoping to break through to the state tournament for the first time.
5A SIC
The conference looks drastically different with Bishop Kelly, Caldwell and Ridgevue all moving up to 6A. The 5A SIC now consists of five teams — Columbia, Middleton, Nampa, Skyview and Vallivue.
Vallivue is hoping to make the claim as the top team this season. They’ve finished third or fourth in the 5A SIC the last three years and have finished in the top half of the league every year since 2017.
They will be led this season by first-team all-conference midfielder Elijah Grimaldo. He registered 26 goals and 11 assists last season and will be the focal point in the attacking third. First-team all-conference defender Leo Ayala will lead from the back. The Falcons return three other all-conference players in midfielder Ryan Steinbach, midfielder Samuel Diaz and defender Diego Rangel.
Columbia fielded a young team last year, which they hope will turn into more success this season. Six all-conference players return, including first-team forward Jaime Goana, second-team midfielder Ricardo Perez and second-team goalkeeper Diego Arredondo.
Middleton struggled in its two-year stay in Idaho’s top class, winning a combined four games. They return leading goalscorer Tyler Robinson in hopes of becoming more competitive in 5A. The same can be said about Nampa, who won two games combined in the last two years.
4A SNAKE RIVER VALLEY
Fruitland and McCall-Donnelly emerged from the conference last season, reaching the state tournament. The Grizzlies lost both games in the tournament while the Vandals finished fourth.
But through the early portion of the season, Parma has emerged with a hot start. The Panthers are 3-0-1 so far, with wins over conference foes Emmett, Ambrose and Payette. Juniors Ian Alvarez and Nathan Compas have four goals apiece through Parma’s first four games. Compas bagged a hat-trick against Payette.
Fruitland has to replace 12 seniors, but has been boosted early on this season with forward Zeke Van Hofwegen looking sharp in front of goal. The junior already has seven goals through three games this season. Sophomore midfielder Camden Stice has contributed four goals and two assists.
Payette has been lighting up the scoreboard early, scoring 28 goals through four games. Forward Jordan Sanchez has 12 of those goals, while midfielder Alan Cisneros has contributed 11 assists. Defenders Oscar Nunez and Bryan Alba are other seniors the Pirates will rely on.
McCall-Donnelly is hoping to ride an experienced roster, consisting of 12 seniors, to success. Both Emmett and Ambrose have struggled in recent years. Emmett has just one win in the last three years and Ambrose has never won more than four games in a season.
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