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Franklin
Monroe junior Bret Robison takes the ball up field in an
inter-squad scrimmage.
Robison will be a big part of the Jets success
this season. CNO Photos by George Starks
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Jets looking to
make strong run in soccer
By George Starks
PITSBURG- Coming off a strong 16 win season a year ago, the Franklin
Monroe Jets will once again look to go deep into the post season.
With only two losses in 2012, head coach Danny Diceanu will lead his
team into battle in 2013.
The Jets were undefeated in the Cross County Conference last season and
were ranked second in the Miami Valley rankings.
According to the Jets boss, it’s a team that needs to gel.
“We are looking at about 19 kids this season but with vacations going
on I’m really not sure how many I will have,” said Diceanu. “We have so
many different personalities on this team. We just need to gell and
come together and synchronize. If we can get in sync, we will be
fine.”
With the loss of Tri-Village, National Trail and the possibility of
Tri-County North off the schedule, the Jets have picked up a few good
teams to replace those already lost.
“We have picked up Waynesville and Yellow Springs,” Diceanu said. “We
have Summit Country Day on our schedule and they are the defending
state champions. Of the top ten teams in the Miami Valley last year, we
played eight of them. We tried to add Springfield Catholic but they are
booked.”
A year ago, the Jets were district runners up, losing to Dayton on a
buzzer beater, losing 4-3.
With seniors Chris Campbell, Devon Foreman, Logan Altic, Alec
Shellabarger, Kais Rodreguez, Franklin Monroe will be senior heave but
only two of those seniors were a big part of the Jets success.
According to Diceanu, it will be his juniors that will set the tone for
him.
“My core is my junior class,” Diceanu stated. “Marcus Horner and Brian
Robison will be targeted by the Miami Valley and they very well should
be.”
If there’s on position that Diceanu has concerns it’s the goalie
position.
With the loss of Grant Skelton to graduation, Diceanu will turn to
sophomore Landon Peters.
“Landon played some travel ball but he had some bad seasons and that
left a bad taste in his mouth so he took last season off,” Diceanu
pointed out. “I went and talked to him and told him of our need and
he’s jumped in with both feet. I’m glad to have him. I think he’ll do a
good job for us. The goalie is the last line of defense and the first
line of offense. Grant was a three year starter and did a lot of good
things and I hope Landon has the same success. We also have freshman
Wyatt King who will give us some good back up at that position which is
something we’ve not had in the past. Next year, I’ll have two more
keepers so we’re going from famine to feast.”
Sophomores will also have a key role to play for the Jets.
“Brent Bolin will step in for Lucas King,” Diceanu said. “He will go
from playing forward to playing some defense. He played defense in club
ball so this should be a smooth transition for him. Freshman Cody
Coppess saw a lot playing time as a freshman so he should be battling
for a starting position.”
One of the team captains will be Marcus Horner and the junior was a
captain as a sophomore.
“We have a lot of returning starters but a new goalie now that
Skelton,” Horner said. “Landon will do a good job and we’ll have a
couple of freshman that could start. We need more goals and with the
loss of Nick Mobley. Overall, we should be pretty good. I think we can
make it further than last year.”
As a sophomore last year, Robison has been working on his game.
“I think I put in a lot of time and effort to improve my game,” said
Robison. “Our midfielders and forwards are improving and are better
than last year.”
The Jets will open the season on the road at Newton before coming home
to host the defending state champions, Summit Country Day.
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Sophomore Landon
Peters will have big shoes to fill at the goalie position with the
absence of Grant Shellabarger.
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