Regional finalist GHS boys dominate All Area team

Gainesville's Ryleigh Peyer (left) and Chase Oyenarte were named to the 2022-23 All Area big school boys team.
Graphic and photos by C.J. Gish
Editor’s Note
This is the second of third stories unveiling the 2023 Bosshardt Realty All Area Soccer Teams. Click here to read about the Small School girls and boys team. Go to our All Area soccer team landing page by clicking here.

For the second consecutive season, the Gainesville boys soccer team finished one game shy of a final four appearance.

The Hurricanes, who were nationally ranked heading into the postseason, suffered their first loss of the year in a season-ending 2-1 home loss to Niceville in the Class 6A-Region 1 Final.

Five members of that team were selected to the inaugural Bosshardt Realty All Area big school boys soccer team.

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A panel of local sportswriters and coaches chose the All Area teams and coaches from Mainstreet’s eight-county coverage area. All 48 players and coaches will receive commemorative plaques to recognize their accomplishments.

According to GHS coach Basil Benjamin, the Hurricanes’ best player was senior Chase Oyenarte, who joins senior teammate Colin Wycoff, Buchholz junior Jonathan Mosley, Columbia (Lake City) senior Mickey Lee Johnson, and Eastside senior Jakob Gorham as the five defenders selected to the team.

Gainesville's Brendan Foley dribbles downfield in Wednesday's 6A Regional Quarterfinal win over Oakleaf.
Photo by C.J. Gish Gainesville’s Brendan Foley (right).

“Fast, athletic, smart, highly skilled, competitive and physical,” Benjamin said of his captain and central defender. “Chase, along with Colin, are the heart and soul of our team and the two main reasons why we have given up so few goals this season (14 in 18 games) and last. (Chase) is a confident, calm and collective leader who makes sure all our players are ready to mentally compete week in and week out without yelling, screaming and belittling individuals. He understands when to drop the line, when to step up, how to engage the opponent and stay patiently aggressive in all situations.”

Benjamin said that Wycoff, who is also a central defender and captain, is “very influential defensively and offensively.”

“A young leader of men with strong character and a calm confident boldness about him,” Benjamin said. “His long throw-ins created many valuable scoring opportunities for our team, especially against teams where scoring opportunities within the run of play was difficult to come by. Colin also has one of the most powerful and accurate shots on our team.”

Senior midfielder Ryleigh Peyer and freshman Dylan Fitzpatrick of GHS were the two midfielders selected.

“After losing our three top scorers from last season, I spoke to the team on how we had to play this season to create scoring opportunities from other players not playing attacking mid or forward and Ryleigh took to the discipline, hard work and understanding that it required for him to score from defensive mid without jeopardizing his defensive responsibilities,” Benjamin said. “Vocal leader of our team who is always encouraging to all our players.”

Photo by C.J. Gish Eastside defender Jakob Gorham.

Peyer had 12 goals and eight assists, while Fitzpatrick finished with eight goals and seven assists.

“Dylan is a talented freshman attacking midfielder,” Benjamin said. “His biggest adjustment was probably how hard we expected him to work both offensively and defensively. He is a fast learner so all the things we asked him to do that would allow him to be successful in how we wanted to attack the opponent in our scheme was mastered early in the season. Dylan has a can-do mentality along with the confidence of a veteran plus he always has a smile on his face.”

The last member of the team from the 6A-District 4 champion Hurricanes (16-1-1) is forward Brendan Foley, who added eight goals and eight assists.

“Brendan is a fast, skillful and talented attacking player who even though he was hampered by injuries throughout the season was one of our leading scorers,” Benjamin said. “In our offense, each player has a specific role and Brendan’s role was to break down the opponent with his speed and dribbling ability. Many times, he was the catalyst of our attack. Brendan is the silent type but has the heart of a lion and is ferociously competitive.”

Buchholz senior forward Reed Rousseau (8 goals), Eastside senior defender/midfielder Charles Sawyer, and Suwannee (Live Oak) junior goalkeeper Alex Mabey (8.9 saves per game) round out the team.

On the Bosshardt Realty All Area big school girls team, Class 6A-District 4 champion Buchholz led the way with four selections.

Highlighting the team is junior goalkeeper Mimi Fisher, who averaged 12.1 saves per game.

“Mimi is not only an amazing goalkeeper but an amazing person and a great captain for us,” said Buchholz coach Bryan Hantak. “MaxPreps has Mimi as being ranked No. 1 in the country for 6A goalkeepers and it is hard to argue against that. She has been our rock in goal for the last two years and we are incredibly thankful that we get another year of her being with us. We could not have accomplished back-to-back district titles without her.”

Photo by C.J. Gish Suwannee goal keeper Alex Mabey.

Senior teammate Emily Siple and GHS junior Olivia Witt made the team as defenders.

“Emily was the backbone of our backline this year,” Hantak said. “This was her first year, and sadly senior year with us, but she fit in like she had been with us for years. We were lucky to have her this year as a part of our soccer family and she will be incredibly missed next year.”

Gainesville and Columbia each placed of pair of midfielders on the team.

Juniors Emma Ferrell (13 goals, 11 assists) and Evy Malone (12 goals, 8 assists) led the Lady Hurricanes (8-7-1) in goals and assists, finishing with 25 of their 43 goals and 19 of their 34 assists.

Olivia Kelly (4 goals, 7 assists), a junior, and sophomore Mia Brasel (12 goals, 6 assists) helped lead the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the 5A-District 2 tournament and a postseason bid.

At the forward position, Columbia’s Skyler Zeigaus led all big schools with 28 goals and nine assists.

Buchholz junior Zoe Torres (15 goals, 8 assists) and Bobcats’ senior Kelisha Andre, along with Santa Fe (Alachua) sophomore Haidyn Smith (14 goals, 2 assists), round out the team at the forward spots.

“Zoe Torres has been with us for three years and has been our leading goal scorer for the last two years, having 68 goals and 58 assists in her career here, so far,” Hantak said. “She is the true spirit of our team, always reminding us that this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Looking forward to next year to see if Zoe can break the all-time scoring record for Buchholz and how she will lead us as a captain next year.”

Andre, a Jacksonville University signee, finished second behind Torres with 12 goals and she added seven assists.

“Kelisha is an amazing player and incredible on and off the field,” Hantak said. “Kelisha not only carries one of the highest GPA’s, but has also been one of our leading scorers for the last three years. She finished her career at Buchholz with 62 goals and 54 assists. It has been incredible to watch Kelisha grow as a player and a person and we can’t wait to see what she does at the next level, as she has signed to play DI soccer. She has been a great leader for us and her glow on the field is so contagious to all the other players. She has been a great captain and a great member of our soccer family.”

BOSSHARDT REALTY ALL AREA SOCCER TEAMS

BOYS – BIG SCHOOL (4A-6A)

Goalkeeper – Alex Mabey, Suwannee (Junior)

Defender – Chase Oyenarte, Gainesville (Senior)

Defender – Jonathan Mosley, Buchholz (Junior)

Defender – Colin Wycoff, Gainesville (Senior)

Defender – Mickey Johnson, Columbia (Senior)

Defender – Jakob Gorham, Eastside (Senior)

Defender/Midfielder – Charles Sawyer, Eastside (Senior)

Midfielder – Ryleigh Peyer, Gainesville (Senior)

Midfielder – Dylan Fitzpatrick, Gainesville (Freshman)

Forward – Reed Rousseau, Buchholz (Senior)

Forward – Brendan Foley, Gainesville (Senior)

Honorable mentions:

Buchholz – Ben Zeig (Jr.), Luke Smith (Sr.), Lucas Balamucki (So.)

Columbia – Jason Caballero (Sr.), A.J. Brinson (Sr.), Robert Shotwell (So.), Riley Stone (Sr.)

Eastside – Donovan Pettiford (Sr.), Garret McDilda (Sr.), Andres Stuve (Sr.)

Gainesville – Isaac Gugel (Sr.), Elijah Witt (Jr.), Bryce Eagle (Jr.), Daniel Brown (Jr.)

Santa Fe – Giacomo Burgetto (So.)

Suwannee – Alex Beristain (Sr.), Joel De La Cruz (Jr.), Josh Jahuey (Sr.)

GIRLS – BIG SCHOOL (4A-6A)

Goalkeeper – Mimi Fisher, Buchholz (Junior)

Defender – Olivia Witt, Gainesville (Junior)

Defender – Emily Siple, Buchholz (Senior)

Midfielder – Mia Brasel, Columbia (Sophomore)

Midfielder – Olivia Kelly, Columbia (Junior)

Midfielder – Evy Malone, Gainesville (Junior)

Midfielder – Emma Ferrell, Gainesville (Junior)

Forward – Skyler Zeigaus, Columbia (Junior)

Forward – Haidyn Smith, Santa Fe (Sophomore)

Forward – Zoe Torres, Buchholz (Junior)

Forward – Kelisha Andre, Buchholz (Senior)

Honorable mentions:

Buchholz – Haven Rentschler (Jr.), Abby Bowen (So.), Annie Cunningham (Sr.)

Columbia – Lilly Schneider (Jr.), Haley Schrader (Sr.), Kyndall Norris (So.), Sydney Rivas (Sr.)

Gainesville – Joy Ogedengbe (Sr.), Cameron Hintze (Jr.), Sophie Vaughan (So.)

Santa Fe – Maggie Boone (Sr.), Jasmine Perez (Jr.)

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