Community School boys' soccer coach Richard Whitelaw calls his newest Cutthroat team "Hobbits," referring to the small stature of the boys physically but also to the hopes that they will be "chasing the ring."
The "ring" for Whitelaw's Cutthroat teams used to be making the state tournament and challenging for the championship—an achievement the Sun Valley boys reached in 1992 and 1999 and nearly accomplished again in 2003.
But these days, the High Desert Soccer Conference has become a tough little league, a "proper league," in Whitelaw's words. And it has become tougher and tougher for the Cutthroats to make it out of their district and go to state.
Last fall, the young and inexperienced Cutthroats (4-8-5) had a rare losing season. They dropped their final six games and had a slew of nailbiters, going 2-6-5 in games settled by two goals or less. They had been shooting for the school's ninth state tournament berth in 10 years. It didn't happen.
With a turnout of only 20 players this fall, the lowest number that 18th-year coach Whitelaw said he has ever had, the Cutthroats have adjusted their expectations a bit. Post-season tournaments can wait. They're focused more on immediate goals. And the "ring" has become one game at a time.
Said Whitelaw, "We've just got to get the first game and we'll take it from there. As a team and a program we need to get our confidence back. What I've learned is you don't win anything in August. You need to be playing well in October."
The first of 17 regular-season games for the Cutthroat varsity is Saturday, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. against Twin Falls at Browning Field in Elkhorn. Last year's Cutthroats battled well at Twin Falls, losing 4-3. "We've always matched up well with Twin Falls," Whitelaw said.
Whitelaw (197-79-25, 21-13 at state) remarkably has coached 301 games for the Cutthroats and he'll be shooting to exceed the 200-victory mark this fall. He said his main concern is lack of players and the prospect of injuries making that worse.
He and fellow coaches Jason Lynch and Bob Brock have welcomed five seniors, two juniors, seven sophomores and six freshmen. The players are small physically. Whitelaw said he hopes they compensate with "cunning speed and guile."
A few timely goals would help, especially since the Cutthroats managed only 31 goals in their 17 games last fall.
The chief threat will be captain Tanner Flanigan, a senior who has 48 goals in three varsity campaigns including a team-high 11 last fall. Whitelaw feels the midfield led by sophomore Cassidy Carson has the ability to get the ball to Flanigan and watch him work. Another senior, Wyatt Bunce, will help Flanigan in front.
Cooper Hanley and Tim Kanellitsas will be in the mix from what Whitelaw calls a "good sophomore group." Other Sun Valley midfielders include juniors Anthony Martin and John Chrysikopoulos, sophomore Will Brokaw and freshman Zach Lindahl.
One year of experience should be a good springboard to further progress for sophomore goalkeeper Tom Crosby. The small and fast defenders in front of him include seniors Jackson Bates and Tyler Davis in the middle of the field, along with sophomores Eric Runkel and Colin Waycott on the flank.
Rounding out the team is senior Bob Mollineaux and five other ninth-graders—Charlie Harder, Cameron Jenner, Ben Kanellitsas, Calder Zarkos and Will Yager.
Whitelaw said he expects Wendell and Bliss to be the leading High Desert contenders this fall. Wendell won its first HDSC title 2-0 over Bliss last October. Bliss beat Gooding 4-2 for the second and final state berth from the conference.
At last year's State 3A boys' soccer tournament won by Payette (15-2-2) by a 5-1 score over American Falls, Bliss won the consolation championship by a 2-0 score over Wendell.
