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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Russ Fisher is trying to bring a life raft to a soccer program that has been moribund and hopeless for most of its existence. (Last year was rock bottom: 1-20 overall, 0-14 in the CPC, 15 goals for Davie, 94 for opponents.)

So far, things are going as well as they could.

“It’s going really well,” Fisher, the new Davie varsity boys soccer coach, said. “We’re looking really good. We’re excited about it and looking forward to (the season opener).”

A newcomer to the program has created the biggest buzz. Welcome aboard, Ethan Christie, a sophomore who will be a centerpiece as a midfielder.

“We have an ECNL National (Elite Club National League) player this year,” Fisher said. “Ethan is definitely going to be one of our best players. Up until this past year, they’ve been ineligible for high school athletics. It helps us out (having him), but it also helps a lot of other teams.”

Davie has plenty of depth at the midfield spots. Fisher has high expectations for junior Justin Rayas, freshman Kellan Wiles and sophomore Dylan Cassetta. Wiles is the only freshman on the varsity.

“Justin’s definitely a big piece in the midfield,” he said. “Kellan has impressed us a good bit. Dylan’s on the ECNL Regional team; that’s the team right below the national team. He’s going to be really good for us.

“We have a lot of depth in the midfield position, between returning guys and guys who have moved up and gotten a lot better since last year.”

Fisher has zero concerns when it comes to goalie. Senior Felipe Flores “is going to be great,” he said.

Fisher said he sees promise in guys like Hamza Heikal, a sophomore striker; Alex Torres, a senior at left back; Karson Yount, a senior defender; Zach Hill, a senior center back; and sophomore Hernan Granadero, a sophomore move-in.

“Alex is going to be really good,” Fisher said. “He’s just a solid guy to have back there (on defense).”

As pleased as Fisher was after the first week of practice, he knows nothing is going to come easy – not with so much youth. Thirteen of his players are non-seniors.

The roster includes seniors Rafael Amaro, Abdullah Guver, Gage Whitaker, Joseph Molina and Diego Reyes; juniors David Fishel, Jaxon Cruse and Evans Steele; and sophomores Hunter Stephens, Max Rappaport, Ezra Regalado and Andy Longeres.

“We’ve got a lot of young players,” he said. “We’re very young. I think 75 percent of our (varsity and JV) rosters won’t graduate (in 2025).”

Junior Varsity

While the varsity might be a year or two away from becoming relevant in the CPC, confidence is high on the JV team. Fisher said the pieces are here for a big season.

“We have around 18 freshmen on JV,” Fisher said. “It’s probably going to be one of the best JV teams Davie’s had in a long time. A lot of young talent. They’re a little bit raw for varsity at this time, but they’re definitely going to be really good in the future.”

The new JV coach – Chris Ferger replaced Scott McBain, who guided the JV the past two years – is chomping at the bit.

“This team is going to be special,” Ferger said. “It’s going to be one of the better JV teams we’ve had, if not the best.”

The most talented guys might be a pair of brothers – sophomore left wing Ronald Perez and freshman center mid Emmanuel Perez.

“Ronald is good at dribbling with the ball,” Ferger said. “He can shoot the ball really well; that’s something both of them can do.”

Ferger is also looking for big things from freshman defender Talan Andrade, sophomore goalie Porter Spann and freshman striker Ivan Bustamente.

“Talan’s going to be one of our best defenders,” he said. “Porter  brings a ton of experience. He is definitely somebody I can trust. Ivan can definitely score a lot of goals this year.”

The roster includes juniors Franchesco Bulnes and Isaiah Beaty; sophomores Tony Velasco, Eric Martinez, Adriano Vega, Alex Serrano and Josh Baker; and freshmen William Martin, Javi Miranda, Adren Davis, Jean Avila, Alex Ramirez, David Hernandez, Osiel Romero, Jaden Godbey, Mason Norman, Diego Dominguez, Seager Brooks, Anthony Ramirez and Giovanni Evaro.”