Photo Courtesy of Kent Graham
POSTED BY: RICHIE HALL AUGUST 10, 2023
The REPORTER
It was, without question, the greatest day ever in the history of Noblesville High School sports.
The Millers’ girls and boys soccer teams became part of a very exclusive club on Oct. 29, 2022 when they both won a Class 3A IHSAA state championship. Add to that a state title from Noblesville girls cross country, and you had a school win three state championships in one day, an unprecedented feat.
With soccer about to get underway, the Millers are hoping for a repeat of their success. Both teams have plenty of returning players on their roster this year, including some familiar names.
“The boys are excited but dialed in,” said Noblesville boys coach Ken Dollaske. “They know they have a target on their backs.”
Many of those familiar names on the boys team were new names last season. When the Millers won state in 2021, they were led by a host of talented seniors, including Palmer Ault, the Gatorade Indiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
“Due to this, other teams didn’t have any expectations for us,” said Dollaske. “We were able to sneak by under the radar and then make a great run in the playoffs.”
Noblesville graduated another Gatorade Player of the Year: Sam Divis, the 2022 winner.
I don’t think we can do that again this year. Everyone knows we have the ability to reload and make another run. The boys want to keep this momentum going and can’t wait to prove themselves.”
This year’s roster includes five returning seniors: Goalkeeper Cole Thompson, forwards Craig Ashton and Sam Holland, midfielder Miles Tucker and defender Max Reason. Two juniors also return state experience: Defender Blake Horn and midfielder Keller Willis.
In addition, junior Kasole Williams joins the Noblesville team this year. Williams has been a student at NHS, but this is his first year playing high school soccer as he has played in the MLS NEXT league the past two years.
“Practices are going great,” said Dollaske. “We have a healthy mix of returners who have state championship experience and newcomers who are hungry to make a name for themselves and get their own state title. We are in the process of figuring out what formation (or formations) are going to be best suited to the personnel we have on the pitch at any given time.”
The Millers will scrimmage with Guerin Catholic at 5:30 p.m. today, and that will allow the Millers “to make these adjustments and tweaks and create our identity for the season,” said Dollaske.
Meanwhile, the Noblesville girls have been on an incredible run, winning three state championships in four years, and had the girls Gatorade Player of the Year last season in Ava Bramblett. But veteran coach Mike Brady said the team is focused on the present rather than the past.
“We’re not really thinking about last year’s accomplishment, for the players who were on the team, they have a lifetime to enjoy a State Championship, right now, we just want to see how good of a team we can become and see what this team can accomplish with many new contributors, so we’re a work in progress right now, but they are working hard and coming together, and that’s all I want from them at this point in the season,” said Brady.
The Miller girls also have a solid list of experienced players. Three seniors return significant minutes: Goalkeepers Delaney Martin and Isabella Wyatt and forward Sydney Elliott. Noblesville’s junior class has five key returning players: Forward Kadence Flick, midfielders Atley Pittman and Lily Ault and defenders Sadie Black and Meredith Tippner.
“We’ll have a lot of first time starters this season, so we’re at the infancy stages of coming together as a team, but it’s a talented group with a great attitude, so we’ll continue to grow as team and get better each day and see if we become that team we know we can by the postseason,” said Brady.
The Noblesville boys go on the road for their first four games, playing at Perry Meridian Tuesday and at old rival Carmel next Thursday, Aug. 17. That will be followed by games at Brebeuf Jesuit Aug. 19 and at Plainfield Aug. 21 before the Millers play their first home contest Aug. 22 against Avon.
The Noblesville girls also have a busy first couple weeks. The Millers play Cathedral Saturday morning to begin their season, with the game at the Pride Performance Center (11960 E. 62nd St. Indianapolis). Noblesville then has two home games, against Pendleton Heights on Wednesday and West Lafayette Aug. 19. The following week, the Millers go on the road for two Hoosier Crossroads Conference games, at Avon Aug. 23 and at Hamilton Southeastern Aug. 26.