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player ready...The Duneland Athletic Conference and the Northwest Crossroads Conference look highly competitive again after three teams tied for first place in each one last season.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Lake Central (14-5-1): The Indians shape up as the team to beat after sharing the Duneland Athletic Conference title and winning their third Class 3A sectional title in four seasons. Junior midfielder Ethan Tarry and junior goalkeeper Connor Billmeyer are standouts.
2. Crown Point (11-6-3): The Bulldogs, who won their first Class 3A sectional title since 2017 and were a DAC tri-champion, should be a formidable team again. Senior Oliver Brewer, who also kicks for the football team, has been a mainstay in goal.
3. Valparaiso (12-3-2): The Vikings are deep and talented following a season in which they were unbeaten in their first 12 games and were a DAC tri-champion. Junior forwards Patrick Klimek and Cayden Tefft, senior midfielder Noah Barnett, sophomore midfielder Miguel Madrigal, senior defender Hyland Yurchak and junior defender Rocco Novak all are back. Senior goalkeeper Jordan Stocky also has considerable experience.
4. Chesterton (7-9-1): The Trojans should be primed to bounce back in a big way from an uncharacteristic 2025 season. Senior forward Cody Baughman, senior defender Tyler Racette, senior defender Eli Guimont, junior midfielder David Shumate and sophomore midfielder Tyler Hecimovich are among their returnees. Junior midfielder Cullen Shannon, who played for the Indy Eleven academy, should make a major impact. Will Fortenberry, who has coached Portage, Kankakee Valley and Boone Grove, takes the helm.
5. Munster (9-8-2): The Mustangs are perennial Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, including as tri-champions with Hanover Central and Lowell last year, and postseason contenders. Junior midfielder Matthew Morales is among their top players.
6. Bishop Noll (15-2): The Warriors put together an outstanding 2025 season, winning the Greater South Shore Conference title, and are in position to flourish again. Senior forward Joaquin Rosas and junior midfielder Kevin Bogarin are high-end talents. Senior defender Carlos Zavala and senior forward Daniel Gutierrez also return. Freshman defender Gio Rosas joins the mix.
7. Illiana Christian (12-4-1): The Vikings should fit right in as they move to the NCC from the GSSC. Junior defender Kade Blocker and senior goalkeeper Aidan Drost should lead the way. Senior forward Corban Williams is expected to spearhead the attack, and sophomore midfielder Gavin Buxton should take on a bigger role. Freshman forward AJ Partain, who has played MLS Next before high school, is a top newcomer.
8. Hanover Central (17-5): The Wildcats are coming off their first sectional title and advanced to semistate. Senior midfielder Aldo Desiderio should be among their best players. Shane Cloutier, a former Lake Central captain and all-state player who also had a stint as his alma mater’s coach, takes over the NCC tri-champion.
9. Hobart (9-8-2): With 14 seniors, the Brickies have high hopes after reaching a Class 3A sectional final last season. Second-year coach Keith Luttell said they’re “motivated.” Senior forward/midfielder Cameron Guess headlines the group. Senior midfielder Spencer Provins, senior defender Lincoln Miller and senior midfielder Giovanni Alvarado also are among their returnees.
10. Lowell (14-2): After setting a team record for victories in a season, the NCC tri-champion Red Devils aim to maintain that level of success. Senior forward Parker Cochran is a threat on offense, and junior Riley Hirjak anchors the defense. Junior midfielder/forward Noah Hebble, junior midfielder/forward Lucas Brady and junior midfielder/forward Nate Hejnowski also return.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Noah Barnett, Valparaiso, senior, midfielder
• Cody Baughman, Chesterton, senior, forward
• Connor Billmeyer, Lake Central, junior, goalkeeper
• Kade Blocker, Illiana Christian, junior, defender
• Kevin Bogarin, Bishop Noll, junior, midfielder
• Oliver Brewer, Crown Point, senior, goalkeeper
• Victor Briseno, Portage, senior, midfielder
• Parker Cochran, Lowell, senior, forward
• Maddox Cuson, Morgan Township, junior, midfielder
• Aldo Desiderio, Hanover Central, senior, midfielder
• Aidan Drost, Illiana Christian, senior, goalkeeper
• Josh Forrester, Andrean, junior, midfielder
• Josh Gillespie, Boone Grove, senior, forward
• Cameron Guess, Hobart, senior, forward/midfielder
More Top Picks Edging Landscapes
• Tyler Hecimovich, Chesterton, sophomore, midfielder
• Jordan Hernandez, East Chicago Central, junior, forward/midfielder
• Patrick Klimek, Valparaiso, junior, forward
• Gavin Langbehn, Boone Grove, senior, midfielder
• Miguel Madrigal, Valparaiso, sophomore, midfielder
• Matthew Morales, Munster, junior, midfielder
• Joaquin Rosas, Bishop Noll, senior, forward
• Nathan Schach, Hebron, senior, forward/midfielder
• Cullen Shannon, Chesterton, junior, midfielder
• Ethan Tarry, Lake Central, junior, midfielder
• Leo Vega, Wheeler, senior, midfielder/defender