Columbus East High School

Columbus East Athletics sat down with head coach Sam LaVelle to preview the upcoming boys soccer season. With a strong core of returning talent and a growing mix of youth and experience, the Olympians enter the year with high expectations. LaVelle says this squad is ready to build on the foundation laid last season. “We had a young and relatively inexperienced team last year who laid the foundation of what we are trying to build and accomplish as a program,” LaVelle said. “Going into this year, we have a team that has a lot of talent and experience. We are looking to build off of the foundation that was built last year.” A Roster Blending Experience and Youth The Olympians return seven players who have earned All-Conference honors during their careers. LaVelle is encouraged by the chemistry forming among a roster that includes veteran leaders, talented transfers, and promising underclassmen. “We have a group that really enjoys playing together and being around each other,” LaVelle said. “With a combination of a few transfers, young players, and others who have varsity experience, we are very excited to see what this group can accomplish.” Strength from the Backline Forward On paper, East’s defense looks to be one of its biggest strengths, anchored by Ryder Meek, Jonathan Sylva, Ryan Turner, and Eduardo Aranda-Michel — all past All-Conference selections. A versatile midfield corps will give the team control in the center of the pitch, while depth across multiple positions offers lineup flexibility. The Olympians also welcome three key transfers — Farid Garcia-Renteria, Cristofer De Dios, and Christian De Dios — who are expected to make an immediate impact. In addition, several young players, including Amelizon Adeus, Miguel Ferrer, Austin Giles, Adam Arnholt, and Robby Orgass, will look to work their way into varsity minutes. “We return 10 players who saw key playing time last year, and we have a lot of depth,” LaVelle said. “We’re equally excited about our JV squad, with a lot of good young talent being developed by JV coach Ricardo Damon.” The Olympian Way As the season opener approaches, LaVelle’s message to his team is clear: “The message is simple — play the Olympian way: with passion, grit, and determination. We are excited for the season to get rolling!” Player Spotlights Ronan Maier – Sophomore Captain, Midfielder For sophomore captain Ronan Maier, this year is about stepping up in leadership while contributing more on the scoresheet. “I plan on getting more goal contributions this season and will help the team achieve its goals by working hard and helping others,” Maier said. He believes the team’s quality and connection set them apart from past seasons and is especially eager for the annual rivalry matchup against Columbus North. “The rivalry, opponent, and atmosphere are fantastic,” Maier said. Ethan Glick – Sophomore, Winger Ethan Glick steps into a bigger role this year, embracing the challenge without feeling extra pressure. “It helps bring more passion into play and wanting more success for the team,” Glick said. With a shift to a more attacking role, Glick has focused on improving his movement off the ball and creating scoring opportunities. He credits former Olympian Luis Pendaz as a major influence. “He was always there to give support every time, and it made my freshman year a lot more fun to play because of him,” Glick said. The Olympians start their season on the road, with matches at Shelbyville H.S. Wednesday, August 13th at 6 p.m. and Saturday, August 16th at Whiteland H.S. GOOD LUCK OLYMPIANS!