The WACO Warriors are closing in on the start of a new soccer season. WACO made an improvement with five wins last spring after their inaugural season in 2023, and many of their best players are back.

That includes senior Keiran Luitjens, who led the teams with nine goals scored, and junior Tristan Luitjens, who had six goals and a team-high 10 assists. Junior Nick West is also back after a breakout campaign where he put up six goals and four assists.

The Warriors also bring back some of their top defensive players, like seniors Joel Meyer and Ella Huisenga and juniors Raefe Davidson and Niles Reichenbach. Head coach Rob Shaw tells KCII Sports that his kids have settled in and learned what it takes to be successful on the pitch.

“I feel like, over the first couple of years, we’ve started to establish some good habits,” Shaw says. “Teaching the kids the importance of pressing when it’s right to press [and] containing when it’s right to contain. Basically, knowing when they need to be attacking the ball and when they need to be getting back into space and understanding their position.”

WACO kicks off a new season of soccer Monday against Sigourney-Keota.