The Enquirer has released its 2026 preseason Top 25 rankings for boys soccer across Ohio and Kentucky, evaluating 25 standout athletes based on their 2025 performances, impact on team success, and potential for the upcoming season.
Standout Performers
At the top of the list, Elijah Warner of Summit Country Day claims the No. 1 position, having earned the MVC Player of the Year honor and led his team to a state championship, a testament to his dual threat as both scorer and playmaker.
Close behind, Jack Sweeney from St. Xavier secures the No. 2 slot, a returning All‑Ohio selection who contributed eight goals and six assists last year and remains one of only two players named to the preseason All‑Ohio team.
Owen Rothwell of Elder follows at No. 25, having recorded seven assists and two goals as a senior, while Dallas Marshall from Conner sits at No. 24, returning as one of the area’s leading scorers with six goals and eight assists. Midfielders such as Chase Wagner and Ian Shinkle added playmaking depth, and forwards including Joey Kurtz, Santiago Dreher, Luke Neltner, Beckett Brinkman, Carter Lund and Brady Dorko contributed double‑digit goal totals and earned first‑team all‑city selections.
Defensive standouts such as Gavin Young of Moeller and Mark Szalay from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy also earn spots, with Young helping his side capture the GCL‑South championship and Szalay receiving all‑district recognition. Goalkeepers like Nick Maslin of Lakota East posted three shutouts, while Ben Angelica of Wilmington led the Southern Buckeye Athletic Conference with 30 goals, underscoring the offensive depth across the region.
Ranking Methodology
The USA TODAY Network Ohio preseason rankings were determined by a panel of Ohio sportswriters who weighed individual statistics, team achievements, and all‑district or all‑city honors to project which players are poised to make the biggest impact in 2026.
As the season approaches, the released list not only celebrates past accomplishments but also sets the stage for new storylines, rivalries and breakout performances that could reshape the competitive landscape of high school soccer in the Buckeye and Bluegrass states.