The 2024 season ended with mixed results for the Greenwood boys. They defeated Greenbrier in their regular season finale to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in years but then lost in the first round to Hot Springs Lakeside, 3-0. Some of the starters on that GHS team return this year and several younger players have matured and emerged as starters or major contributors heading into the 2025 season.
But Head Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Tyler Woods is already having concerns about the start of the new season, even though his Bulldogs were unbeaten through their first three matches last week. An onslaught of minor injuries has sidelined or limited the abilities of several key players. The strength of the conference schedule is also a concern, as always in the powerful 5A West.
Twenty-nine names populate the GHS roster, including just five seniors, six juniors, eleven juniors, and seven freshmen. The 2025 seniors are Eliezer Mata Trevino, Corbin Lamb, Braycen Austin, David Coggin, and Hudson Meeker. The juniors are Jett Burgess, Christian Campbell, Eli Bazar, Jacopo Spizuoco, Davin Cheek, and Sean Jackson. The sophomore class includes Landon Franklin, Fox Cotton, Bailey Thibodeau, Charlie Hernandez, Luke Eckart, John Eckart, Riley Griffin, Ben Alsup, Hudson Jacobs, A.J. Saengsatheuane, and Lucas Roper. Lastly, the freshmen include Grant Fiala, Dex Coston, Jasper Meeker, Bentley Harvey, Cass Moquett, Tucker Clardy, and Noah Benoit.
Asked about his senior class of five, Head Coach Tyler Woods said, “That’s a little bit down [from previous years]. I guess it’s just a smaller class. It’s just one of those things.” The coach then touted the success of his youth program, and some of those kids are now freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. “I think the fifth through eighth grades have really good numbers. This is just a smaller class of seniors, but all five of those guys are special to our team. They all play and not one is a bench sitter. They all contribute big time.
“Eliezer Trevino is a move-in from Texas and we’re happy to have him,” said Woods. “He’s a goalkeeper and he’s pushing Jett Burgess for playing time. He provides some good competition and he’s a good goalkeeper. Corbin Lamb has been doing soccer it seems like forever. He started off small and undersized and the skill wasn’t there. But he fell in love with the game, and he’s come to every single soccer [event] we’ve had and done everything to get himself better and stronger. He started quite a few games last year at outside mid and was a big contributor for us. Now he’s a senior captain at center mid and I’m proud of the progress he’s made over the last four years.
“Braycen Austin is a kid who started on and off last year on defense at midfield. He’s given us some relief and helped supply some defensive pressure. This year he’s also a captain and the leader of our defense. He knows where he’s supposed to be and he’s very vocal. We’ve got a lot of young pups he’s trying to help.”
Next, the coach talked about one of the stalwarts of his team over the last couple of years, senior David or D.J. Coggin, who started as a freshman in 2022. “He has leadership capabilities and great touch [on the ball]. He sees the field well and he’s a smart kid who made a perfect score on his ACT. He’s going to excel at whatever he does. He’s an awesome soccer player and a great kid and we’re just fortunate to have him for one more year. Hudson Meeker was our leading goal scorer last year and we’re thrilled to have him back. He is a menace to other team’s defenses, and he likes to talk trash. We’re looking forward to him putting goals in the net this year. I would guess he will be our leading scorer again.”
Woods then talked about his top juniors, starting with Jett Burgess at goalkeeper. “He’s been sitting behind Brandon Coston, a two-time all-state keeper. He got to learn a lot and got better playing JV the last couple years. Then Eliezer showed up and put Jett on his heels and pushed him to improve. Both are great keepers, whoever starts. But we love having Jett on the team. He’s a great teammate.”
Another junior that Woods is high on is Christian Campbell, who was nursing an injury at the time of this interview in late February. “Christian was able to start some as a freshman and started all last season as a midfielder. But he’s got that kind of ‘blow the doors off’ speed. He’s just hobbled with a sprained ankle. But in practice the last couple of months he’s looked awesome. Hopefully he will get healthy soon.
“Eli Bazar and Davin Cheek are like two peas in a pod. If you see one you will see the other. They’re best friends and they were actually part of my first U14 youth team we created, and those two kids were stars on that team. They’ve been developing the last couple of years, and they will help us this season. Both of them are defenders.”
Jacopo Spizuoco is an exchange student who was actually a volleyball player in his home country of Italy, with a litter soccer thrown in, said Woods. He played as a defender in Italy but is playing midfield for Greenwood. “He’s been trying it and he’s doing a solid job, but he’s willing to do whatever the team needs. He’s been a pleasure to have on the team.
“Davin [Cheek] and Eli are best buds,” the coach repeated. Cheek was thrusted into the starting lineup against Maumelle due to an injury, and he performed well. “He’s been around [soccer] for so long and he knows what to do. He did a really good job against Maumelle, and I’m proud of him. Sean Jackson plays junior varsity basketball and was also on that U14 team. He’s probably still a JV player this year at midfielder. He’s got the tools, but I think he lacks a little bit of physicality, aggressiveness, and playing quickly on offense. He’s a great kid and always has a smile and we love having him on the team.”
The coach next turned his attention to his underclassmen, starting with sophomore Landon Franklin, who also kicked for the football state champion Bulldogs in the title game when teammate and starting kicker Hudson Meeker was injured. “He did a great job,” said Woods. “Landon started some games and scored some goals last year as a freshman. He was part of our youth league and developed and has gotten a lot better. I think he will be a good player if he will put in the effort.
“Another player that will be good for us is Bailey Thibodeau. He’s a football player who pulled the trigger and came out for soccer and has earned a starting spot at center back. He’s a ‘run through a brick wall’ kind of kid. He does everything 100% max and he’s really fast. He’s going to help us big time. He really wants to play.
“Charlie Hernandez is another move-in from Texas who had played a little soccer, but not a lot. When we first got him, he was pretty raw, but he stayed with it and he’s gotten a lot better. He will probably come off the bench quite a bit and give us some minutes at midfield. John Eckart is one of the twins [brother Luke Eckart] we have, and he’s still trying to figure out where to be and he’s developing his touch, but just his speed and aggressiveness that will get him on the field.
“Ben Alsup will start for us on defense. He subbed in a little bit as a freshman last year,” the coach continued. “Hudson Jacobs is starting at center back. He’s grown up playing youth soccer with us and we’re looking forward to him being an anchor for us. He’s going to help us big time. It’s a pretty strong class of sophomores.”
Finally, the coach talked about the lone freshman who may contribute to the varsity squad this season, Grant Fiala. “He didn’t start [against Maumelle], but he played quite a bit. He’s also grown up playing youth soccer with us and his touch is so much better. He’s starting to figure out where to be and how to play. He also runs cross country. He reminds me of a young David Coggin, and we need more of that. Grant is going to contribute a lot to the team this year.”
Asked to identify his team’s strengths, Woods said, “I think our strength is our mid field and forwards. Our defense is young and still learning, but we’ve got to get ready because conference play is coming, and it’s usually the big three – Russellville, Van Buren, and Siloam Springs. But the team I think has the best chance to win fourth place, if it’s not us, is Alma. They’ve got a couple new players, and they are really good. I think Alma is the favorite right now unless we have something to say about that.” Greenwood’s first conference match is on Tuesday, March 11th
Of course, the Bulldogs play in the toughest soccer conference in the state, regardless of classification. Last season both Van Buren and Russellville from the 5A West reached the finals with Russellville taking home the crown once again. Add Siloam Spring, Alma, and Harrison into the mix along with Farmington, and the battle for third and fourth place just got a lot tougher.
“We’ve come to accept it,” said Coach Woods of the loaded conference lineup. “We’re going to give our best effort and whatever happens, happens after that. All we can do is try our best and play the cards we’re dealt.”