Decorah Boys Soccer Emphasizes Speed, Energy and Unity Ahead of New Season

Decorah – On a warm, breezy Wednesday afternoon, the Decorah boys soccer team practices two-on-two drills on the field behind the high school: quick passes, reading the defense, receiving the ball and proper spacing. It's a tried-and-true method of working on key aspects of the game. Throughout the practice, there is a lot of noise, chatter and excitement from the team. This year's team goals revolve around three simple ideas: come together as a team, play faster and bring the energy. Of course, wins and losses are part of the overall goals as well — the team has high expectations — but if the aforementioned goals are achieved, the wins and losses will take care of themselves. The level of confidence going into this year is high, as the team graduated only one senior last year. They return a senior-heavy team with a lot of field experience. Those seniors are Olive Bollinger, Tanner Caddell, Ian Giddings, Caleb Johnson, Jameson LaBelle, Will Larson, Caden Malanaphy, Mack McElree, Edwin Mejia Junech, Noah Milburn, Hector Vargas Escobar and Chase Vick. Decorah Boys Soccer Coach Zach Shearer, preseason 2026. Keith Lesmeister "We want to work on playing faster and connecting," says senior captain Ian Giddings, a striker who has earned varsity playing time for the past four years. And "connecting" means more than simply finding feet to pass to. It means working together as a complete unit. In addition, another senior captain, Noah Milburn, says, "We want to focus on bringing the energy, fundamentals and being present. Be where your feet are." In soccer, paying attention to where one's feet are is paramount, as all 11 players on the field need to be in unison: spacing and timing are critical to passing and shooting the ball. Decorah Boys Soccer, preseason 2026. Keith Lesmeister Senior captain Will Larson emphasizes this point: "We're working on forming a strong bond — coming together as a group." The team will have its first opportunity to showcase its skills next Monday when it travels to Waterloo for a preseason jamboree. It starts its regular season in Cedar Falls on April 2. The team hosts its first home match against rival Waverly-Shell Rock on April 7. Match time is scheduled for 5 p.m. More information about the team, schedule and roster can be found at GoBound.