WEEK 1 | Pre-season
✍️ Notes from Pre-season Week 1
The 2024 season is off and running as we officially began camp with our opening administrative meetings on Aug 5th. The guys were all here on July 30th to move in and get physicals on July 31st. As the years progress, there seems to be more and more paperwork and even more asked of the student-athletes prior to arriving on campus and we were thankful all but a few stragglers accomplished the task at hand so we could get to training on Aug 6th.
Old school first day fitness testing has changed over time and this season we worked to get through three different test but only two in a week 1. Test one was a maximal 6 minute run. There is a set distance players are expected to make without knowing the full distance. Basically, push yourself as far and hard as you can. We wrapped training with some 11v11 bouts to get a feel for where everyone was at overall. A spirited first session.
We progressed through the week in the build up to our first pre-season match with a few hiccups with weather and grateful for Field Day Park over in Clover/Lake Wylie hosting us for one day. The guys all passed the Bronco Fitness test this morning.
Main focus of the first week has been heavy on the defensive side of the ball. Lots of new players (get to that a little later down) and working to get guys communication and understanding of strengths of each.
Headed to Atlanta, GA and Georgia State on Aug 13th for the first test. Started a mixture of new players and returners. Started well and had a fair amount of the ball to only concede a penalty in the 15th minute. We created a few chances in the first half with shots on goal for both teams even at 5-5. The staff made a few adjustments for the second half and there were planned substitutions to get guys minutes and looks. An even second half until we gave away a goal in the 72nd minute on a poor build out.
Overall, lots of positives. All disappointed in the result but some very good standout performances. Ryan Armijio, freshman CM, played very well in his first action and start. Andres Manzano, GK, showed well and directed things out of the back. He made two very good saves and his distribution was solid.
I also want to commend the guys on their efforts during pre-season as we worked the Real Madrid vs. Chelsea match as a fundraiser for Fanantics. Our team usually works between 10-15 events a year at Bank of America Stadium to help our operational budget. Players and staff all pitch in and this event was a chance for all to get a glimpse of top level football.
Look forward to recapping things weekly.
Daniel Ridenhour
🫡 Captain's Note
Captains week we mainly got boys playing together with a lot of small sided games. We also incorporated fitness into our sessions. A lot of returning guys said this was a better standard than the last few years and looking forward to see what all the new players can bring to the table. We did enjoy a little karaoke and hearing some belters from many new faces. Our group personally think GSU there was more positives than negatives to take from the game. We think we had a lot of the ball but didn’t create a lot with it. We think the press worked but need to work in our mid block. Also think that personal changes in the second half struggled with overall build out and shape both offensively and defensively. We always knew the changes were planned and the coaching staff had discussed the minutes we would be looking to make rotations (lots due to the new NCAA D1 subs rules). Get after it in week 2 and prepping to play Marshall.
Sam Pidgeon, Diego Candia, Ricardo Ferreira
🏅Pre-Season Honors
Senior Diego Candia was voted as the Pre-Season Big South Defender of the year. He also garnered Pre-Season All-Conferenfce. He was joined on the All-Conference team by Rodrigo Ferreria and Ricardo Ferreria.
🆕 Recruiting Class
#23 **Ryan Armijio** - A freshman midfielder from Texas known for his skills on the ball. He has been observed over a few years and is expected to make an impact.
#21 **Caleb Swenson** - A forward from Tormenta FC who took a gap year and is noted for his dynamic playing style.
#8. **Diomario Adamson** - A powerful central midfielder from Toronto who played for Tyler JC and is known for his ability to cover ground.
#3 **Ian Zahara** - A late addition to the class, this defender/midfielder from Edmonton, Canada, is recognized for his strong game-reading abilities.
#13 **Bernado Pacheco** - A midfielder from Portugal who can cover ground and score goals. He is a transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.
#66 **Sodai Koketsu** - An extremely technical midfielder/winger from Tokyo, Japan, with the ability to break lines.
#7. **Suhong Jung** - A South Korean midfielder/winger returning to Winthrop to complete his degree after finishing his service at home.
#11. **Hayden Hollinger** - A winger from Wyoming who played at JUCO nationals last year. He is known for his creativity and goal-scoring ability.
#9. **Jake Gusler** - A grad transfer from NC State, described as a tricky and crafty attacking player. There's excitement about his potential contribution as an Eagle.
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