Caledonia boys, girls soccer seek program growth in 2020

Caledonia is one of the top football powerhouses in Minnesota, if not the entire country. Its culture is well-established over decades of passion.

Now, another Caledonia fall sport hopes to build something just as successful and long-lasting.

Warrior boys soccer comes into 2020 with a new head coach in Craig Hahn after a two-win 2019 season.

With established programs at Dover and La Crescent topping the conference, Coach and the players know change won’t happen overnight, but they believe the program is heading in the right direction.

“Not graduating any seniors last year, that’s a big step for us,” current senior Dominick Konkel said. “We’re not going to have to fill any positions. We can just keep building on what we started last year.”

The girls program is also hoping to begin building a culture of success, though they have some shoes to fill.

The team graduated four seniors who were staples of the program, including their lone goalkeeper. Head coach Chris Jandt will turn to incoming seniors like Gabby Roble and Tayler Kohlmeier to provide leadership as they adjust to a new formation, and he expects younger athletes to have a shot, as well.

“The big thing is getting those younger kids, those freshmen and sophomores, recognize them on the JV level, move them up and give them some playing time on the varsity, get them up to speed, get them moving, and then when it’s their turn, they step in and just keep things moving,” Jandt said.

Both teams opened the season Friday with road wins at Schaeffer Academy. Five different girls scored for the Warriors in a 6-2 win, with Kohlmeier scoring twice. the boys won their game 1-0.

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