Sports

Eight Clayton Seniors Define Boys Soccer Team

Charlie Harned, Gabe Jacus and Maaman Hossayrami will serve as starters and team captains for the Greyhounds this season.

*Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled the last name of junior Jack Klamer. This article has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.

The Clayton Greyhounds soccer team put together a groundbreaking campaign in 2010, and although the Greyhounds have lost several key players since then, they will return this year with a wealth of experience and a trio of captains with a proven ability to perform in the clutch.  

Last year, the Greyhounds placed third in the Class 2A state tournament and finished the year with a 17-10-2 mark. Before the 2010 season, Clayton had never reached the final four in boys soccer. The Greyhounds lost seven seniors to graduation last spring but return eight seniors this fall. Three seniors will be starters: forwards Charlie Harned and Gabe Jacus, and midfielder Maaman Hossayrami. All three also will serve as captains.

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“Two things come to mind on this season,” Clayton coach Tom Redmond said. “We’re really going to miss our senior class. Those kids were really great leaders, great players and great students. Five of those seniors went on to play college soccer. It gives you an idea of their ability. We’ll miss guys like Kevin Matheney and Bo Haydon."

But Redmond expressed confidence in the ability of his returning players. He said all four of Clayton’s goals in its 4-2 win over Marshall in the third-place game at state were netted by this year’s captains: Harned (two goals), Jacus (one goal) and Hossayrami (one goal). 

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“It makes me feel good about the quality of kids we have coming back,” Redmond said.

Like Redmond, Harned acknowledged that the Greyhounds lost quality talent to graduation last spring.

“We lost some good talent, but I think we’re more solid as a team,” Harned said. “We have a better solid 11 all together. There’s no reason why we can’t repeat and go further this year.”

Jacus said being a captain is good for both him and the team. He also said he is capable of leading by example.

Hossayrami sounded as positive as the other two captains.

“We had a really good year last year, and we’re looking for more of the same,” he said.

Redmond said the captains earned their positions because they are “good students and good leaders.” He described last year's team as “a cohesive group.”  

“We’re going to work hard and trying to possess the ball and handle the ball,” Redmond said. “We worked hard at trying to do that last year. One of the reasons why we were able to do this is that we had Beau Haydon and Kevin Matheney at center midfield, and they were really good at that. But I really like our current players.”

Adam Monterusso, a junior, will play midfield, and juniors Clark Stacker and Sebastian Juhl will play defense. Redmond said several players are competing for spots in the midfield and on defense.  

Redmond said last year’s junior varsity goalkeeper, junior Jack Klamer*, will play goalkeeper at varsity this fall. Jeremy Phillips and Kellin Green might also earn some varsity time at goalkeeper but will also play junior varsity.


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