Boys Football Preview 2024: Crestwood Red Devils

The Crestwood boys soccer team's potential is limitless for the 2024 season after just winning their region championship for the second consecutive year.

The Red Devils return eight regular players and three other players with college experience from a team that had an 11-7 record last fall.

“With eight returning starters, all with big varsity experience, I see the potential for this team to go further in the playoffs than Crestwood football has ever gone, and I see the potential this year to compete for a (Chagrin Valley Conference) title,” said Eric Sway, head coach for three years. “We have a challenging schedule and play three-quarters of the games against teams from higher divisions than us, including Division I, while we are now in Division V. That should help us tremendously in the fight for the next playoff stage and help us get to places we have never been before.”

The Red Devils face a mammoth task in replacing former goalkeeper Charlie Schweikert, but Sway is confident that captain Cooper Pausch is up to the task.

“(Pausch) has shown he can pick up where Charlie left off,” Sway said. “Cooper has been our defensive midfielder and backup goalkeeper for the last two seasons. Cooper has now taken over the key goalkeeping role and is embracing it with confidence and experience.”

Veteran midfielder Elijah Jurisch returns after scoring 34 goals with nine assists, earning second-team All-Ohio and first-team All-CVC honors and being named Portage County Player of the Year.

“With the added weapons and speed in this year’s lineup, Elijah is going to drive a lot of people crazy in different ways,” Sway said.

Junior AJ Brock also returns as a starter in midfield.

“AJ is coming back after only half a season last year,” Sway said. “AJ hasn't stopped training since his season ended last year and has become captain of the team. AJ's physicality and ability to win 50-50 balls in the middle of the field is vital to the team.”

Young striker Kyle Shelhamer is also a threat on offense after returning last fall, where he scored 11 goals and provided five assists.

“Kyle is now ready for his breakthrough season,” Sway said. “After two years of great training, Kyle has developed the skills and confidence to be a game changer compared to other game changers.”

Three starters return on defense, including seniors Drew Pfost and Sam Wright and junior Kade Rotter.

“Drew is entering his third season as a full-time left back. Drew has played every minute of the last 38 games, aside from 55 minutes he sustained a game-long injury. Drew is an irreplaceable veteran defender who will keep a seasoned, veteran defense in check,” Sway said. “Sam is another veteran defender entering his third year as a center back who has played nearly every minute of the last 38 games. Sam is big, physical and the anchor of a veteran defense. Kade underwent knee surgery during the offseason to come back and earn a spot on the team as a captain. Kade is another defenseman who has played nearly every minute of the last 38 games at right back. Kade's progression from being a first-year right back to being a third-year right back is pretty remarkable. He is the final anchor of this defensive unit.”

Sway has a solid core group of players to complement the larger roster this season.

He hopes that this combination will help the Red Devils to be more successful in the autumn.

“I've had rosters of 12 and 14 players the last two seasons and we've been successful. That said, we're now on a 20-player roster and we're more athletic than we were in the years I was at Crestwood,” Sway said. “The reality for us this year is we have more options than ever before and that's exciting. Losing our goalie is the biggest hole we have to fill, but I'm confident senior Cooper Pausch will fill it.”