Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Soccer 2021/2022 Season Preview
2019/2020 Season Review (Absence of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference competition in 2020/2021 due to COVID-19)
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings (7-3-2) finished third in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Division during the regular season, earning a silver medal at the ACAC Championship and finishing sixth at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship.
2019/2020 Awards
ACAC Men's Soccer South All-Conference team - Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto (midfielder), Kyle Bett (defence)
Neto
2020/2021 RDP Athletics Awards (Even though there was no formal competition last season, RDP Athletics celebrated academic achievements, leadership, and community involvement)
President's List – Student-athletes who achieved a GPA of 3.7 with a minimum of 15 credits in Fall 2020 Term
Nathan Swartz
Dean's List – Student-athletes who achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher, with a minimum of 9 credits in Fall 2020 Term
Grant Johnson (member of the 2020/2021 team even though there was no ACAC competition)
2021/2022 Season Preview
There's a quiet confidence surrounding the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings Soccer team as they prepare for the ACAC 2021/2022 season, and for good reason.
When the Kings last played in November 2019, they placed sixth at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Soccer National Championship, which was the highest ranking of the two ACAC teams. The Lethbridge College Kodiaks finished eighth in Ontario.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings, who won an ACAC 2019 silver medal, are believed to be equally as talented this year, and some may argue that they have more skill.
With months of practicing and training, and two exhibition games under their belt, the RDP Kings are enthusiastic and looking to put all the pieces together as they hit the field for a shortened six game schedule after nearly a two-year absence of ACAC games due to COVID-19.
Head Coach - Gerald Grobmeier
Assistant Coaches - Mahziar Peyrow, Steve Kelly, Elton Clemence, Theo Gill, Alex Leaist (goalkeeper coach)
"It is absolutely outstanding to be back on the pitch," says Gerald Grobmeier, Kings Soccer Head Coach. "This year is a sprint. From the moment we hear the first whistle we must be on our game. We want to build on our accomplishments from 2019 and return to nationals."
Grobmeier
With a large contingent of student-athletes around central Alberta this past summer, the Kings were able to start training sooner.
"We had a large core of players here, so we were able to start practicing in early June just as the COVID-19 public health measures were aligned," says Grobmeier. "We are very fortunate because much of this team is made up of Red Deer Renegades alumni. Then we had more players show up in July, so we've had a good month and half of practices with the team all together."
Returning
Defence - Kristofer Grobmeier, Hayden Jabobs
Midfielders - Kaidri Bornyi, Gabriel Martins Fonseca, Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto
Forwards - Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz
Renegades alumni Kristofer Grobmeier, defender Hayden Jacobs, midfielders Kaidri Bornyi, Gabriel Martins Fonseca and All-Conference selection Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto, along with forward Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz are returning this year from the 2019/2020 Kings. This group will be counted on for their contributions on and off the field.
"One of our leaders this year is my son Kristofer, who is a third-year centre back, so we look towards him," says Grobmeier. "We also look towards the student-athletes from Brazil to show the others what it takes to compete in the ACAC."
Third-years Gabriel Martins Fonseca and Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz, both Bachelor of Business Administration General Management students, and Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto, who is enrolled in Kinesiology Fitness and Health, comprise the trio of gifted Brazilians.
New in 2021/2022
Musa Abedi, Osvaldo Aguilar (played in 2018/2019), Isaiah Albright, Jesus Amaris, Carson Coady, Brian Grantham, Nicholas Min, Kirkland Moody, Wataru Oguchi, Adan Sanchez-Pimental, Ajdin Sarcevic, Sheku Sesay, Emmanuel Siaw, Jared St. Thomas, Wakuto Tamura, Garrett Thompson, Thomson Wellie, Masoum Zaher (played in 2016/2017)
"We also rely on some of the newer guys for leadership like Ajdin [Sarcevic], Kirkland [Moody] and Jared [St. Thomas]," explains Grobmeier. "Although they are new to the program, they come with a lot of experience. Ajdin played in the Bosnia, Kirkland has competed internationally, and Jared played at a very high level in Ontario."
Sarcevic, who is Renegades alumni, competed as a midfielder for NK Prodgrmec Sanski in the Bosnian Division II league. Red Deer's Moody, another former member of the Red Deer Renegades, played professional soccer in Jamaica. Lacombe's St. Thomas has experience as a goalkeeper with Ottawa South United, which is a semi-professional soccer team.
In a pair of exhibition games, the RDP Kings tied the Keyano College Huskies 1-1 and then they shutout The King's University Eagles 5-0. Those experiences provided the student-athletes and coaches with a range of learning opportunities.
"Those two days of exhibition games were extremely helpful for us," says Grobmeier. "In the first half against the Eagles, we created a lot of chances, but we couldn't put the ball in the net. It started to come to us in the second half, but it still needs to be cleaned up."
At half-time, the Kings and Eagles were knotted 0-0. Then Red Deer Polytechnic exploded for five goals in the second half.
"In those games we learned a lot about the players, lineup combinations, and what works and what doesn't work for us," says Grobmeier. "In both games, for about 20 minutes into the first half we lost our way, but we got back on track and it showed our players that if we stick to our system, it really works. These boys are extremely dedicated. They all have an extremely high soccer IQ and are very coachable which makes my job easier."
The 2021/2022 Kings roster is diverse, with players from around the world.
"We have a lot of different nationalities on the team, so it is fun," says Grobmeier. "Different nationalities play the game in different ways, so we are melding that all together into one cohesive system."
Along with Canada, the student-athletes have identified their hometowns in Brazil, Iran, Japan, and the United States.
The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings have one more non-conference game against the Olds College Broncos at home on September 12 as a final tune up before the regular season begins against the defending ACAC Champions, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks, five days later.
"It'll be a great test for us, and it'll show us where we are at. I know the Kodiaks will be well coached and ready to go with high profile players," says Grobmeier. "We've had good battles with them over the past few years and I expect it to be a one goal game, in our favour."
In 2019, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (8-1-3) finished second in the ACAC Men's Soccer South Division. The Kings (7-3-2) were third.
On Friday, September 17, the Kings will host the Kodiaks at the Red Deer Polytechnic Main Field at 4 pm to begin the new campaign.
"Training is fine, but we do this to be on the pitch and battle. I love it," says Grobmeier. "All the boys love it, and this is why we play soccer."
Not returning from 2019/2020
Kyle Bett, Matthew Elphick, Thomas Favel, Brandon Fedoruk, Theo Gill, Rhys Groenewegen, Jacob Hamilton, Matthew Hamonic, Cale Jacobs, Turner Johnson, Hugo Janssen, Austin Langdon, Damian Marah, Selemani Nshimiyimana, Dagan Slimmon, Nathan Swartz