**Front Row:** Isaac Saunders, Andrei Irimia, Brady Braz, Cameron Katafiasz, Peter Bertke, Jamel Hooker
**Middle Row:** James Degnan, Cooper Sadowski, Alex Guerra, Johnny Merchant, Izaiah Moreno, Roman Tscherne, Alexi Delporte
**Back Row:** Head Coach Brett Bishop, Carson Pettaway, Justin Tran, Kenzo Hibbert, Cameron Rios, Assistant Coach Cj Buchele
**Not Pictured:** Isaac Crosby, Gael Garcia-Alvarez, Trace Hansen, Sullivan Kernahan, Christopher Lopez, Jr.

TOLEDO, OH - The Central Catholic boys’ soccer program is building momentum. With more players than it has had in over 12 years, the team is looking to be more competitive in the Catholic High School League and beyond.

“Our coaching staff took over in the spring of 2025 with 15 names on our active roster,” said head coach, Brett Bishop ’20. “The team grew to about 24 guys by the end of the 2025 season. For the 2026 season, we have 37 players on the roster, including a JV team for the first time since 2019.”

The coaching staff also includes Cj Buchele ’20 and Brett’s brothers, Andrew Bishop ’18 and Brian Bishop ’23. Brett and Cj know a little about soccer and success. They were both on the 2018 team that won the school's first ever district championship, and they won it again in 2019.

To return to that level of success, the coaches are not focusing on wins and losses, but on what it takes to get there. “All of our goals surround hustle, hard work, and intensity, day in and day out,” Coach Brett explained. “We focus on the process and are not worried about results. Our goal is to step on the field each game and leave everything we have out there.”

Coach Brett attributes the growth of the program to its family atmosphere. “We play each game for each other and for the love of the game,” he said. “Our coaching staff wants to ensure every player has a positive experience. Upon graduation, we want players to have friends and brothers for life.” The team has also brought back several fun traditions, including the alumni soccer game, cookouts, out-of-town tournaments, and more.

Coach Brett believes that Coach Buchele, who is a business teacher at Central Catholic, has also played a big role in the growth of the program. “I’m not really sure why, but the students seem to like that guy!” he joked. “Coach Buchele has been a great friend of mine since walking the halls on Cherry Street together. He has played a crucial role in sparking interest among current CCHS students.”

“I think the biggest factors in our program’s growth are the way our coaches push us to be the best people we can and the team's willingness and desire to get better every day,” said Alex Guerra, a senior team captain. “I enjoy the continuous support I get from my teammates and coaches. Everywhere I look, someone is there to help and always has my best interests in mind.”

“The program is growing because of the heart that is being put into the team,” added senior captain, Johnny Merchant. “Our guys play for the crest on our jerseys. The players are willing to show up every day and train, working for better results. Parents and friends are also giving to the program. The love and faith we put into our players is what will help our success continue.”

With more time and experience, Coach Brett believes the soccer program will continue to improve. “Overall, we are a very young coaching staff and a team that is still learning the technical side of the game,” he said. “This team is loaded with good athletes that work hard. We have seen great improvement over the last season and a half and know we will continue to stack days and build. Having a JV team this season has been great development for our younger players.”

“As a team, we are working harder than ever daily, pushing each other to our limits,” said Guerra. “Personally, I am trying to lead by example and show everyone how they need to work for us to see success and growth.”

“At practice, I push my teammates to their true potential, and we work on improving the little things, because the little things make the bigger things possible,” added Merchant. “We learn from our mistakes and make up for them, and we know ourselves and what we are capable of. We take our results and use them as motivation for our next opportunity.”

If the boys commit to giving their all in practice and in games, the results will come. The CHSL is a very strong league, but the players are learning how to work together and play well even against the toughest competition.

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