The WHS Varsity Rangers are coming off a 2023 season in which they finished with a 6-8-3 record, securing the 18th seed in the Division Two MIAA tournament. They advanced to the playoffs with an impressive 3-0 win over Dartmouth in the first round, but their season ended in a hard-fought loss to Billerica Memorial in the round of 16. Now, as they enter the 2024 season, the Rangers are eager to recreate that playoff magic and build on last year’s success, despite facing new challenges and stiff competition.
This season, the Rangers must adapt to the absence of several key players who played significant roles in 2023. Standout graduates like Chris Deane, Simon Bleier, and AJ Tarzia left a big impact on the field and in the locker room. Their departures have opened the door for new upperclassmen to step up and help guide the team through another competitive campaign. Filling these gaps will be critical as the team looks to maintain their momentum and compete at a high level.
The leadership of captains Thom Maule, Mauricio Fonte, Daniel Litman, and Yujiang Zhu will be essential in navigating this transition. These four players have already helped the Rangers get off to a solid 2-3-1 start. Though there have been some early challenges, the team has shown resilience and the ability to compete against tough opponents. With their leadership, the Rangers are focusing on continuing to improve as the season progresses.
One of the standout contributors so far has been junior Ryan Payant, who has already scored two goals this season and is expected to be a key offensive weapon as the team builds momentum. His performance, along with the efforts of other upperclassmen, such as Mauricio Fonte, who is tied with Payant in scoring, has been a bright spot in the early part of the season.
Senior Jack Peterson, a member of the Rangers soccer team, shared his thoughts on the season, noting that the team is on an “upward trend.” He mentioned areas for improvement, including “better communication” and “ball movement down the field,” but expressed optimism for the rest of the season. “We are shooting for a spot in the playoff tournament,” Peterson added.
The Rangers’ upcoming games against Doherty Memorial on September 30th and Shrewsbury on October 1st will be key opportunities to continue building momentum and setting the tone for the rest of the season.
