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The Southwestern Buckeye League boys soccer season begins with familiar contenders at the top and several teams hoping returning talent can close the gap.

Monroe and Oakwood captured division championships last fall, while Bellbrook, Waynesville and Dayton Christian finished close behind. The league enters 2026 with significant turnover among its leading scorers, creating opportunities for a new group of players to emerge.

Monroe went unbeaten in Southwestern Division play last season, finishing 9-0-1 in the league and 12-4-2 overall. Bellbrook was right behind at 8-1-1 and finished 14-3-2 overall. Talawanda placed third at 5-5, followed by Ross, Franklin and Edgewood. 

The Hornets will have to replace Caden Gronostaj, who graduated after producing 45 points and a league-best 15 assists. Bellbrook also lost one of the SWBL’s most productive finishers in Sean Markland, who scored 18 goals as a senior.

That turnover could make the Southwestern Division one of the league’s more intriguing races.

Talawanda went 8-10 overall despite its .500 league record, while Franklin finished 7-7-4. Ross and Edgewood will look to make moves after combining for four league victories last season.

Oakwood was perfect against Buckeye Division competition in 2025.

The Lumberjacks went 7-0 in league play and 14-4-2 overall, finishing one game ahead of Waynesville, which went 6-1 in the division and 12-8 overall. Dayton Christian wasn’t far behind at 5-2 and finished 11-6-2.

Oakwood also returns goalkeeper Carson Franklin, who was a junior last season and recorded 9.6 shutouts, the second-highest total in the SWBL. Dayton Christian could have sophomore goalkeeper Cole Woodall back after he posted nine shutouts and 125 saves as a sophomore.

Brookville might have the league’s biggest returning offensive weapon.

Sam Seitz produced 51 points as a sophomore last season, finishing second in the SWBL behind teammate Branson King. Seitz scored 19 goals and added 13 assists for a Brookville team that went 13-4-2 overall. King graduated after leading the league with 59 points and 23 goals. 

Several of the SWBL’s other top scorers are also gone. Valley View’s Cy Morris and Franklin’s Ousmane Guisse each scored 21 goals as seniors, while Monroe’s Gronostaj and Bellbrook’s Markland were among the league’s five highest scorers.

That leaves Seitz as the most accomplished returning scorer from last year’s leaderboard and gives Brookville a proven centerpiece as it attempts to climb from its 3-3-1 Buckeye Division finish.

Goalkeeping could also play a significant role in the division races.

Carlisle’s Jake Fox led the SWBL with 207 saves as a junior last season, while Eaton’s Joel Appledorn recorded 183 saves as a sophomore. Edgewood’s Alex Hulshult had 170 saves as a sophomore, giving all three teams experienced keepers returning to programs looking to improve their position in the standings.

Oakwood remains the standard in the Buckeye after running through league play without a loss, while Monroe enters the fall defending a Southwestern championship earned without a league defeat.

The challengers aren’t far away. Bellbrook won 14 games last season, Waynesville won 12 and Dayton Christian won 11. Brookville won 13 despite finishing fourth in its division.

With many of last season’s biggest offensive names gone, the 2026 SWBL race could ultimately come down to which teams replace those goals the quickest — and which returning players are ready to become the league’s next stars.

The Southwestern Buckeye League girls soccer season enters 2026 with defending champions looking to stay at the top, plenty of proven talent returning and several programs looking to close the gap.

Oakwood and Ross set the pace last fall.

Oakwood swept through the Buckeye Division at 7-0 and finished 18-3-1 overall, while Ross and Bellbrook shared the Southwestern Division championship with matching 9-1 league records. Ross finished 17-3-1 overall.

Both races could have a different look this season after graduation took several of the league’s most productive players, including Valley View’s Hayden Sorrell, Waynesville’s Chloe Dunford, Bellbrook’s Mara Donnerberg and Dayton Christian’s Essie Moore.

Sorrell led the SWBL with 53 points and 22 goals, while Dunford finished with 51 points on 19 goals and 13 assists.

Ross has one of the league’s top returning offensive threats in Ava Bush.

Bush broke onto the scene as a freshman with 18 goals and 11 assists for 47 points, ranking third in the SWBL. Her return gives the Rams a proven scorer as they attempt to defend their share of the Southwestern title.

Ross also returns goalkeeper Mia Michel, who recorded an SWBL-best 18 shutouts as a sophomore.

Bellbrook must replace Donnerberg’s 18 goals and 43 points after sharing the division championship with Ross. Goalkeeper Danielle Heiny returns after recording six shutouts as a sophomore.

Monroe could be a team to watch after finishing third at 4-4-2 in league play and 7-7-4 overall. Goalkeeper Kendall Atha recorded six shutouts as a freshman.

Talawanda finished 3-5-2 in the division, followed by Franklin at 1-7-2 and Edgewood at 1-9.

Oakwood remains the team to catch after going unbeaten in SWBL play and winning 18 games overall.

The Lumberjills return an important piece in goal with Camryn “Shady” Camacho, who recorded 17 shutouts as a junior.

The chase behind Oakwood was tight last season. Brookville finished 5-2 in league play, Waynesville went 4-2-1 and Valley View finished 4-3. Eaton wasn’t far behind at 3-2-2.

Valley View must replace the league’s leading scorer in Sorrell, but Madison Schmidt returns after leading the SWBL with 20 assists as a junior.

Waynesville faces a similar challenge after losing Dunford, while Eaton returns Autumn Gillenwater, who recorded 13 assists as a junior, and goalkeeper Miley Moore, who posted six shutouts as a sophomore.

Dayton Christian finished 2-5 in league play, followed by Middletown Madison at 1-5-1 and Carlisle at 0-7.

Carlisle goalkeeper Annie Steckel returns after leading the SWBL with 325 saves as a junior.

Bush headlines the returning offensive talent after producing 47 points during her freshman season. Schmidt gives Valley View one of the league’s premier playmakers, while Gillenwater provides Eaton with another proven creator.

The SWBL also returns considerable experience in goal. Michel and Camacho combined for 35 shutouts last season, while Atha, Heiny and Moore have already established themselves at the varsity level.

Oakwood, Ross and Bellbrook enter 2026 with championships to defend. With several of last season’s leading scorers gone, however, the opportunity is there for a new group of players — and perhaps a new contender or two — to emerge.

Congratulations to Madison junior Logan Andersen on being the Champion of the Brookville Golf Invitational at Beechwood Golf Course!