Center of attention
Bo Wright is Citrus' go-to guy for everything.
By BRETT KELMAN
Published November 7, 2006
For the Citrus boys soccer team, senior Bo Wright is the eye of the storm.
Amid a whirling rush of inexperience, he will be the calm around which everything revolves. When it comes to playing center midfield, you can't get any more central than Wright.
"This year, everything will go through Bodi," new coach Steve Ekeli said. "Defenders will try to clear to Bodi. We will transition through Bodi. All attacks will start with Bodi."
Ekeli might sound like he's handing out star treatment, but he's not. But for the second season, Wright is Citrus' lone returning starting midfielder. For Ekeli's tried-and-true game plan to work, he needs ball control, and Wright has it.
"(Wright) has evolved into the complete player," Ekeli said. "He's got great ability. He's very aggressive. He's good in the air; sometimes he plays like he's 6-5." (Wright is only 5-10.)
Ekeli was hired to coach Citrus after a one-season career at Crystal River, where his three-forward, score-happy strategy netted a 10-6-4 record. Ekeli was the 2005 Times' Citrus-Hernando Coach of the Year, but at the end of the season he was replaced by Michael Callaway, a full-time teacher.
After joining the 'Canes, Ekeli's first task was to review his Crystal River vs. Citrus game tape to scout his new team's potential. That's when he noticed Wright.
"I was immediately impressed with his confidence and patience with the ball. I thought that's what I need," he said
Wright has a different name for the "patience" Ekeli praises him for - "simple soccer." He insists that an easy pass is a smart pass and if you want to score, you have to find your shot.
"The key is never to force it," he said Thursday.
Wright first made varsity as a freshman, where he quickly earned a starting spot in the midfield and a short stint in forward. Last year he scored 13 goals and had nine assists.
After this season, Wright hopes to play college ball. Wright's quick feet might take him a large Florida school, such as UCF or USF, or even as far as Vermont.
Until then, Wright will keep his mind on the goal. He will be taking Citrus' corner kicks for now, but Ekeli hopes that another big leg will step up so Wright can cover the back post.
"I've ran the same corner kick for 15 years," Ekeli said. "I want a guy I can trust on the back post. I want that to be Bodi."
Ekeli has to dig deep to find criticism, but he will admit Wright could communicate more on the field. Ekeli said Wright can take charge, but since last year's roster had nine seniors, it wasn't demanded of him. Now that those seniors are gone, Wright has a role to fill.
With the 'Canes hurt by graduations, Ekeli expects the team to strive for a .500 record, and "everything over that is gravy." Wright, empowered by his newfound responsibility and maybe finding his leadership role, expects more.
"If we can become a team in time, we will win districts," he said. "Then we'll see where that takes us."
Boys soccer team BREAKDOWNS
Citrus
Coach: Steve Ekeli, first season
Key Returners: Bo Wright, MF, Sr.; Bryan Tobin, F, Sr.
Key Losses: Nine seniors.
Key Newcomers: Kris Blasl, D, Sr.; Alex Nott, D, Sr.
The Skinny: While new coach Ekeli's goal-centric offense has proven potent at both Seven Rivers Christian and Crystal River, Ekeli admits this might be a rebuilding season for Citrus. For the second year in a row, the team has been hurt by graduation. Ekeli set a "realistic goal" of a .500 record. "We must learn to crawl before we can walk," he said. Ekeli said Hurricane fans should expect a 4-3-3 formation designed around center midfielder Bo Wright. Wright has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and this is the second season where he is the lone returning midfielder. Also, as soon as center forward Bryan Tobin gets his shots down (they are still arcing about field goal height), he can be expected to finish some key goals
Crystal River
Coach: Michael Callaway, first season
Key Returners: Alex Crandall, GK, Sr.; Jarrod Green, D, Sr.; Scott Hubbard, D, Sr. Chris Fleming, MF, Sr.
Key Losses: Cody Shaffer, GK; Jon Lowe, F
Key Newcomers: Richard Wilson, F, So.; Michael Zarek, F, So.
The Skinny: New coach Callaway has his hands full filling the shoes of former Pirates and new 'Canes coach Ekeli, who moved to Citrus High after only one season. Fortunately, Callaway has retained some of the weapons that made Ekeli's short-but-sweet career so successful. The steady tripod that supported Crystal River's lockdown defense last year has returned as older and wiser seniors. And though Crystal River lost Cody Shaffer, its senior goalie, it has found a new one in Alex Crandall, who should add to an experienced defense. The question: Since the star scorers have graduated, can the new forwards finish the ball?
Lecanto
Coach: Doug Warren, fifth season, 63-15-6.
Key Returners: Noah Heinze, MF, Jr.; Tyler Deem, D, Sr.; Tyler Jordan, GK, Jr.
Key Losses: Eleven seniors, including Dustin Elder, MF.
Key Newcomers: Mike Burnett, F, So.
The Skinny: After losing the majority of last year's starting lineup, Warren describes the new Panthers as a "work in progress." "Its hard to tell how we will produce," he said. Many of Lecanto's players are playing varsity for the first time, but Warren sees a silver lining - they played together last year. "Essentially we are moving an entire JV team up a level," he said. The JV went 8-2 last year. While Warren is prepared for a rocky start, after a few games he expects to be coaching a balanced, multi-faceted scoring machine. "I don't want an opponent to be able to shut down just one player and make us be out of options," he said.