2014 Central Ma. Boys Div. 1

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Talented is a relative term. Algonquin club players in my experience have been strong enough to contribute to strong MA D1 HS soccer teams. I know quite a few. On the other hand few if any of those players has had any success at the college level over the past ten years. Does that help?

Yes, perfectly. But, the next level impact is a separate conversation isn't it? And the conversation here is about high schools, so that talent being relative in the way you're talking about applies to everyone on some level. Would anyone argue that Algonquin boys weren't the best team in CMass? So however talented they are or not, where they finished seems fair and true.

Has the soccer gotten better over the past 5-10+ years in any proportion to the number of kids playing club, which has increased (and the number going on to college really hasn't)? None of that is really exclusive to any town or region. I don't think it has. But with a program like Algonquin, and there are others, where club players are so plentiful that they ride the bench or even get cut, the expectations for varsity are probably misguided and high for reasons that don't make much sense.

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Exactly. Algonquin starts out as CMass largest public school. The average HS may put 4-6 club players on the field. The others are athletes who may be their friends that really play another sport. Algonquin typically can cover the field and then some with club kids. Those players if coached well can expose the other team's weak players. And agreed Algonquin's players aren't really talented, but that isn't as important at the HS level. Quantity over quality. The rub comes in with which club clique predominates, e.g. MPS players etc.

Algonquin is not the largest public school in Central Mass.

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Algonquin is not the largest public school in Central Mass.

Not to defend Gonk because I enjoy seeing them twist in the wind, but this poster is correct. In fact, Wachusett is significantly larger and I'm going to venture a guess that Leominster is comparable. Also would bet that if St. John's had girls it would be larger.

As for average number of club players, that varies widely. For the Wachusetts, Algonquins, Suttons and one or two others, the number is much higher.

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Not to defend Gonk because I enjoy seeing them twist in the wind, but this poster is correct. In fact, Wachusett is significantly larger and I'm going to venture a guess that Leominster is comparable. Also would bet that if St. John's had girls it would be larger.

As for average number of club players, that varies widely. For the Wachusetts, Algonquins, Suttons and one or two others, the number is much higher.

Boys side, here is the enrollment breakdown:

St. Johns 1055
Wachusett 1024
Leominster 944
Shrewsbury 751
South 739
Gonk 702

Monty Tech in D3 has 779

Girls side:

Wachusett 1046
Leominster 904
Shrewsbury 880
Gonk 738

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Boys side, here is the enrollment breakdown:

St. Johns 1055
Wachusett 1024
Leominster 944
Shrewsbury 751
South 739
Gonk 702

Monty Tech in D3 has 779

Girls side:

Wachusett 1046
Leominster 904
Shrewsbury 880
Gonk 738

Why does this truly matter? You have to factor in larger schools offer many different things. They typically offer other sports that say smaller schools don't. They offer up more clubs as well. So having more kids at a school does not simply mean they're going to be better in a sport. Sutton has a soccer club based right in their town so many players are introduced to club soccer at a much younger age than many other towns. That is a great thing for Sutton and Congrats to the boys. Four peat is rather impressive.

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Why does this truly matter? You have to factor in larger schools offer many different things. They typically offer other sports that say smaller schools don't. They offer up more clubs as well. So having more kids at a school does not simply mean they're going to be better in a sport. Sutton has a soccer club based right in their town so many players are introduced to club soccer at a much younger age than many other towns. That is a great thing for Sutton and Congrats to the boys. Four peat is rather impressive.

The trolling of the "D1" thread continues...

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The trolling of the "D1" thread continues...

I know can't we go back to beating up on St Johns. Seniors bite Sophomores rule !!!

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Happy New Year

What team will be the best in 2015. Gonk again??? All those Sophomores at SJ are now Juniors time to show or shut up. Westboro Shrewsbury Wachusett all lost a lot. Should be fun.

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What team will be the best in 2015. Gonk again??? All those Sophomores at SJ are now Juniors time to show or shut up. Westboro Shrewsbury Wachusett all lost a lot. Should be fun.

Really doesn't matter, since Cmass doesn't perform in postseason.

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Doesn't matter how good SJ is ks will screw it up for them