Reeths-Puffer entered last season with a ton of questions, having graduated the program's all-time leading scorer and a four-year starter at keeper, but answered many of them positively. The Rockets had a winning season against a difficult schedule and played a mostly solid game against top-ranked Fruitport in a district finals defeat.
Now the Rockets bring back most of the best players from that team and are eyeing an even better season this fall.
"I honestly can say that in six years as the head coach here, this is the deepest team I have had, plus (we have) great speed and athleticism," R-P coach Kody Harrell said. "I think we are a district championship team who can make the regional part of the bracket very interesting."
The Rockets bring back a pair of all-conference players from last season - Owen Ritsema and Cohen Beck. Ritsema comes from Rocket stock - he's the son of assistant coach and former head coach Ben Ritsema - and Harrell calls him "our leader and heartbeat." Beck, who like Ritsema has accumulated a ton of experience in his career, is also a valued source of leadership and production.
R-P has talented pieces it can move all over its lineup depending on the situation. Zac Sampson and London Carpenter are skilled attackers, and Blake Kiel, usually a winger, will play some defense this year. Carson McCollum is a longtime varsity player and boasts "the best ball skill on our team," Harrell said; he can play any position. Andrew Eilers, who led last year's freshmen in minutes, is a polished and athletic defensive player.
The Rockets also have a strong group of up-and-comers who will bring added depth to the team. Tre Foster, Landon Nash, Chase Hoeft and Evan McHugh will see some time, and Braydon Ross is already displaying leadership qualities in the midfield.
R-P will need them all to succeed against another brutal schedule. Just the O-K Green Conference would probably be tough enough, as it contains the 2024 Division 1 runners-up in Byron Center, as well as big-time matchups against Caledonia and Jenison. Mona Shores is always a highlight opponent as well as the teams battle for the Causeway Cup. Out of conference, the Rockets again face Fruitport and will look to avenge the district final loss, and East Grand Rapids, West Ottawa and Grandville are other quality foes.
As far as the postseason, the Rockets caught, at least on paper, a break as they will face a district of mostly northern teams rather than last year's gauntlet of squads such as Fruitport and Spring Lake. Those matchups would instead take place at the regional level, if the Rockets fulfill their internal expectations.
"We always want to focus on the experience, life lessons , and memories that will last a lifetime for these young men," Harrell said. "Are we developing (these guys) for society and making our community better? As far as soccer, we are a district championship team, and that's their goal."
