Texas HS Boys Team Spotlight: Walnut Grove

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PROSPER, TX:&nbsp; </strong>North Texas has seen tremendous growth in the past 10 years with more and more people moving to the metroplex every day. Specifically, the Prosper/Frisco area's growth has resulted in the construction of several new high schools to keep up with the rising population. The opening of a new school makes a major impact on all the other schools in the area, especially on athletics. At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, Prosper ISD's Walnut Grove high school became the newest competitors in (5A Region 2) District 10. This article will shine a spotlight on the new Walnut Grove High School Boy's soccer program (Click this link for the Walnut Grove Girls article).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":162356,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/02/IMG_6431-crop-2030x1333-1707673781.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-162356"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Walnut Grove boys benefited quite a bit from the district rezoning that sent a number of talented players from nearby Prosper High School to their roster. Among the notable Prosper transfers are, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='15969' first='Christian' last='Nardelli']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='16671' first='Ryan' last='Anderson'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='16633' first='Preston' last='Stiglets'], </strong>and<strong> Carson Stiglets </strong>who are all coming off 1^st-team all-district honors last season at Prosper. Christian, Preston, and Carson are a group of bona fide, dynamic, playmaking Juniors with a collective history of success in front of goal that has translated to Walnut Grove this season. Walnut Grove has the luxury of having a lot of depth and versatility in their midfield. Sophomore (top 30 ranked player), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='90293' first='Mason' last='Kutch']</strong> is a center mid with a very well-rounded game. He can play just as comfortably as a #6 than a #10, but his creativity on the ball and ability to score from distance make him a valuable attacker. Mason's soccer IQ and ability to read and adapt to in-game situations as needed are impressive, especially considering he is just a sophomore. Another<strong> </strong>player that illustrates the versatility of their squad is Junior, <strong>Ben Joyner. </strong>Ben is a plug-and-play<strong> </strong>kind of player with loads of athleticism that can out work opponents. Junior, <strong>Antonie Van Tonder </strong>is a supremely athletic young man who is a fantastic defender with an amount of technical skill that can surprise you. Antonie has developed and improved his game a lot over the past year, and is a defender to keep an eye on as he continues to develop in the future. Last but certainly not least is the Wildcats' Senior front man, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='16671' first='Ryan' last='Anderson']</strong>. Ryan has the skill set, demeanor, physical presence, and instincts of a true striker. Ryan's name appears on the score sheet more often than not. The Wildcats top striker has put up 12 goals so far, and he will be looking to bring his great goal-scoring form to the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, Walnut Grove has a strong and versatile squad that plays really well together as a unit, which is evident by the fact that 17 different players on their roster have scored a goal this season. They have had some really good results and are solidly in 2nd place with a 8-1-3 record and a +24 goal differential. Walnut Grove is a team to keep an eye on in the post-season as they have already locked up a playoff spot, but they still have two games to win for a district title and the #1 playoff seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='15969' first='Christian' last='Nardelli']</strong>, FC Dallas U19 ECNL, 2025&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='16633' first='Preston' last='Stiglets']</strong>, Solar ECNL U18/19, 2025&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carson Stiglets</strong>, Solar U17 ECNL, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Antonie Van Tonder</strong>, FC Dallas White ECNL B07, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Joyner</strong>, Solar ECNL, 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='90293' first='Mason' last='Kutch']</strong>, Solar MLS Next 07, 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='16671' first='Ryan' last='Anderson']</strong>, Solar U19 ECNL, 2024 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->