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<p>Given the fact that Western North Carolina is the region with the lowest population and because soccer is more difficult to play there, there was a smaller pool to look at in comparison to previous regions. This means that I had to combine both the classes of 2026 and 2027 into one article. The complete dominance of [program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC'] is noticeable and understandable because they are the only high-level team in the region. Just because the talent pool is smaller does not mean that the talent is not there, though. The skillset of the players in Western North Carolina will not disappoint anyone, especially so the ones of the following list of players. Just like in the previous articles, my standout player per position is italicized. New to this format is also what class year the player belongs to. This format will also be the same for future articles covering the girls as well as the freshmen and sophomores.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Goalkeepers</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Class</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Jackson Williams</td><td>Enka High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Aidan Bennett</td><td>Franklin School of Innovation</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td><em>Tanner Jackson</em></td><td><em>Hendersonville High School</em></td><td><em>2026</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defenders</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Class</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Alec Dzialo</td><td>Christ School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td><em>Carlos Valle</em></td><td><em>Enka High School</em></td><td><em>2027</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</em></td></tr><tr><td>Bradyn Toms</td><td>Brevard High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Eli Diaz Perez</td><td>Erwin High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Mason Hudson</td><td>Polk County High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Nathaniel Danielian</td><td>Asheville High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Sean Edwards</td><td>Hendersonville High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Midfielders</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Class</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Caden Hoppensteadt</td><td>Enka High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td><em>Brayan Martinez-Cruz</em></td><td><em>Erwin High School</em></td><td>202<em>6</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</em></td></tr><tr><td>Alexis Perez-Jaimes</td><td>Enka High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Lyle Suzman</td><td>Owen High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Eder Pimentel-Montiel</td><td>Hendersonville High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Nicholas Kenny</td><td>West Henderson High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Miguel Gonzalez Perez</td><td>Pisgah High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Attackers</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>School</strong></td><td><strong>Class</strong></td><td><strong>Club</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Juan Argueta-Aguirre</td><td>Erwin High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Rion Coadwell</td><td>Brevard High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td><em>Christian Penland</em></td><td><em>A.C. Reynolds High School</em></td><td><em>2026</em></td><td><em>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</em></td></tr><tr><td>Alex Binuelo-Paz</td><td>Erwin High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Greyson Stenhouse</td><td>Asheville High School</td><td>2026</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr><tr><td>Cristobal Drago</td><td>North Buncombe High School</td><td>2027</td><td>[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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Given the fact that Western North Carolina is the region with the lowest population and because soccer is more difficult to play there, there was a smaller pool to look at in comparison to previous regions. This means that I had to combine both the classes of 2026 and 2027 into one article. The complete dominance of Highland FC
is noticeable and understandable because they are the only high-level team in the region. Just because the talent pool is smaller does not mean that the talent is not there, though. The skillset of the players in Western North Carolina will not disappoint anyone, especially so the ones of the following list of players. Just like in the previous articles, my standout player per position is italicized. New to this format is also what class year the player belongs to. This format will also be the same for future articles covering the girls as well as the freshmen and sophomores.
Goalkeepers NameSchoolClassClubJackson WilliamsEnka High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Aidan BennettFranklin School of Innovation2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Tanner JacksonHendersonville High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC'] Defenders NameSchoolClassClubAlec DzialoChrist School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Carlos ValleEnka High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Bradyn TomsBrevard High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Eli Diaz PerezErwin High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Mason HudsonPolk County High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Nathaniel DanielianAsheville High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Sean EdwardsHendersonville High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC'] Midfielders NameSchoolClassClubCaden HoppensteadtEnka High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Brayan Martinez-CruzErwin High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Alexis Perez-JaimesEnka High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Lyle SuzmanOwen High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Eder Pimentel-MontielHendersonville High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Nicholas KennyWest Henderson High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Miguel Gonzalez PerezPisgah High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC'] Attackers NameSchoolClassClubJuan Argueta-AguirreErwin High School2026[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Rion CoadwellBrevard High School2027[program_tooltip program_id='280390' first='Highland' last='FC']Christian PenlandA.C. Reynolds High School2026[program_tooltip…
