The Chanute Blue Comets enter the 2026 boys soccer season looking to put a disappointing start to last season behind them.
Chanute finished 7-9 in 2025 but showed improvement as the season progressed. The Blue Comets struggled through their first six games before finding their footing later in the year. An injury to a starting center back in a vehicle accident also affected the team down the stretch.
Coach Adam Wilcox said Chanute enters this season with a combination of returning experience and younger players looking to establish themselves at the varsity level.
“We are excited for this season,” Wilcox said. “Our team has a good mix of experienced players and younger guys new to the club and varsity level.”
The Blue Comets will be led by senior captain Lawrence Chaney, who enters his final season as one of the program’s most accomplished offensive players. Chaney has led the team in scoring each of the past two seasons and is the club’s all-time leader in total points.
He also is three goals away from breaking the program’s career goals record.
Chaney will look to cap his career by once again providing offensive production while helping lead a team determined to make a stronger start this season.
Another senior captain, Jarrett Cleaver, will provide leadership both on and off the field. Cleaver has been a consistent presence throughout his four years in the program and has earned recognition for his work ethic and willingness to help teammates.
“Jarrett is another one of our returning Senior Captains,” Wilcox said. “He does the right thing without being told just because it’s the right thing.”
Cleaver also spent part of the summer helping train the girls soccer team’s goalkeepers, sharing techniques and ideas with the younger players.
“Jarrett cheers on teammates in practice and is a first in, last out kind of kid,” Wilcox said. “Nobody has worked harder than Jarrett these past four years.”
The Blue Comets also will look to sophomore Brayden Griffeth as one of their younger contributors. Griffeth broke into the varsity squad as a freshman and returns as an athletic outside midfielder.
He will look to learn from Chanute’s senior leaders while competing for a spot in the starting lineup.
“Brayden is an incoming SO who broke into the Varsity squad last year,” Wilcox said. “He is an athletic outside mid who is looking to play and learn from the Sr leaders on the team.”
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