In the span of nearly 12 months, Bloomington High School South boys’ soccer has gone from the cusp of a state title to staring into the abyss of conference uncertainty.
The Panthers were dominant throughout the 2024 season, entering the Indiana High School Athletics Association Class 3A boys’ soccer championship game with a 20-1-0 record. The team had already won its regional title 4-1 against Martinsville on Oct. 12, 2024, and went 5-0-0 in conference play. However, South fell at the final hurdle, losing 1-0 to William Henry Harrison High School to finish the season 20-2-0.
Now, South is one of three schools still currently committed to Conference Indiana past 2025, with Terre Haute North Vigo High School and Terre Haute South Vigo High School leaving for the Sagamore Athletic Conference in 2026.
Alongside the Terre Haute Schools, Bloomington High School North will leave for the Mid-State Conference at the same time. The Cougars had a much less successful 2024 season compared to their rivals, going 10-5-1 with a 2-3-0 record in conference play before losing to South 3-0 in the regional semifinals on Oct. 9, 2024.
However, the Cougars are steadily improving and have secured their conference future, whilst the former has not.
Non-conference results so far
So far this season, South has played four games, having yet to play its first conference match. North, by contrast, has played seven games, with its first game being a conference match against Columbus North High School.
While North lost to Columbus North 2-1, the Cougars have majorly rebounded since then, achieving a record of 5-0-1. The team racked up three straight wins against Jeffersonville High School, Terre Haute North and Columbus East High School. Following a goalless draw against Seymour High School on August 28, North battered Batesville High School and Mooresville High School by a combined 10-0.
South started its non-conference games off strongly, beating Center Grove High School, Seymour and Bedford North Lawrence High School by a combined 18-0. Most recently, the Panthers stumbled to a 3-3 draw against Castle High School on Saturday. Their non-conference schedule isn’t quite over, with the Panthers scheduled to travel to Martinsville High School on Tuesday before diving into their conference schedule.
Tom Henry Berry (South) – Berry is the team’s highest scoring returning player, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists in 19 games last season. He earned both Indiana Soccer Coaches Association First Team All-State honors and was named an All-American by the United Soccer Coaches Association. The senior midfielder will be one of the team captains this season.
Joe Luther (North) – Luther topped North’s scoring charts last season, his 20 goals earning himself ISCA Second Team All-State honors. Despite being one of the team captains, the senior forward has not appeared yet this season due to injury.
Konrad Polit (South) – Polit is South’s highest returning scorer on the forward line, notching 11 goals last season. Now tasked with leading the front line, the senior forward is expected to surpass last season’s goal tally.
Zach Gaither (North) – Gaither played at right-back last season, still raking in a tied team-high of six assists. This season, the senior has successfully converted into a midfielder, already surpassing his one goal tally of last season with two goals so far.
Max Serafin Odle (South) – The defender had a rock-solid freshman year, anchoring their back line during South’s championship push. Being the only non-senior named captain, he is expected to continue to anchor the defense his sophomore season.
South has one game left before conference play. The Panthers will host Terre Haute North at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, before travelling to play Southport High School two days later at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Bloomington North jumps back into its conference schedule Tuesday, hosting Terre Haute South at 7:30 pm. After that, the Cougars’ next game takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11, when they will host Terre Haute North.
Both schools will look to make what is likely their last season in Conference Indiana a memorable one.