Tyler Welsh following in brother Corey’s footsteps

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

Last year, Genoa senior Corey Welsh was a first team Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press boys soccer selection and his younger brother, Tyler, was a first team All-Press goalkeeper.

This year, Corey is playing at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and Tyler has upped his game as a keeper, not only earning first team All-Press, but adding to his moniker All-Press Goalkeeper of the Year.

Behind a high scoring three-headed front line, Welsh’s net protection and his defensive back line, the Comets were 14-4-1 and won a Northern Buckeye Conference title.

Welsh had 106 saves for a 75.7 save percentage, a 1.95 goals against average, five shutouts and also contributed offensively on the pitch with two assists. For his career, he has 237 saves, a 70.3 save percentage and 2.35 GAA. He was first team All-NBC as a junior and senior.

“Tyler was our league’s top keeper the last two years. He is a tremendous shot stopper, very strong at reading the game, and preventing shots. He excels at distribution and was the start of most counter attacks,” Genoa coach Tim Memmer said. “Tyler has shown great leadership this year working with our freshman keeper (Tyler Harper), getting him ready for next year.”

Welsh said he could foresee what was to come during summer workouts.

“One thing that went really well was during the beginning of the season, summer conditioning, we had every kid on our team show up every day, so we started bonding together right away,” Welsh said. 

“Freshmen, they hopped in really well and a lot of them helped us out. I think there was only one freshman who started, but everyone who came off the bench just gave it their all. During summer conditioning, we all had great chemistry. We all worked together. It was great. I would say that was the best part about this season.”

Tyler said his defensive back line, led by seniors Connor Brazelton and Drake Hamilton, were already in sync when the season started. 

“So, my main guy in the back is Connor Brazelton. He was my center back and he’s a senior, and so it was he and Drake (Hamilton) — us three seniors” Tyler said. “I would say we led the team in the way we controlled that back line and how we could keep them all in front of that line, and we just made it work. In that first game, we knew what we were doing going into it.”

The season began with a 4-0 non-league win over Edison, and that’s when Welsh knew his team had what it took.

“Honestly, our first game against Edison, that 4-0 win probably pushed us to do everything, and also, I would also say the 4-0 win over Rossford was huge,” Welsh said. “We had all of our players play really well that game. Even if we lost a game, I would say we played some of our greatest games ever. It was great — definitely a season to end on.”

Tyler says the one thing he and his brother Corey have in common is what Memmer brought to the table.

“Ever since I was here my freshman year, he has always been a great coach,” Corey said. “He has always loved me as my brother. I don’t want to say this as a suck-up kind of thing, but we always did what he wanted like you should with any coach. We would go out there, and he would just let us play. He let us do our thing. He let us lead the team. 

“This was my first year being the captain, but I would have to say I had to lead most of the team, and last year, too, along with my brother, (2019 seniors) Dillon (Sims) and Luke (Frias) — I had to lead the team with them. It was just like he let Corey and I have our free reign, let us do what we want and honestly, he is my favorite coach. I could not be the goalie I am without him. He gave me the chance.” 

However, there is another coach who mentored Tyler — assistant coach Justin McCormick, a Genoa graduate.

“My freshman year, which was actually my first year of soccer, I played the field, and my sophomore year the JV coach, who is our assistant coach, said, ‘I’ll need a goalie for JV,’ and I said, ‘I would do it,’ and about that time I was standing at about 5-foot-2, so I was the shortest dude out there,” Tyler said.

“But since then there was always a love for it. There was always something about that which made me like it. Then, growing up over the years until right when I became a goalie, I always had this coach whose name was Justin McCormick, and he has been the greatest, funniest dude and one of the best goalie coaches I have ever worked with. I think he made me what I am today.”

Tyler has grown since then but has the athletic ability to play even taller. He is considering options to play collegiately, trying to communicate with programs at the next level. 

 

Category:

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Ohio News Media Association