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Baldwin’s seniors pose for a photo with the state runner-up trophy after 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
WICHITA — Heading into the 4-1A state championship match Nov. 8 at Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Baldwin boys soccer team had a majority of its roster knowing they were playing their last high school match.
For four of those seniors — Cooper Carr, Leo Schoenberger, Ethan Smasal and Camden Cox — it would be their second state championship match after playing a role in the team reaching this same point as freshmen. The Bulldogs senior class has led the program to the final four three times over the last four years.
In 2022, the Bulldogs played for a state championship and fell short in a 2-0 loss to Bishop Miege. Last season, Baldwin had to settle for third. With a determined group back, the Bulldogs had an opportunity to play again for a state championship against Rose Hill at the Stryker Sports Complex on Saturday.
Rose Hill broke a 1-1 halftime stalemate by scoring two unanswered goals down the stretch, ending Baldwin’s chance at its first state championship as the Rockets left with a 3-1 victory.
“They just were relentless,” Baldwin coach Ryan Cox said of Rose Hill’s performance in the second half. “In soccer, it just becomes a matter of time before a team like that breaks through, and they broke through and found the goal, and then they got that third one.”
The Rockets struck first in the 22nd minute with a goal from Jordy Kaba, but a penalty kick by Cooper Carr in the 36th minute, which was Carr’s 26th goal of the season, gave the Bulldogs hope they could carry some momentum heading into the second half.
“It changed our whole mindset coming out of halftime,” Cox said. “We had an opportunity right there to take the lead right out of half, and we kind of got put on the back heel and just couldn’t get off it.”
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Baldwin’s Cooper Carr kicks the ball from near midfield during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Rose Hill regained the lead in the 46th minute with Kaba finding the back of the net for a second time and pushed its lead to two with a goal by Ethan Helget in the 68th minute.
Baldwin’s senior class of 14, including Carr, Smasal, Schoenberger, Cox, Xander Johnson, Keldyn Cox, Homer Rice, Braxton Chase, Hunter Wills, Seth Smasal, Jayden Jimenez, Caden Hoffman, Carter Trybom and Wyatt Herrington, has been a special group to coach, according to Cox. Even one of Baldwin’s team managers, Danica Peterson, is a senior.
“They just have had that drive and that heart their entire career,” Cox said.
Ethan Smasal led the team with 13 assists this season to go along with 10 goals. Camden Cox added 12 assists and four goals while Schoenberger finished with eight goals and four assists. Carr had six assists to go with his team-leading goals mark.
With the Bulldogs graduating 14 seniors, the future is still bright with junior Cason Dick, who set a school record with 11 shutouts this season in goal, returning next year, along with other key sophomores and juniors who contributed behind the senior class.
“It’s just a matter of what they take from this group and build on moving forward,” Cox said.
Baldwin finished its season with a 17-4 record.
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Baldwin’s Cason Dick snatches the ball out of the air during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Leo Schoenberger hits a header during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Seth Smasal dribbles past Rose Hill players during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Camden Cox kicks the ball during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Jayden Jimenez kicks the ball during 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Cooper Carr drops to the turf as the buzzer sounds at the end of the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin players and coaches clap to celebrate a state runner-up finish after 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin players and coaches clap to celebrate a state runner-up finish after 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Baldwin’s fan section cheer on the boys soccer team after the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin head coach Ryan Cox holds the team’s state runner-up trophy as players embrace behind him following the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin head coach Ryan Cox consoles Cason Dick after the former puts a state medal around the latter’s neck following the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Cooper Carr embraces one of his coaches after the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
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Baldwin’s Camden Cox (4) hugs Kyler Brecheisen after the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
The Baldwin boys soccer team poses with the state runner-up trophy in front of the goal after the 4-1A state championship boys soccer match Nov. 7, 2025 at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita.
