By Scott Nickerson
Elmore Autauga News
Photos by Brittany Myers
The 2025 Stanhope Elmore Boys’ soccer team advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals for only the second time in school history. The Mustangs dominated area competition in the regular season, defeating Percy Julian by the 10-goal mercy rule in both games, and defeating county rival Wetumpka 8-0 at home and 3-0 in Wetumpka. In the post-season, the Mustangs trounced Russell County 9-0 in the 1st round of the Class 6A playoffs, and defeated Pike Road in penalty kicks in the 2nd round. As a result of that success, the Elmore Autauga News has named Head Coach Richie Beyer as the Elmore County Soccer Coach of the Year.
“I think it’s a great honor for our team and school,” said Coach Beyer. “This team will hold a special place in SEHS history. As only the second team to make it to the AHSAA Elite Eight, I am so proud to have been part of the journey with them.”
While the Mustangs didn’t play three of the other four county teams, they had one common opponent in Wetumpka, according to Max Preps. Wetumpka beat Holtville and Elmore County and tied Tallassee. That same Indians team lost to the Mustangs by a combined score of 11-0 in two games, leaving no doubt that the Mustangs were the top boys team in Elmore County.
While matches against other county teams couldn’t be coordinated, the Mustangs compiled one of the toughest regular season schedules in history. Stanhope Elmore traveled to Hewitt-Trussville (7A), Hoover (7A), Pelham (6A), and Enterprise (7A) during the regular season. They hosted Mountain Brook (6A), Chelsea (6A), Thompson (7A), and Montgomery Academy (7A). To top it off, the Mustangs played in two tournaments and faced off against St. Paul’s (6A), Calera (6A), and Prattville (7A).
The Mustangs managed their way through a brutal schedule and still finished with a record of 15-8-3.
“Our team had 13 seniors leading the way,” said Beyer. “Most all the seniors had been with our program since 7th grade and have tremendous talent on and off the field. Academically and athletically, this class of seniors is the most decorated senior class in SE soccer history. Mix in the underclassmen and their talent, we knew at the end of the 2024 season that this season could be very special.”
To Beyer’s point, the SEHS valedictorian, CJ Allen, and salutatorian, Colby Beyer, were both soccer players. The Top 10 percent of the 2025 graduating class also included soccer players Dominic Jones, Tristen Jones, Trent Wineburg, Jake Graham, and Jay Myers.
Following the season, SEHS’ Thomas Richardson was named Class 6A 2nd Team All-State after scoring 30 goals. Myers and Wineburg were also named Honorable Mention All-State for the second year in a row. All three have signed college scholarships to continue playing at the next level.
Beyer hopes the future Mustang teams will maintain the same standard as the 2025 team.
“I hope our players continue to strive to be elite in all they do. This year’s team has raised the bar for our program. For the last decade and a half, Coach Angelo built a program that never shied away from playing some of the best teams in the state. The 2025 squad played over 40% of our games against teams ranked in the Top 10 of 6A or 7A. We want to continue to build on a culture that embraces that mindset at all three levels of our boys and girls programs.”
