The Verde Valley School Coyotes, ranked No. 1 in the state, carry a perfect 15-0 record into this Saturday’s, Nov. 8, Canyon Athletic Association State Championship Division 1 matchup against Thunder-bird Adventist Academy 14- 1-1 at 7 p.m. at Thunderbird High School in Phoenix.
“Last year we were in the state final as well, and we lost 5-3 to Ville de Marie Academy from Scottsdale,” VVS science teacher and Athletic Director Chris Bolton said. “And we kind of had a vowed belief that we were going to take this season by storm. We have had seven shutouts in 14 games. This is a neat team, because we have quite a few international players. We’re an international boarding school, and so I have players from Turkey, Dominica, Germany, Serbia and then quite a few local kids as well. And we have come together to play a brand of soccer that I’m proud of.”
Bolton described the “VVS brand of soccer” that he plans on showcasing on Saturday as involving every player in possession focusing on passing. “We play quickly, but we also play very accurately. We get a lot of shots, we attack a lot and it just resembles a more international style of play that you’re going to see more so than you’re going to see out of a lot of smaller schools in Northern Arizona.”
While VVS notched the 5-1 win against Thunderbird Adventist Academy on Oct. 14 during its previous matchup this season, Bolton said that VVS isn’t underestimating its opponent.
“Once we’re into the playoffs, teams play harder; they know us a little better, and so it makes it a little bit more challenging,” he said.
However, overall VVS has outscored Thunderbird Adventist Academy by nearly 2:1 overall this season heading into the match up with 81 goals to 45 goals across all games. Defensively however, Thunderbird Adventist Academy has a slight edge with 57 saves this season to VVS’ 55.
The Coyotes punched its ticket to the championship with its Saturday, Nov. 1, 5-3 overtime victory over Arrowhead Christian Academy on the road in Phoenix.
“The tiebreaker ensued with two 10-minute overtime periods,” VVS wrote in a social media post. “Midway through the first period Otis Nesty made some magical moves to beat four ACA defenders for the tiebreaking goal and a 4-3 lead. And as VVS dedicated itself to defense, Peter Heller — who will be missing the State Championship for his field expedition to Guatemala — scored the final goal in the final game of his VVS career to cap the night off with the 5-3 win.”
The Coyotes’ goal leader this season is senior Ata Celebi with 30, junior Christian Wieh leads the team with 12 assists and junior Theodor Peyton from Munich, Germany, has racked up the most saves, 52, that Bolton said has freed the team up to play more aggressively on defense.
“Probably our biggest standout is Ata Celebi, he’s from Turkey, he came here a year ago and has been one of the leaders of the CAA in scoring since he’s arrived; he’s a talented player with many college prospects, and he hopes to play professionally,” Bolton said. “We have local homegrown kids, Gus Chorlton and Chaveyo Viafora who have been part of my program for four years. And are demonstrating this incredible leadership on our team and great skill. Both of those players could play in college if they decide to … I’ve just got a group of guys that are talented across the board, and it just really makes it for a very fun season.”
Also be on the lookout for Nomar Guillen from Cottonwood on defense on Saturday which will cap a season that Bolton described as the senior being a “stalwart defender for us this year.”
A Coyote victory on Saturday will add to Bolton’s already impressive soccer resume, he said.
“I came to VVS seven years ago, and originally was not even thinking about coaching soccer when I came, I was mostly coming for the adventure,” Bolton said. “But my wife [Liz] and I both moved here from Oregon. While I was there, I coached high school soccer and collegiate soccer in the Eugene, Oregon area, and had a pretty successful career up there. Won three state championships in Oregon as well.”
Tickets for Saturday’s Championship in Phoenix are $15, $13 for seniors and $7 for students and are available online at this link.
Coyotes 2025 Roster
Seniors
▪ Filip Atanasovski
▪ Charlie Behrend
▪ Ata Celebi
▪ Gus Chorlton
▪ Nomar Guillen
▪ Peter Heller
▪ Pedro Klein
▪ Chaveyo Viafora
Juniors
▪ Theodor Peyton
▪ Simon Lorch
▪ Jack Welty
▪ Christian Wiehl
▪ Wyatt Wilson
Sophomores
▪ Eddie Siegel
▪ Otis Nesty
Freshmen
▪ Filip Djurovic
▪ Oliver Djurovic
