BIG DISCLAIMER: I am not a coach. These are not critiques of the program, nor meant to imply that I know what is needed for this program. I am just an ex-player who took part in the team, trying to shed light on the talent on this roster and share my opinions on some of the players who I think will have a big impact this upcoming year. Hope you all enjoy it!
With incredible talent and depth in the Knox College Men’s Soccer Program, the 2025 campaign is starting to shape up like an exciting year. As someone who has had the privilege to captain the program for the past four years, I can say the hype on this team is real.
With the last conference title won by Knox dating back to 2021, it’s been almost four years since the Knox College Men’s Soccer Program earned a berth to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. But with the team entering the 2025 season loaded with talent, a conference title looks like it might be on the horizon. This team is ready and has it all.
I was fortunate to experience a Midwest Conference Regular Season and Tournament title myself as a member of the 2021 historic championship team. Winning the championship ultimately led to going to the NCAA tournament, something not many people get to say they’ve experienced. Apart from the amazing experience, this has allowed me to recognize when a team has the talent to win a championship in the Midwest Conference.
I’ve seen the highs, the lows, and everything in between with this program over the past couple of years. One thing seems certain, though: the men’s soccer program is looking like one of the most exciting rosters I’ve seen in the past couple of years. Keep an eye out for the Knox College Men’s Soccer Program this fall. They are going to be a team to watch once August arrives.
Here are four key players for the Prairie Fire in their 2025 Midwest Conference title run.
Key player number one, sophomore Kerstevens Dera.
Straight and simple, Dera is one of the deadliest strikers in the Midwest Conference. Despite having battled through injuries his first two years, Dera has kept the conference on notice with his goal-scoring performances this past season. With 11 goals through 11 games, his attacking prowess even earned him All-Midwest Conference First-Team honors for the 2024 season. Having been the first player to score 10+ goals in a season since Alex White in the 2022 campaign, Dera will look to lead the Prairie Fire to the long-awaited conference title.
“My goals for the upcoming year are to stay healthy and provide strong leadership to support my teammates,” Dera said. “Collectively, I aspire for our team to win the Midwest Conference, perform exceptionally well on the national level, and leave a lasting mark in the history of this program.”
Key players number two and three, juniors Alek and Sasha Esper.
Having arrived together in the fall of 2022, Alek and Sasha Esper have been a deadly duo for the Prairie Fire. Despite both playing different positions, both bring similar characteristics to the table: athleticism, versatility, and a rare creativity that is hard to find in the game today. As upcoming seniors, their ability to lead and impact the game, individually and together, could be an x-factor for Knox in 2025.
Let’s start with Sasha Esper. Having been heavily relied on immediately during his first-year campaign, Esper’s pace and dribbling ability have made him a scary threat for any defender on the opposite side of the ball over the past three years. As a veteran now with 40 games (26 starts) of experience with the Prairie Fire, his traits on the field will help Knox make noise in conference play.
His twin brother, Alek Esper, is also one to watch. Despite being heavily used as a strong option off the bench through most of his career, Esper can change the game in an instant. Very few players in the conference possess his ability to slither between opponents, while staying in control to thread precise passes behind the opponent’s defense. With his creative play style causing havoc in the midfield and Sasha’s speed on the flanks, the Esper twins will look to end their careers with a bang in the upcoming campaign.
“I’ve played with him all my life, so I’m confident in saying I know his play style pretty well,” Sasha Esper said. “Having him on the pitch with me is like having an extension of myself. [Alek] makes me fight even harder because if I can help him succeed, I’ll do everything I can for him to win. It just makes everything more meaningful.”
Despite heartbreak in the past couple of seasons, Alek Esper reminisces about how he’s used these moments of falling short to fuel his fire as he approaches his last collegiate campaign.
“I’m ready to win,” Alek Esper said. “After three years of falling short, I have high expectations. Hosting and winning the tournament is just one step toward our main goal: to make history and become the Knox team that goes the furthest in the national tournament. Next season will be a season to remember.”
The Esper twins have always left their mark every time they step on the pitch. With high hopes for the 2025 campaign, their natural chemistry and relentless energy certainly have the potential to light up the Midwest Conference in a couple of months.
Key player number four, junior Arito Nakamichi.
Very few walk-ons in college soccer can leave their mark like Nakamichi has during his time as a member of the Prairie Fire. With five goals and one assist in his first campaign, Nakamichi did just that, helping the Prairie Fire stay afloat during the entire 2023 season.
His composure and technical ability in the midfield are unique. Nakamichi’s perfect mix of strength, balance, and elegance has allowed him to make a name for himself over the past two years in the Midwest Conference. By adding another four goals this past season and an All-Midwest Conference Second Team selection, Nakamichi sets his sights not only on a conference title but also on a memorable display in the national tournament.
“I think we have what it takes to win a game in the national championship; winning the conference isn’t enough,” Nakamichi said. “If we all come back fit and ready for preseason, I think we have a good chance at doing that.”
As a former player and captain of this program, I believe the team possesses the right foundation to make things happen this year. The players are hungry, and the supporters are hopeful. With a new era on the horizon for the Knox Men’s Soccer Program, these four players, along with a talent-filled squad, could be the group to bring the Midwest Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles back to Knox College.