Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Hudson Clark (13) heads a ball against Waterloo Columbus during their Class 1A state quarterfinal match on May 30, 2023, at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines. Clark has accrued four goals and 10 assists for the Rebels (5-1) so far this season. SUN COURIER FILE PHOTO

REINBECK – Following a streak of five early wins, Grundy Center-Gladbrook Reinbeck boys soccer has only recorded one loss this season – barely dropping a match to Hudson, 1-0, this past Monday – and currently sits at No. 1 in the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s (IHSAA) Class 1A rankings.

The Rebels christened the 2023-24 season at home back on March 28 with a win 3-1 over the current 2A seventh-ranked Aplington-Parkersburg/Dike-New Hartford United. The team quickly followed the opening salvo with four shutout victories – Northeast Iowa United, 10-0, on April 5; Columbus Catholic, 10-0, on April 8; Northeast Iowa United, 11-0, on April 9; and finally Denver, 1-0, on April 11.

Against Denver last week, senior forward Isaac Clark recorded the Rebels’ lone goal among his three shots-on-goal. Sophomore Hudson Clark notched two shots-on-goal while junior Kaden Kauffman had one.

According to the latest statistics available online, Isaac Clark currently leads GC/G-R’s offense this season with 11 goals, two assists, and 24 shots-on-goal, while Hudson Clark is not too far behind with four goals, 10 assists, and 12 shots-on-goal.

Following Monday’s loss to the Pirates, the Rebels (5-1) had a week off from competitive play. They will next see action on Monday, April 22, on the road against the winless South Tama County (0-5), followed by another showdown with AP/DNH (7-1) on Thursday, April 25 in Aplington at the middle school.

GC/G-R will return to the home pitch on Friday, April 26, for a match with Central Iowa United beginning at 7 p.m. at the high school in Reinbeck.

The Rebels are currently second in the NICL conference standings just behind AP/DNH.

Last season, the practically undefeated Rebels (30-1) were runner-up at the 1A State tournament, falling only to Western Christian 2-0 in the championship round. As of press time, the Wolfpack (5-2) is currently ranked third in the Class 1A IHSAA rankings, while Iowa City Regina Catholic is ranked second.