Senior twins Albert Miller and George Miller and classmate Quinn Miller have their eyes on leading the Worthington Christian High School boys soccer team to its third Division III state championship in four seasons.

But there is something that remains unforgettable about the first title run for the trio, all starters since they were freshmen.

It was a particularly emotional fall in 2009 for Quinn Miller, whose brother, Blake Miller, was a senior on that team.

Blake Miller sustained a season-ending left knee injury in the Warriors' second game of the regular season and Quinn Miller took over his brother's No. 9 on the roster.

Blake Miller remained a captain that season and now plays for Denison University.

"Blake got injured that year, but (Albert, George and I) agree that that was our favorite year," said Quinn Miller, who is not related to the Miller twins.

"Things are a lot different than they were then. My freshman through junior years, I needed someone to rely on. Now our teammates are relying on us."

With the Millers leading the way, the Warriors were 5-0-2 before playing Columbus Academy on Sept. 11.

Worthington Christian opened by tying Westerville South at 3 on Aug. 21 but followed with wins over Cincinnati Summit Country Day (2-0 on Aug. 25), Hartley (2-0 on Aug. 28), Marysville (1-0 on Aug. 30), St. Charles (1-0 on Sept. 1) and Wellington (9-1 on Sept. 4). The Warriors tied Bexley at 1 on Sept. 8.

They travel Thursday, Sept. 13, to Buckeye Valley and play host to Westerville North on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Coach Dan Roads couldn't be happier with a unit led by the Millers and junior forward Sam Condon, who had three goals against Wellington.

"Our midfielders have really organized our back well," Roads said. "Albert and George Miller and Quinn Miller understand that they have the ability to lead us. I don't think we've played our best game yet, but we're learning how to play every game and the guys are accepting those challenges."

Girls soccer team hopes to bounce back

Second-year girls soccer coach Shari Welsh believes her team's record to start the season is misleading.

The Warriors improved to 3-4 with a 4-0 win over Wellington on Sept. 8. Their other wins came over Newark (9-2 on Aug. 21) and Johnstown (6-3 on Aug. 28). Their losses were to Bexley (6-4 on Aug. 23), Summit Country Day (4-0 on Aug. 25), Marysville (4-1 on Aug. 30) and Olentangy Orange (1-0 on Sept. 1).

"We've played all tough teams so far," said Welsh, whose team plays host to Columbus Academy on Thursday, Sept. 13, and travels to Ready on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The only seniors are Katie Feusse (defender/forward) and Molly Price (forward/midfielder). Also on the team are juniors Taylor Klass (defender) and Sami Jones (goalkeeper) and sophomores Natalee Cole (midfielder), Paxton Hood (defender/midfielder), Devon Jones (forward), Hadley Jones (defender/midfielder), Shirley Rettstatt (midfielder), Kasey Richards (midfielder) and Lauren Weygandt (midfielder).

Paxton and Richards have been battling injuries.

Worthington Christian, which was 12-3-2 in 2010, went 12-6 a year ago despite having few key returnees. The Warriors opened the Division III district tournament with a 9-0 win over Heath but lost to Ready 3-2 in a second-round game.

The only key player lost to graduation was Allie Custer.

"I think we're very strong offensively and we've been strong as a team defensively," Welsh said. "I'm just excited to see what we can do when we're healthy."

Boys runners out for strong season

The boys cross country team returns four of its top five runners and has been lifted by a pair of freshmen.

Last season, the Warriors were seventh (193) in the 10-team Division III, district 1 meet behind champion Liberty Union (29).

"They look much stronger at this point in the season than they did at this point last year," said Loren Hughes, who is in her third season as co-coach with Nathan Hughes. "We have some freshmen who are contributing, so the upperclassmen are picking it up."

Junior Matt Watterson is the top returnee after he was 11th (18 minutes, 7.33 seconds) at district and 40th (18:48.31) at regional, where the top 16 advanced to state.

Also back after competing at district are senior Seth Pierce (69th, 22:48.84), junior Luke Proxmire (39th, 20:07.49) and sophomore Jeremiah Lozier (70th, 22:50.07).

Freshmen Justin Eisel and Noah Mallory have become key runners as well. Also on the team are seniors Michael Sauder and Ryan Carroll, junior Sean Kirk and freshmen Matthew Houck and Joshua Lozier.

In the Westerville Classic on Sept. 1 at Westerville North, Worthington Christian was second (44) in the three-team Division II/III race behind Port Clinton (25) and ahead of Walnut Ridge (69). Watterson was first (18:26.29), followed by Mallory (third, 19:00.16), Proxmire (11th, 20:48.37), Eisel (14th, 22:04.05), Pierce (15th, 22:29.86), Sauder (16th, 22:36.3) and Jeremiah Lozier (17th, 22:54.97).

The Warriors opened Aug. 25 by placing 10th (263) in the Bengal race of the Pickerington Classic at Pickerington North behind champion Thomas Worthington (71).

On Sept. 8, they were sixth (147) in the 14-team Division III race of the McGowan Invitational at Watkins Memorial behind champion Liberty Union (70).

Competing for the girls team are junior returnee Sarah Sharp and sophomore newcomer Emily Howard.