KARNS CITY — They lost their longtime coach who had piled up 201 wins in 12 seasons to retirement.

They lost 55 goals and most of the defense to graduation.

Most people outside of Karns City figured the Gremlins’ boys soccer team was in for a long year of rebuilding.

Not so fast.

Karns City is right back where it has always been: atop the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.

With four freshmen in the starting lineup, the Gremlins won their 10th consecutive KSAC crown and are cruising into the District 9 playoffs with tons of confidence and momentum.

The Gremlin boys host DuBois Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Wednesday to begin postseason play. KC’s girls host Clarion at 5 p.m.

“It’s been impressive to see how quickly we’ve grown,” said junior captain John Garing, the lone holdover at defense at sweeper.

Karns City (12-2) has done it with a hodgepodge of talent that came up from the junior high level, from the football field and from out of nowhere.

Jim Grenninger took over the head coach position after Roy Parker retired after 12 very successful seasons.

Grenninger served as an assistant under Parker for seven years before his promotion.

He brought up junior high coach Mike Ryan to be his assistant and to help bring along the slew of freshmen who have made a big impact.

Still, Grenninger had no clue what to expect as the season dawned.

“It looked like a crap shoot at first,” Grenninger said.

And instead of rolling snake eyes, Karns City has come up with nothing but sevens.

Three of the top four goal scorers are freshmen, led by Spenser Myers with 19 goals and 10 assists.

Noah Pollock and Jace Ebbitt also have nine goals apiece.

The defense also has been served well by youth. Garing is the elder statesman of the group as a junior that features sophomore Caleb Garing and freshman Noah Claypool.

Claypool is an interesting story. He didn’t play in junior high and was thrust into the lineup at stopper in the first match of the year because of a season-ending knee injury to Casey Weibel.

Claypool’s nickname is “Smiley” because he rarely cracks a grin.

“We’ve had a couple of guys we weren’t expecting to make a big impact,” Grenninger said. “Smiley is one of them. He’s 115, 120 pounds and back at stopper and he’s not afraid to take on the big guys. He’s been great.”

Garing has also been happy with the defense.

“I’m kind of shocked with all the seniors we lost that we are playing so well,” Garing said. “I was the youngest defender last year and now I’m the oldest and I had to step up and take control.”

Garing said he was nervous about the transition.

“I had seniors to look up to last year,” he said. “Now we only have two seniors on the whole team. But all the younger guys have stepped up.”

The match that really made Karns City believe was a loss.

The Gremlins lost 3-2 in double overtime to undefeated District 10 defending champion Mercer.

Last year, Karns City lost to the Mustangs 6-0.

“We out-played them for most of the game,” Grenninger said. “We just ran out of gas.

“No one in our district compares to (Mercer),” Grenninger added. “I think we can make it as far as the district title and I’m hoping we rise to the occasion.”

Last year, Karns City fell in the District 9 Class A final to Brockway 3-1.

Playing Mercer so tough made a believer out of Garing as well.

“I couldn’t have been happier,” Garing said. “To me, it was a victory.”