Wednesday, June 22, 2011
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ADAM RYAN
Ryan's responsibilities fell short of driving the team bus, but the senior did just about everything else necessary to help Chattanooga Christian win the Class A/AA state championship. Ryan played goalkeeper, sweeper, defender, midfielder and forward for CCS, and while finishing with modest totals of four goals and six assists, his importance to a team that battled injuries to key players all season couldn't be measured in just stats. In the state final against Memphis Kingsbury, the Chargers were awarded a penalty kick with 3:03 to go. On a team with as many as eight or nine finishers on the field at any given time, the players - almost in unison - pointed to Ryan to take the kick. His score put the game away and sealed the title. "I think you give respect to get it," Ryan said after the game. "At times this year, I worked underneath and tried to help my team in different aspects, but these guys are my brothers, and there's a glowing feeling as soon as we see each other. There was such a tight bond with this team - especially with the seniors - and I don't think anybody will appreciate what we accomplished as a team as much as our class."
COACH OF THE YEAR
RICK ADOLPH
After Adolph guided Ooltewah to the District 5-AAA crown, two own goals in the Region 3 championship match sent the Owls on the road for their sectional matchup, where they lost in overtime to Riverdale. Adolph's most successful campaign in his fifth season as Ooltewah head coach ended in an 11-6-1 overall record. "Coming into the season, I wasn't sure how we'd do. We were young and it took a while for some things to fall into place," he said. "I think as the season went along, we started to do well; then we started to overachieve late and ended up having a great season. The guys went on a run, played hard together and never let up. They ended up making me look good."
FIRST TEAM
Roy Anderson
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN
Senior defender
The District 7-A/AA player of the year will play for Covenant College after leaving high school with a state title.
Builder Brock
MCCALLIE
Senior defender
Converted to defense after playing midfield last year, he helped the Blue Tornado allow only eight goals in 2011.
Angel Cruz
MCCALLIE
Junior midfielder
Cruz finished with four goals and six assists for the Division II-AA state quarterfinalists.
Max Kanerva
BAYLOR
Senior midfielder
Kanerva had 10 goals and five assists for the Division II-AA state semifinalists.
Mark Koenig
NOTRE DAME
Junior forward
Koenig had 17 goals for the Fighting Irish, who were defeated in a Class A/AA sectional.
Alfonso Lopez
EAST RIDGE
Senior midfielder
Lopez had nine goals and seven assists for the Pioneers, Region 3-A/AA semifinalists.
Jaxon McClure
EAST HAMILTON
Senior forward
McClure finished with 15 goals and 5 assists for the Class A/AA state semifinalists.
Chase Reed
BOYD-BUCHANAN
Junior forward
Reed scored a team-high 20 goals for the Buccaneers this season.
Henrique Ribeiro
BAYLOR
Junior goalkeeper
Ribeiro allowed 20 goals in 18 total games played for the Division II-AA state semifinalists.
Arturo Rocha
MCCALLIE
Junior midfielder
Rocha totaled 11 goals and 11 assists despite missing parts of the season because of injury.
Sikhou Sy
HIXSON
Junior forward
Sy led the area with 35 goals and added 10 assists for the 10-6-1 Wildcats.
SECOND TEAM
HUNTER BROCK McCallie Soph. Forward
DANIEL DUK East Hamilton Junior Midfielder
KYLE GALLUPS East Hamilton Soph. Defender
JUSTIN GAZICK Notre Dame Senior Forward
SEAN MCCLAIN Ooltewah Junior Defender
MAURICIO MORENO Hixson Junior Forward
JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ East Ridge Junior Goalkeeper
RAMSEY SEAGLE Baylor Soph. Midfielder
BEAU SIMMONS Chatt. Christian Junior Forward
CALLUM WISHART Ooltewah Junior Midfielder
MASON WORTMAN Boyd-Buchanan Senior Midfielder
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN (18-3-2)
The Chargers won the Class A/AA state championship - the second in the school's history.
2 EAST HAMILTON (17-3-2)
In their second season, the Hurricanes advanced to the Class A/AA state semifinals.
3 BAYLOR (7-7-5)
The Red Raiders reached the Division II-AA state semifinals.