Local talent fills all-state teams of the Soccer Coaches Association
LANSING – Northern Michigan high school football is beyond the point of having to prove itself to the rest of the state of Michigan.
The respect earned on the pitch is the result of years of deep playoffs by players like Petoskey, Traverse City West, Elk Rapids and others.
Behind these races, the talent showed itself, 2021 being no different.
When the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association released the All-State Collection of Teams, this year’s talent was more than well represented in every division, with the Northmen in particular deserving their respect.
From Petoskey’s 2021 squad, four Honorable Mention first-team players made the Division 2 rosters, led by senior Dylan Aldridge winning the first-team.
Aldridge was joined by first-year junior goalie Jackson Jonker and senior midfielder Owen Ashley winning third team and Marek Beckering taking honorable mention as a defenseman.
Aldridge led the team with 27 goals and 11 assists, Ashley led in assists with 14 and added six goals and Jonker and Beckering both assisted a defensive unit that has rarely given up on the beauty of its opponents this season.
Within Division 3, Boyne City secured three all-state nominations, led by Nic Santina as a senior goalkeeper and Joel Carter as a senior midfielder. Senior Derek Word also earned an honorable mention as a forward for the Ramblers.
Santina amassed 12 wins in goal – making a comeback for her final season – while adding 11 shutouts and 85 saves.
Carter has played almost every minute on the field this season for Boyne and had three goals and three assists, while Word had 10 goals and four assists for the team-second Ramblers.
The last athlete from the region to be recognized did so in Division 4 in Evan Schwab of Harbor Springs.
With a young Rams team still gaining experience this season, Schwab closed its final season with a team-record 17 goals and 11 assists, while missing a long period of time with an injury.
Also from Northern Michigan in Division 1, Colin Blackport won the first team for TC West, Josh Hirschenberger of West was placed in the second team and Caleb Nowak of West won the third team.
At Elk Rapids, seven team members were on all-state rosters including: Jack Spencer (1st), Spencer Ball (1st), Mason Travis (1st), Nolan Carroll (2nd), Jared Barcenas (HM ), Charlie Parrish (HM) and Emery Rubert (HM).
Traverse City Christian’s Seth LaPoine also won the Division 3 second team, as did his teammate Henry Reineck.
Also in Division 4, Gabe Trujillo and Luke Noorman each received an honorable mention.
Contact sports editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Local Talent Fills All-State Soccer Coaches Association Teams