CLARKSBURG — Trinity freshman Gabe Turak was named a second-team all-state player, announced Tuesday.
Turak finished his first season with the Warriors with 43 goals. He nearly doubled that total in assists, tallying nearly 80 on the seasons.
Before Khori Miles set foot on the campus of Robert C. Byrd High, the Flying Eagles had never been in the state boys’ soccer tournament in consecutive years.
With his junior year now in the rearview mirror, they’ve been three times and made the final twice.
“It’s a priority now. We’re expected to get to the state tournament every year,” Miles said. “And if we don’t, it looks bad.”
Miles’ goal-scoring prowess earned him the captaincy of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association first team for boys’ soccer, announced Wednesday.
“I’ve been working at this for a long time,” Miles said. “Just to be able to finally get something, it means a lot to me. It means a lot to the team.”
As a junior, Miles took on a greater leadership role this season in addition to his on-field production.
“I was a different player this year, on and off the field,” Miles said. “On the field, I was a lot more assertive. I just told my team what we needed to do, and we got it done. Off the field, I tried to hang out with my teammates as much as I could and get their confidence up.”
Miles is joined on the first team front line by Nitro senior Zander Schmitt and Wheeling Central junior Jacob Estep.
The midfield is comprised of a state champion (Winfield senior Evan McCray), a state runner-up (East Fairmont junior Aiden Slusser), a state semifinalist (Charleston Catholic senior Jack Cimino) and Bridgeport senior Tristan Nolte.
The back four is East Fairmont senior Evan Garrett, Nitro senior Justin Mayfield, Charleston Catholic senior Michael Hoffman and Winfield senior Philip Englund.
Charleston Catholic senior Ethan Malinoski is the goalkeeper.
Utility spots went to East Fairmont sophomore Lance Cerullo, RCB senior Eli Williams and Nitro senior Andrew Mahairas.
“Division I players on these teams,” Miles said of his fellow first teamers. “A lot of good players. We had to play our game to a lot higher potential than we were used to playing to. It’s good experience.”
The teams are determined by the voting of state coaches and West Virginia Sports Writers Association members.
