MORGANTOWN—The 2024 all-state soccer teams were released last week and included multiple names from coverage-area schools in Monongalia and Preston Counties.
Seniors Josie Johnson and Ariana Borneo of Morgantown High School made the first team after an impressive 2024 season.
Borneo, who will join Ashland University next fall, finished with 19 goals and 22 assists for the Mohigans, while Johnson, a WVU signee, was consistently one of the best defenders in the state.
University High School junior defender Kenya Huckaby made the Class AAA first team, while Preston goalkeeper Kadence Whitehair was named to the second team with 170 saves and six shutouts in 2024. They were joined by MHS teammates Lily Staples and Ella Miller.
“Kenya is a special player, and very deserving of this recognition,” UHS head coach Graham Peace said. “She has superb skills but her greatest strengths are her understanding of the game and her determination. She breaks up plays, wins tackles, marks extremely well, and erases scoring opportunities. As a junior, she is an exceptional leader and captain for us and leads by example.”
Riley Brabson and Aidan Stire, seniors at MHS, were named to the Class AAA first team for the boys.
Brabson wrapped up his senior season by scoring a team-leading 28 goals and providing 18 assists. Stire was a defensive talisman at center back for MHS and tallied 24 assists of his own.
“It means the world to me to be named to the first team my senior year,” Brabson said. “Mostly because in my sophomore year, I was honorable mention, then second team last season, and it’s nice to see that my hard work paid off this season. My time at MHS has helped me grow my confidence, a big part of my game that I realized I was missing before.”
UHS junior Davion Huckaby was named to the second team in the midfield after leading the Hawks with 18 goals and ten assists. MHS striker Alexander Gonzalez-Tanon joined him, finishing with eight goals and 20 assists.
Brady Grubb from UHS and Samuel Klimas of Preston were listed as Honorable Mentions for the Class AAA boys.
Trinity Christian junior Parker Hopkins was named one of two goalkeepers on the Class AA/A first team. Hopkins earned 132 saves for the Warriors this season, averaging 6.8 per match, with eight shutouts, allowing only six goals in 13 games against teams in Class AA/A.
“Parker has a lot of natural instincts that you look for in a goalkeeper,” TCS head coach Dan Lohmann said. “He’s a tremendous athlete with many qualities that carry over from being a catcher in baseball to goalkeeper. Parker doesn’t shy away from contact, holds shots well, and rarely gives up a rebound in a dangerous spot. He grew to be an excellent communicator, which is an important part of keeping the backline organized. He started the season in the central midfield and can honestly play any position, but we felt his most significant value to the team was in goal. His performance was very critical to the team’s success this season.”
TCS senior defender Mason Rodeheaver was named a second-team defender. Trinity Christian juniors Jakub Galik and Nathan Adams were named among the Class AA/A Honorable Mentions.
“The game has grown so much since I was in high school,” Lohmann said. “The individual talent level continues to grow, as well as the level of competition you see every night from other teams. There’s so much more access now to international and collegiate matches and highlights, which helps drive interest in the game. The incredible success of the WVU soccer programs has undoubtedly helped our area and our state also.”
The 2024 all-state soccer list was selected by the West Virginia State Soccer Coaches Association.
