BECKLEY — For the third straight year, Philip Barbour and Charleston Catholic were the last two teams standing in Class A/AA girls soccer.
So it’s not a surprise that both schools peppered the first-team all-state squad, produced this year for the first time in a collaboration between the West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association and the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
The Irish, champions for the fifth consecutive year, put junior forward Molly Messer (28 goals, 17 assists), freshman forward Ella Greene (13 goals, 10 assists), sophomore midfielder Mia Lough (28 goals, 9 assists), junior midfielder Aurelia Kirby (13 goals, 12 assists) and sophomore defender Molly Weber (team allowed 14 goals in 25 games) on the first unit.
The Colts, who went to four state tournament in a row, are represented by four seniors in forward Arrington Sparks (21 goals, 25 assists), midfielders Braylyn Sparks (28 goals, 12 assists) and Layna ‘Turkey’ Grassi (13 goals, 14 assists) and defender Jorjalynn Ward (11 team shutouts).
Point Pleasant, which lost by a goal for PB in the state semis for the second year in a row, picked up a trio of spots for senior midfielder McKenna Young (7 goals, 4 assists), senior defender Ella Hunt (1 goal, 1 assist) and junior goalkeeper Katie McCutcheon (95 saves, team allowed 13 goals in 22 games).
Weir, the fourth team to make it to the final four in Beckley, were led by senior forward Olivia Baker (35 goals, 11 assists).
Oak Glen senior forward Kami Ward (50 goals, 7 assists), plus East Fairmont senior midfielder Kiersten Maxey (19 goals, 21 assists) and senior defender Carlie Ice (14 team goals allowed, 12 team shutouts) round out the first squad.
The second team is forwards Addy Cogar (Elkins), Tillie Cinalli (Fairmont Senior), Hadley Horne (Grafton), Madelyn Call (Point Pleasant), Carleigh Curotz (Robert C. Byrd) and Zailee Roberts (Sissonville); midfielders Ramsey Mansuetto (Wheeling Central), Miley Summers (East Fairmont), Darby Bailey (Elkins), Abby Greene (Fairmont Senior), Helen Bossart (Linsly), Reece Oliver (Point Pleasant), Sophia Smith (St. Joseph), Sydne Alexander (Winfield) and Mia Duterte (Winfield); defenders Laney Fletcher (Elkins), Natasha Ward (Oak Glen), Martina Howe (Robert C. Byrd), Gabriella Spickard (Weir), Elana Clark (Winfield) and Marley Waugh (Winfield) and goalkeepers Gracelin Corley (Elkins) and Kaitlyn Sayre (Winfield).
All-state plaques are available for purchase by past and present all-staters at wvswa.org or bearwoodcompany.com. They are state-shaped, wood plaques inscribed with the WVSWA logo, name, high school and year of the honoree.
BY MICHAEL MINNICH/WV NEWS
As selected by the West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association in partnership with the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
First Team
F — Grant Broadhurst, Fairmont Senior, sr.
F — Tanner Griffith, Lewis County, sr.
F — Michael Vecellio, Shady Spring, sr.
F — Carmelo Kniska, Trinity Christian, sr.
M — Samuel Delgra, Charleston Catholic, sr.
M — Caleb Young, Fairmont Senior, sr.
M — Landon Hulley, Grafton, sr.
M — Joey Pinkerton, Point Pleasant, so.
M — Brier Wagner, St. Joseph, so.
M — Luke Minor, Wheeling Central, sr.
D — Gio Cinco, Charleston Catholic, sr.
D — Robert Deskins, Fairmont Senior, sr.
D — Kaden Meighen, Robert C. Byrd, sr.
D — Chandler Walls, Robert C. Byrd, sr.
GK — Ben Lohmann, Trinity Christian, sr.
Second Team
F — Braydon Christopher, East Fairmont, jr.
F — Jude Minard, Grafton, sr.
F — Colton Angus, Point Pleasant, jr.
F — Wyatt Kinder, Winfield, sr.
M — Maddox Boyers, East Fairmont, sr.
M — Keller Bennett, Lewis County, sr.
M — Joey Aman, Lewis County, sr.
M — Cooper Tatterson, Point Pleasant, sr.
M — Grant Philbrook, Ravenswood, sr.
M — Carson Bennett, Robert C. Byrd, so.
M — Anthony Corsini, Robert C. Byrd, sr.
M — Nathan Vecellio, Shady Spring, jr.
D — Ethan Bastin, Charleston Catholic, jr.
D — Bryce Kelley, Grafton, so.
D — Jaren Reed, Point Pleasant, jr.
D — Anthony Bertagnoli, Point Pleasant, jr.
D — Willy Chambers, Winfield, jr.
GK — Gabe Deel, Herbert Hoover, sr.
Honorable Mention
Isaac Anger, Elkins; Cohen Arbogast, Frankfort; Isaac Bateman, Nitro; Aiden Bosserman, Tug Valley; Clayton Burns, Pocahontas County; Cole Caranda, Weir; Riley Clevenger, Webster County; Cameron Crislip, James Monroe; Wyatt Crislip, Robert C. Byrd; Jack Curry, Charleston Catholic; Lucas D’Angelo, Elkins; Drew Damewood, Levi Estep, Wheeling Central; Jaunti Evans, Sissonville; Jonathan Ferrell, Chapmanville; Dominic Gianangeli, Wheeling Central; David Hairfield, Lewis County; Carter Hartsock, Trinity; Chase Hatfield, Logan; Braylen Herdman, Sissonville; Jeremiah Hernandez, Nitro; Preston Heslep, Notre Dame; Dylan Johnson, James Monroe; Bodie Jordan, Nitro; Trowa Knight, Winfield; Thomas Komorowski, Wheeling Central; Adam Lacy, Nitro; Cole LeFever, Weir; Braeden Mann, Winfield; Jeremiah McNeely, Logan; Everett Miller, Winfield; Matthew Miller, Braxton County; Ashton Moll, Webster County; Michael O’Sullivan, PikeView; Cam Peschl, Fairmont Senior; Antonio Pittman, Weir; Braxton Pyles, Frankfort; Eli Ramsey, North Marion; Brock Shuba, Trinity; Elijah Smith, Shady Spring; Owen Snyder, Charleston Catholic; Connely Sparks, Philip Barbour; Jody Thomas, Shady Spring; Caleb Totten, Tug Valley; Kendan Trent, Mingo Central; Johann Villasenor, Nicholas County; Noah Whetsel, Frankfort; Trevor Williams, Lincoln; Ty Williams, Lincoln
