38 Players Honored for HS Campaigns

Over the past few weeks, the area high school leagues announced their 2023 season honors with many Spokane Sounders players being recognized for their contributions this fall, including a quartet of Most Valuable Player honors.

Earning Defensive co-MVP recognition in the GSL 3A/4A was Gonzaga Prep senior Keagan Austin. She helped lead the Bullpups to a share of the league championship during the regular season and then a run to the district 4A title and a trip to the WIAA Final Four. Austin was one of four club players for Prep that was recognized this season with Caylee Kerr, Tess Keyes and Jennah Wanner among the seven First Team selections from the Spokane Sounders.

Co-Champions Ridgeline also featured a multitude of club players among the All-League selections with Olivia Smith and Quinn Mueller on the First Team. Goalkeeper Aliana Vakaloloma, who posted the best GAA on the season at 0.58, rounded out the program’s selections with a Second Team nod and was one of only two freshmen honored – the other being Avery Davidson of Mt Spokane.

The West Valley Eagles, who suffered heartbreak via a tiebreaker shootout in the WIAA 2A Championship game, were the dominant side at the next tier. Leading the way was Defensive MVP Genisis Willis, who guided a back line that did not allow a single goal during the season sweep of the GSL opposition and just one in the postseason prior to the 2-2 championship contest. Five additional players from the club were recognized by the league, including her Eagle teammates Ashlyn Chase and Anastacia Thompson along with Clarkston’s Rebecca Skinner, who was the lone player to score against the Eagles in an official match from the league.

In the Northeast A League offense reigns supreme and in 2023 it was Ayanna Tobeck, who was recognized as the Offensive MVP after leading Lakeside to the regular season championship. Fellow club players on the All-League list were her teammates Meliah Servatius and Brooklyn More.

Quite a few players were also recognized outside of the trio of Spokane leagues with an MVP in north Idaho, eight hailing from the BIG9 and Inland Empire League. Leading the way for that contingent was Alexa Sheppard, who was recognized as the Intermountain League Most Valuable Player and later helped lead the CDA Charter ladies to the state semifinals and was named to the All-State First Team. Four players were recognized from Moses Lake and over in the panhandle four more – two girls and two boys – were honored from three different schools. Among them was Sandpoint’s Lilliana Brinkmeier, who was also recognized on the All-State Second Team.  The keeper helped lead Sandpoint to the 4A State Championship with 14 saves in the Final. Also reaching the 4A State Final was keeper Kai Longenecker of Sandpoint., but the boys were unable to complete the sweep.

GREATER SPOKANE LEAGUE 4A/3A

Defensive Co-MVP: Keagan Austin (Gonzaga Prep, Sr)
All-League, First Team
D – Nora Cullen (Mead, So)
D – Olivia Smith (Ridgeline, Jr)
M – Caylee Kerr (Gonzaga Prep, Sr)
M – Tess Keyes (Gonzaga Prep, Sr)
M – Bre Koscielski (Mt Spokane, Sr)
M – Quinn Mueller (Ridgeline, So)
F – Jennah Wanner (Gonzaga Prep, Jr)
All-League, Second Team
G – Aliana Vakaloloma (Ridgeline, Fr)
M – Chloe Ahumada (University, So)
M – Sofia Alfaro (Lewis & Clark, Sr)
M – Sylvie Washington (Ferris, Jr)

All-League, Honorable Mention
G – Myann Johansen (Ferris, Jr)
G – Mallory Olson (Central Valley, So)
M – Avery Davidson (Mt Spokane, Fr)
F – Avery Bringhurst (Central Valley, Jr)
F – Keegan Tee (Lewis & Clark, So)
F – Rylee Vanos (Mead, So)

GREATER SPOKANE LEAGUE 2A
Defensive MVP: Genisis Willis (West Valley, Sr)
All-League, First Team
D – Anastacia Thompson (West Valley, Sr)
M – Ashlyn Chase (West Valley, Jr)
M – Sienna Newhouse (Clarkston, Sr)
F – Rebecca Skinner (Clarkston, Jr)
All-League, Honorable Mention
M – Keely Franklin (Pullman, Sr)

NORTHEAST A LEAGUE
Offensive MVP: Ayanna Tobeck (Lakeside, Sr)
All-League
D – Meliah Servatius (Lakeside, Sr)
M – Brooklyn More (Lakeside, So)

B – DISTRICT 7
All-League
F – Savvy Briceno (St George’s, Jr)
F – Glenna Soliday (Davenport, So)

OTHER LEAGUES
BIG9 All-League, First Team
F – Bella Huberdeau (Moses Lake, Sr)
D – Meadow Saenz (Moses Lake, Jr)
BIG9 All-League, Honorable Mention
F – Lindsey Davis (Moses Lake, Fr)
D – Cayla Throneberry (Moses Lake, Fr)
IEL 5A Girls All-League
Kaylie Smart (Coeur d’Alene, Jr)
IEL 4A Girls All-League
Lilliana Brinkmeier (Sandpoint, Jr)
IEL 4A Boys All-League
Ty Kindelspire (Moscow, Jr)
Kai Longanecker (Sandpoint, So)
IML 3A Girls MVP
Alexa Sheppard (CDA Charter)

Idaho 3A All-State Second Team
Alexa Sheppard (CDA Charter)
Idaho 4A All-State Second Team
Lilliana Brinkmeier (Sandpoint, Jr)

You can see the full Honors Lists, standings, stats and more at INWsoccernews [+]