Brock Netter, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
When it comes to pure scoring, very few in Southeast Ohio, quite possibly the entire do it better than Wheelersburg’s Max Hagans, Minford’s Lexi Conkel and Ironton St. Joe’s Zach Johnson.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Conkel led her team to 15 wins, including its first outright conference championship since 2012 and a sectional title by scoring 49 goals on the season.
Hagans nearly matched Conkel’s output, totaling 47 goals and passing 12 assists as the Pirates earned a share of the SOC II alongside Minford as well as a sectional and district title so far.
Johnson meanwhile, led the Flyers to 14 wins, a sectional title and a district final appearance with 44 goals and 20 assists.
Their knack for finding the back of the net at a high frequency was rewarded as the SOC released its all-conference teams with each player winning Player of the Year honors.
Minford coach Shane Tieman was named Girls Coach of the Year.
Joining Conkel on the list was teammates Haley Knore, Mychal Cron, Maggie Risner, Ella Estep, Nevaeh Porter, Ava Cronin and Lexi Pendleeton, Wheelersburg’s Annie Coriell, Jocelyn Tilley, Olivia Deacon, Krista Williams and Mia Vastine, Northwest’s Jenna Oppy, Jasmine Bowen and Grace-Lyn Little and Waverly’s Emma Davis, Rachel Remy, Lauren Murphy and Delani Teeters, who was named Defensive Player of the Year.
On the second-team list is Minford’s Lyla Napier, Sadie Hatfield and Kasey Essman, Wheelersburg’s Maddi Kotcamp, Bella Miller and Haleigh Collier, Waverly’s Morgan Crabtree and Ariane Davis and Northwest’s Mollyann Runyon and Piper Ramey.
On the boys’ side of SOC II, Hagans was joined on first-team by teammates Connor Estep, Nick Sylvia, Jason Schwamburger, Miller McKenzie, Nolan Wright, Gavin Bradley and Ethan Hochstetler, Minford’s Myles Montgomery, Dylan Brooks, Adam Crank, Luke Rader, Sam Tieman, Ethan Cordle, Gavin Downey and Charlie Neal, who was named Defensive Player of the Year, South Webster’s Connor Bender, Jaren Lower, Jeremiah Smith and Josiah Wright, Northwest’s Jay Jenkins, Caleb Lewis and Logan Shepherd, Waverly’s Carson Moore and David Boyer, West’s Carter Essman and Nick Messer.
The second-team list features Minford’s Cole Borland, Luke Oaks and Grant Wheeler, Wheelersburg’s Brody Wilburn, Breydon Byrd and Clark Wellar, South Webster’s Dylan Shupert and Will Collins, Northwest’s Levi Bruch and Gavin Lute-Dfoe, Waverly’s Wyatt Kingery and West’s Cadyn Galloway.
Minford coach Jacob Hackworth and Wheelersburg coach Jon Estep were named co-Coaches of the Year.
In the SOC I, alongside Johnson on first-team were teammates Matt Heighton, Bryson Burcham, Brady Medinger and Landon Rowe, Valley’s Lucie Ashkettle, Chris Queen, J.R. Holbrook, Colt Buckle, Hunter Edwards, Chase Powell, Jackyn Ridout and M.J. Basham, who was named Defensive Player of the Year, New Boston’s Dalton Jackson, Rhys Bratchell, Luke Henson and Colt Maynard, Clay’s Malachi Loper, Jack Holbrook and Jacob Robinson and Western’s Michael Bennett and Daniel Rodriguez.
Second-team was highlighted by Valley’s Braxton Dillow, Chase Davis and Aidan Gray, Ironton St. Joe’s Wesley Neal, Eli Ford and Evan Balstera, Clay’s Marcus Lunsford and Cullen Payne, New Boston’s Jayse Tabor and Western’s Tyler Kerns.
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