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2021 All-5Star Preps BOYS Soccer Teams

presented by DEAD END BBQ

Co-COACHES OF THE YEAR

We couldn’t go with just one. The history made by Sevier County and Austin-East both had to be rewarded. Tim Bohanan helped Sevier County win a Class AA state title, the first for the program. And Jonathan Netherland led a storybook season at Austin-East that concluded in a Class A state championship settled in penalty kicks against an arch rival.

FIRST TEAM

FORWARDS

Ben Pensky (Webb School of Knoxville, junior): The 5Star Preps Boys Soccer Player of the Year guided Webb to a 20-0 record and a Division II-A state championship with 27 goals and 18 assists.

Joseph Rodriguez (Sevier County, junior): Rodriguez helped the Smoky Bears win a Class AA state championship with 17 goals and 11 assists.

Masudi Nyembo (Austin-East, junior): An all-region MVP, Nyembo scored two first-half goals in the Class A state championship win over Gatlinburg-Pittman.

Timi Omitaomu (Farragut, senior): One of the most legit goal-scorers around, Omitaomu netted 26 goals in 2021 with nine assists. He was the District 4-AAA MVP.

Jake Lowe (Farragut, senior): Lowe and Omitaomu made a formidable scoring combo for Farragut, as Lowe contributed 21 goals and 17 assists for the Admirals.

MIDFIELDERS

Cheikhna Sabidou-Seck (Austin-East, Junior): One of the more recognizable players from A-E’s championship lineup, Seck had 16 goals and 16 assists this past season.

Julian Strickland (Bearden, junior): The District 2-AAA MVP had seven goals with 13 assists, leading Bearden to the Class AAA state championship game.

Jonny Aldair Rapalo (Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior): With 37 goals and 22 assists, Rapalo was a shoo-in for All-5SP. He had six goals and five assists in the state tournament

Colby Huffman (Sevier County, senior): The Smoky Bears won the Class AA state championship, and Huffman played a huge role. He was the district MVP.

Brandon Moreira (Sevier County, junior): A region MVP, Moreira finished up with 15 goals and nine assists during the Smoky Bears’ championship run.

Rudy Dardon (Hardin Valley Academy, junior): A district midfielder of the year, Dardon garnered all-region and all-state honors in 2021 for the Hawks.

DEFENDERS

Cole Turner (Bearden, senior): The District 2-AAA Defender of the Year, Turner still scored six times and spearheaded a defense that recorded 13 shutouts.

Lucas Arnold (Farragut, senior): Arnold, an All-Region 2-AAA selection, used his defensive presence to help guide Farragut to the Class AAA state quarterfinals.

Preston Holmes (Webb School of Knoxville, junior): A Division I prospect, Holmes’ massive physical presence helped Webb (20-0) win state and only allow 11 goals in 20 games.

Zander Brown (Webb School of Knoxville, junior): A lockdown defender, Brown aided in Webb limiting opponents to only 11 goals in 20 games and winning the state championship. He even chipped in two goals and three assists in 2021.

Esloni Hakizimana (Austin-East, senior): The Roadrunners’ team captain, Hakizimana’s unmatched athleticism anchored one of the state’s top defenses — which allowed just 17 goals in 18 games. He also scored five times. 

GOALKEEPERS

Jake Spirko (West, junior): Widely regarded as one of the top keepers around, Spirko backed up the talk with 106 saves and six clean sheets in 2021. He was the District 2-AAA goalkeeper of the year.

Jonathan Diaz (Bearden, senior): An all-region selection, Diaz helped Bearden post 13 shutouts en route to a state runner-up finish, the team only allowing 19 goals in 25 games played.

SECOND TEAM

FORWARDS

Lucas Nordin (Bearden, sophomore): Nordin missed some time because of injury, but the District 2-AAA Forward of the Year had nine goals and eight assists, coming through big down the stretch of the season.

Aaron Taylor (Central, sophomore): A school record-setting forward, Taylor finished with 27 goals for the Bobcats in the team’s trip to the state sectionals.

Manayeh Linton (South-Doyle, senior): The District 4-AA MVP and Union University signee finished with 27 goals and 14 assists for the Cherokees, which reached the Class AA state sectionals.

Chase Stokely (CAK, sophomore): A talented underclassman, Stakely earned district player-of-the-year honors with 16 goals and 11 assists for the Warriors.

Pierce Miller (Webb School of Knoxville, sophomore): Miller’s top-end speed led to 13 goals and 10 assists during the Spartans’ 20-0 march to a state title.

Peter Ayo (Catholic, senior): A three-year starter, Ayo was an all-state and all-region performer for the Fighting Irish in 2021.

MIDFIELDERS

Edel Ortez (Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior): The Carson-Newman signee scored 20 goals and had 25 assists while helping G-P reach the Class A title game.

Dylan Kolnick (Bearden, junior): The District 2-AAA Co-Mid of the Year, Kolnick had three goals and six assists during the Bulldogs’ run to the state finale.

Evan Kilburn (West, senior): Kilburn logged nine goals and eight assists, rarely coming off the field and earning District 2-AAA Co-Midfielder of the Year.

Ezekiel Nsabiyunva (Austin-East, junior): With eight goals scored and eight assists, Nsabiyunva actually played multiple positions for the Roadrunners in their state-title season.

Spencer Bernard (Webb School of Knoxville, junior): A versatile mid, Bernard scored eight goals and notched eight assists during Webb’s 20-0 run to the Division II-A championship.

DEFENDERS

Mekhi Stewart (Austin-East, sophomore): One of the top fullbacks in the state, Stewart helped the A-E defense limit opponents to just 10 goals in the 16 games in which he played. He’s a member of the U.S. Olympic Development Team. 

George McCarty (Catholic, senior): Catholic’s most valuable player, McCarty is a three-year starter and all-region defender for the Fighting Iring.

Will Gallaher (Farragut, sophomore): He scored three goals with five assists, but Gallaher’s defense is what is already garnering him state-wide accolades.

Dylan Duke (Oak Ridge, junior): The District 3-AAA Defender of the Year, Duke earned THSSCA All-State honors as a standout for the Wildcats in 2021.

Brady Margo (Hardin Valley, sophomore): Margo scored seven goals with three assists, but he got all-district and all-region accolades as a stud defender.

Richard Reyes (Sevier County, senior): Reyes played a massive role in the Smoky Bear defense pitching 14 shutouts and only allowing 16 goals in 24 games.

GOALKEEPERS

Jack Tambola (Austin-East, senior): Tambola helped A-E win a Class A state title, allowing 15 goals in 18 games with 84 saves and 10 clean sheets.

Colby Freeman (Greeneville, senior): An all-state selection in Class AA, Freeman made 130 saves with 11 shutouts, taking district MVP honors in his final prep season.