Wichita Eagle honors the best high school boys soccer players on 2024 All-Metro team
The Wichita Eagle announced its annual All-Metro boys soccer team on Wednesday, recognizing some of the best high school players in the state of Kansas from the 2024 season.
The All-Metro team features the top players and the top coach from Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties based on statistics, team success, postseason recognition and area coaches’ feedback.
Trinity Academy senior midfielder Cooper Mathews was named the All-Metro Boys Soccer Player of the Year after leading the Knights to the Class 4-1A state championship.
Here is the full 2024 Wichita Eagle All-Metro boys soccer team:
Cristian Aguilar, Valley Center senior defender
After star forward Tyler Manske went down with injury, Aguilar stepped up to play almost every position on the field to help lead the Hornets to a 13-win season and a Class 5A regional championship. The 6-foot-3 senior was a target on set pieces and finished with 13 goals and two assists, as Aguilar earned first team all-league honors in AV-CTL Division I and honorable mention all-state status in 5A.
Valley Center coach Matt Coleman on Aguilar: “Cristian was like having a fourth coach out there on the field. He led us in drills and training sessions. He was the one setting up our summer practices with the guys. He’s probably one of the five best players we’ve ever had and then I’ve never been around a high school kid who is a leader like Cristian. We didn’t have the depth of the other top teams, so we had to move him everywhere and he is good enough to be an all-state player in defense, midfield or forward.”
Hussain Al-Amood, Andover junior forward
One of the most dangerous players in the area with the ball at his feet, Al-Amood finished with 15 goals and eight assists. No one was better at holding play, as Al-Amood was seemingly always in control of play and that allowed him to involve his teammates in goals. The junior was voted the co-MVP of AV-CTL Division II this season.
Andover coach Kevin Law on Al-Amood: “He plays midfield for his club, but in my opinion, he’s one of hte best holding players there is. If you play the ball to him, he is going to hold it and he’s not going to lose it. The ball just sticks to his feet. He’s always looking for passes and he’s just a very technical player and a big kid who doesn’t get knocked off the ball. Everyone we played against would double and triple team him.”
Sawyer Aluise, Andover Central senior midfielder
The creative force in the midfield for the Jaguars, Aluise helped lead Andover Central to 10 wins and an appearance in a Class 5A regional final. He earned first team all-state honors in 5A and was voted first team all-league in AV-CTL Division II.
Andover Central coach Steven Huskey on Aluise: “He was everything for us, as far as setting the tone in practice and embodying the traits that we want in our young men. He was positive, hard-working and always going 100% with no days off. He sacrificed to reach his goals and the team goals. He was a great captain and that’s on top of technically on the field, where he’s probably one of the most agile attacking options. It’s hard to get him off the ball and he’s just very technically capable and dangerous in space.”
Connor Anderson, Maize South senior defender
One of the best developmental stories for the premier program in the Wichita area, Anderson flourished as a senior and was the stopper in the back for another Maize South championship appearance. The Mavericks allowed just 23 goals in their first 20 games, as Anderson added five goals on his own and earned first team all-state honors in Class 5A and was also voted a first team all-league defender in AV-CTL Division I.
Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on Anderson: “Connor Anderson is a great example of what we want a Maize South soccer player to be. He started off his career as a C-team player, but he believed in the process and believed in himself and the program. He played two more years of JV and then his first start came this year and he was voted unanimously by his teammates as a captain. He’s a kid who would do anything for the program and it’s that level of unselfishness and humility that has brought him individual success and brought our program another year of championship-level soccer.”
Luke Anderson, Rose Hill senior midfielder
Anderson was one of the handful of seniors who helped lead Rose Hill to a return to the Class 4-1A state championship game. He finished with 17 goals and 20 assists to earn MVP honors in AV-CTL Division III-IV and first team all-state recognition in 4-1A.
Rose Hill coach Jerry Treat on Anderson: “He’s a good player who was really good at ball control. Sees the field well. He was a team captain for us too.”
Jose Anima, North sophomore midfielder
North almost always features some of the quickest and most creative players in the City League, but Anima is in a league of his own. The sophomore was already a standout for a 10-win North team and finished with 17 goals and 11 assists to earn second team all-state honors in Class 6A and first team all-league midfielder status in the City League.
North coach Curt Wullschleger on Anima: “This is my 12th year coaching and in that time, Jose Anima is probably the most unpredictably creative player that I have coached. His work rate is just off the charts. He does things with the ball that are so productive and so creative for his team. When he’s dribbling at guys, he just puts them on skates. He just waits until he gets defenders on the wrong foot, then goes by them and is already looking to do the same thing to the next defender. I’m looking forward to seeing him do a lot more of that for the next two years.”
Gus Cornejo-Arambula, Rose Hill senior goalkeeper
The stopper in goal for a Rose Hill team that knocked off Bishop Miege, the longtime defending state champions, and played in the Class 4-1A state championship game. Cornejao-Arambula was voted the Goalkeeper of the Year in Class 4-1A and a first team all-league selection in AV-CTL Division III-IV.
Rose Hill coach Jerry Treat on Cornejo-Arambula: “His athleticism really stands out. He’s a very athletic keeper. He had good hands and was able to come up with saves when we needed him to in the clutch.”
Danny Derath, Maize South senior midfielder
The only senior at Maize South to play in all four state championship games, Derath has been a mainstay for the Mavericks with his creativity on the ball in the midfield. The Johnston County commit finished with 19 goals and 10 assists, as he earned first team all-state honors in Class 5A for the second straight year and also first team all-league in AV-CTL Division I.
Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on Derath: “Danny is about as creative and skilled of a soccer player as you’ll ever see on a soccer field. His technical ability and his ability to dribble and beat players 1-on-1 makes him exciting to watch. His creativity to get in and out of tough situations on the field has been extraordinary for all four years.”
Jacob Lacio, Southeast senior midfielder
Part of the senior class that helped lead Southeast to an undefeated City League championship, Lacio was a force in the midfield with 18 goals and four assists. He earned second team all-state honors in Class 6A and was a first team all-league choice in the City League.
Southeast coach Cody Fitch on Lacio: “Jacob switched positions for us from an attacking midfielder to a striker this year and it really suited his style of play because instead of getting double teamed by center backs, he could follow up the attack and have more space. He’s a really smart player who always knows where to be in the box and can predict where the ball is going to go. He is an excellent shooter and got really good this year at going up for headers and finishing them.”
Raef Lehmann, Bishop Carroll senior defender
Known widely in the area for his 6-foot-6 stature, Lehmann was one-half of one of the best centerback duos in the state with partner Isaac Lager. Lehmann helped the lead Carroll’s defense to a 0.88 goals against average and a 10-win season. He was voted a first team all-state defender in Class 5A and a first team all-league pick in the City League.
Carrolll coach Mike Skaggs on Lehmann: “Raef was much more of a vocal leader for us in the back than he was in the past. We were experienced in the back, but Raef’s vocal leadership was able to keep everything solid back there. He really embraced his role as a captain this year, knowing he has to be the example not just by how he plays but also by how he handles himself and picks up his teammates.”
Diego Macias, Southeast senior midfielder
Another leader in Southeast’s deep senior class that helped lead the Golden Buffaloes to their first City League title in more than a decade in undefeated fashion. Southeast won 16 games and didn’t lose its first game until a Class 6A regional championship game, as Macias finished with five goals and nine assists to earn honorable mention all-state honors in 6A.
Southeast coach Cody Fitch on Macias: “Diego was our captain and was a player-coach for us this year on the field. He was a four-year varsity starter, a three-year captain and was the heartbeat of our team. He is the best passer on our team and can deliver beautiful long balls from deep at his defensive mid role. He could even step in and play goalie in a penalty shootout like he did in the Maize South tournament championship.”
Cooper Mathews, Trinity Academy senior midfielder
One of the best players to ever come through Trinity, Mathews has earned a reputation as perhaps the best midfielder in the state. He helped lead Trinity to the Class 4-1A state championship and was named the All-Metro Boys Soccer Player of the Year, as the Westmont (Calif.) signee netted 17 goals and 10 assists to earn all-state honors in 4-1A and also all-region honors.
Trinity coach Andy Hackett on Mathews: “Cooper has been a team captain for multiple years and even though he scored way more goals last year, he was more focused on involving his teammates this year. We had a conversation about it at the beginning of the season and he really wanted to help other kids shine this season instead of him. He wanted to uplift his teammates more than himself. You would see him giving the ball up more in tight situations instead of just dribbling around people, shooting and scoring like he could have done. He really wanted to be a great leader this year and he was so good at making people around him better.”
Enrique Mercado, Newton senior forward
A four-year standout for Newton, Mercado helped lead the Railers to a 10-win season and earned second team all-state in Class 5A and was voted the co-MVP in AV-CTL Division II. The senior finished with eight goals and a team-high 13 assists.
Newton coach Scott Jantzi on Mercado: “Enrique is very dangerous with the ball at his feet and he’s able to see the field very well. His assists kind of out-shined his goals this season. He was that kind of player for us. He set other people up and he was a total game-changer for us. He could come in and immediately change the tenor of the game, just by his speed of play and his decision-making with the ball at his feet. He was able to change pace and get by people.”
Skylur Staley, Maize South junior forward
On a new-look Maize South squad, Staley immediately became the standout scorer during another run to the Class 5A state championship game. He finished with a team-best 26 goals with 10 assists to earn MVP honors in AV-CTL Division I and first team all-state honors in 5A.
Maize South coach Rey Ramirez on Staley: “Skylur simply has that knack for goal. He’s a kid that opponents may think they have a handle on, but he can just pop off at a moment’s notice and score. His ability to judge the ball in the air is something that really stands out to me. His ability to read is second to none and he really did a great job of finishing in front of the goal for us. He’s not a kid who needed a ton of opportunities because he was going to capitalize on most of them.”
Brice Wills, Trinity Academy senior defender
The sturdy leader in the back for Trinity, Wills was a senior team captain who helped lead the Knights to the Class 4-1A state championship. He was voted a first team all-state defender in 4-1A.
Trinity coach Andy Hackett on Wills: “Brice is very level-headed for a center back. When things got crazy in the back there, he was always very physical and really fast and just really solid. I kind of think of him as a strong safety or middle linebacker in football. He knows how to motivate the rest of his teammates and he was just phenomenal for us when he was passing and defending. He can put out all of the fires for us and defend against anybody.”
Spencer Zachgo, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior forward
The 6-foot-5 senior developed into one of the most dangerous weapons in the state, as every opponent had to know where to mark Zachgo on the season. The SMU signee finished with 22 goals and seven assists to lead Kapaun to a nine-win season, while earning all-region, all-state and all-league honors along the way.
Kapaun coach Anthony Cantele on Zachgo: “It’s been pretty special because I coached Spencer when he was 9 years old. He has such a dedication to the craft and he works hard at it. For a big guy, he has really good technical skill and we were actually able to play him as an attacking midfielder and that paid huge dividends. Instead of trying to play the ball to him up top, we were able to go through him and build the attack and he really excelled when he could control everything and be more of a playmaker.”
Andy Hackett, Trinity Academy coach
In his first year at the helm of the boys program, Hackett guided the Knights to their third state championship in program history and their first since 2010. After a 3-3 start to the season, Trinity only lost one more time to cap off a 17-win season with a 4-3 victory over Rose Hill in the Class 4-1A state championship game. Trinity was led this season by players like Cooper Mathews, Bryce Wills, Grayson Payne, Wyatt Afman, George Diefenderfer and Landon Hale.
Hackett on coaching Trinity: “It helped me out that some of the boys knew me from coaching the girls program and seeing them in the hallways at school. The boys made it a really fun transition. I think they were excited about a new coach with new concepts and new formations and new tactics. Not that anything was wrong, but they were excited about a fresh feel to the season I think. Once we figured out where to put everybody in the right positions to do what they do best, we just ran with it and let the boys do their thing. It was a season where I really didn’t have to do too much. The senior leadership was great this season and it was just so much fun to coach this team.”
All-Metro second team
Aldo Acosta, Maize South sophomore forward
Wyatt Afman, Trinity Academy freshman forward
Kirubel Alemu, Southeast senior defender
Cooper Bates, Rose Hill senior defender
Eli Benning, Northwest senior midfielder
Ty Brown, Andover junior forward
Nathan Calderon, Southeast senior forward
Andrew Clouse, Andover Central senior defender
Will Fulghum, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior defender
Esnayder Garcia-Torrez, Newton junior defender
Josh Grelinger, Rose Hill senior defender
Tanner Herrington, Maize South junior midfielder
Kai Krieger, Classical junior forward
Isaac Lager, Bishop Carroll senior defender
Brady Liebl, Rose Hill sophomore forward
Evan Locke, Northwest senior goalkeeper
Tyler Manske, Valley Center senior forward
Gilbert Parga-Rodriguez, North senior defender
Grayson Payne, Trinity Academy senior midfielder
Cruz Sanchez, Andover Central junior defender
David Savinon, East senior midfielder
Roman Scognamillo, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior forward
Cooper Shaw, Maize junior goalkeeper
Angel Vielmas, Derby senior midfielder
Abram Wall, Newton senior goalkeeper
Cody Fitch, Southeast coach
Jerry Treat, Rose Hill coach
All-Metro third team
Roy Aguilar, Valley Center sophomore defender
Lincoln Ashby, Derby sophomore forward
Caleb Benson, Goddard senior defender
Trey Bias, Rose Hill senior forward
Gus Bielefeld, North junior midfielder
Declan Caley, Maize South senior midfielder
Braeden Carlton, Andover Central junior forward
Breckin Carman, Andover Central junior midfielder
Raymond Cox, Augusta senior forward
Juan Diaz, Valley Center sophomore forward
George Diefenderfer, Trinity Academy junior defender
Armando Dominguez, Southeast senior defender
Cole Ebert, Newton junior defender
Jobe Entz, Newton senior midfielder
Landon Hale, Trinity Academy junior forward
Preston Harris, Maize South senior midfielder
Trey Lacy, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior midfielder
Johnny Leck, Rose Hill senior midfielder
Adolfo Lira-De La Rosa, North junior defender
Carlos Luna-Reyes, East senior defender
Jairo Mandujano-Lopez, North junior forward
Leo Marin, East senior forward
Micah Martin, Valley Center sophomore midfielder
Diego Medina, Bishop Carroll junior goalkeeper
David Mlendja, Southeast junior goalkeeper
John Montani, Andover senior defender
Hunter Murphy, Augusta senior defender
Marcos Perez-Hernandez, West senior goalkeeper
Alex Pham, Derby senior defender
Jayden Phrakonkham, Southeast senior forward
Easton Reiter, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior goalkeeper
Alejandro Ruiz, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior midfielder
Owen Tucker, Classical senior forward
Titus Veer, Berean senior midfielder
Alejandro Valenzuela, East junior defender
Jaronn Williams, Bishop Carroll junior forward
Rey Ramirez, Maize South coach
Matt Coleman, Valley Center coach
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