Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
A number of local players were recently named to the 2022 All-State soccer teams as selected by the Alabama High School Athletic Association soccer coaches.
Highlighting the boys list was Southside senior center back Ariq Chandra, who was the only area player named to the all-classification all-state team. Chandra (pictured above) helped the Panthers go 17-4-1, win an area championship and make it to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs. Southside was ranked No. 1 for much of the regular season.
Named to the girls second team was Southside senior goalkeeper Anna Kate Welch in Class 5A.
Including honorable mention, the Southside boys had seven players making the postseason teams. Joining Chandra on the Class 5A first team were senior forwards Abdullah Allabassi and Simon Baltenzweiler, sophomore forward Cameron Thompson, senior midfielder Brandon Ayala and junior defender Caleb Ogle.
Senior forward Ethan Pratt was the lone selection from Class 4A state runner-up Westbrook Christian. Making the 4A first team from Etowah was senior forward Julian Corona, while sophomore midfielder Dimitri Guerrero as picked for the second team.
For Gadsden City in Class 6A, senior defender Stinson Cooper made the first team and junior Brandon Cervantes made the second.
Selected to the Class 1A-3A first team from Glencoe were junior forward Aiden Cornutt, junior defender Ian McClantoc and junior goalkeeper Robert Edgar.
Earning boys honorable mention recognition were senior forward Zayden Higgins, sophomore forward Bladmir Cervantes, freshman defender Zakorean Shack and freshman forward Byron Felix from Gadsden City and junior goalkeeper Walker Griffith from Ashville.
Girls honorable mention selections were sophomore defenders Maddy Sprinkle and Madison Ashley and sophomore midfielder Kinsey Carter from Southside and junior defender Anna Klaire Ashley, senior defender Brooke Jackson, senior forward Holly Swafford, senior midfielder Mikenlee Brooks and freshman defender Miriam Rasool from Gadsden City.