Six Wildcats named to all-state team; Conley coach of the year

Louisburg boys soccer coach, Kyle Conley, was named the Class 4-1A Coach of the Year by the Kansas Soccer Coaches Association.

Coming off its best season in program history, the Louisburg boys soccer team is seeing its hard work pay off in a big way following the Wildcats’ third place state finish.

Six Louisburg players recently earned all-state honors by the Kansas Soccer Coaches Association. An even bigger honor came to head coach Kyle Conley, as he was named as the Class 4-1A Coach of the Year.

Junior Braden Yows, senior Treston Carlson, sophomore Cade Gassman and junior Michael Seuferling were named to the all-state first team. Senior Luke Faulkner and sophomore Mack Newell were selected to the second team.

It was a great ending for what has been a memorable season for the Wildcats.

“I think our team had fantastic representation on the 4A-1A All State team this season,” Conley said. “I felt that these young men earned these positions because the play of their teammates helped allow them to earn these honors. None of these awards are possible without a supportive team behind them. Individually, these young men had fantastic seasons and represented our school to the best of their abilities.”

As for Conley, he guided the Wildcats to a 16-2 record on the season and the team’s highest finish in program history when Louisburg ousted Rose Hill, 3-0, in the state third-place game.

Conley had won the honor twice before on the girls’ side, but this is his first recognition for the boys.

“It is an unbelievable humbling honor to be recognized by my peers,” Conley said. “There are so many quality coaches within 4A-1A, it is a tremendous honor. None of this is possible though without the kids I get to work with each and every day. They were pushed and challenged each and every day by Bobby (Bovaird) and I, and our boys met the standard. I am extremely proud of these young men with all of their accomplishments and their play this season.”

On the pitch, the Wildcats dominated many of their opponents this year and the six players were a big part of that success.

Carlson led the Wildcats in goals this past season with 16 and scored eight game-winning goals and finished the year with 37 points. As for Yows, he broke a program record with a team-high 21 assists to go along with seven goals.

Gassman was also a spark for the Wildcats offensively. He scored 13 goals on the season to go along with eight assists.

Seuferling played a big part on the Wildcat back line. As an outside back, he didn’t give up a goal all season and was one of the leaders of the Wildcat defense, along with Faulkner.

Newell, a sophomore, was in his first year as a varsity goalie and he shined. He finished with 88 saves on the year and the Wildcat defense, which Faulkner and Seuferling were a big part of, gave up only 11 goals in 18 matches.

THREE WILDCATS NAMED TO ALL-METRO TEAM

First the first time in several seasons, the Kansas City area soccer coaches got together to make a large and small class all-metro team.

Louisburg was well represented as junior Braden Yows was named as a first-team midfield selection. Senior Treston Carlson and sophomore Cade Gassman were selected to the all-metro second team as forwards.