Wildcats earn 8 spots on All-Frontier League soccer team

Coming off its best season in school history, the Louisburg boys soccer team is starting to see those postseason honors come its way.

After finishing third in Class 4-1A, many of the Frontier League coaches took notice of the Wildcats’ success and rewarded many of their players for it.

Louisburg was recently rewarded with eight spots on the All-Frontier League team, including three first team selections. It was a nice way for the Wildcats to wind down their 2020 campaign.

“I thought that we had great representation within our league,” Louisburg coach Kyle Conley said. “It is a credit to these young men and their teammates for these honors. I felt with how good our league is, we did really well in regards to representation.”

The Wildcats earned three first team honors as Braden Yows, Treston Carlson and Cade Gassman were represented among the league’s best.

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.

“They all had really, really good years and we did a fantastic job attacking our opponents,” Conley said. “Our forwards were incredible this year and having these guys honored means a lot. Seeing Treston, Cade and Braden all get first team was really cool. They were the leaders in regards to our offense and it was really cool to see the league recognize that. 

“Treston was the guy who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He led our team in goals and his work rate and focus was incredible this season. Braden set out with a goal to break the assist record this season and he did just that. His vision is fantastic and he did everything he could to get his teammates involved. Braden had an unbelievable junior year.

“Cade is one of the most dynamic players on the field,” Conley continued. “He had some incredible numbers as a freshman, but he was so much more involved this season. Teams doubled him regularly and he still excelled. His attitude and focus on detail is what makes Cade so special.”

The Wildcats had a pair of defensive players who earned second team honors. Centerback Luke Faulker and goalkeeper Mack Newell were both recognized for their efforts, while sophomore forward Colin McManigal was also named to the second team.

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 was a big part of, gave up only 11 goals in 18 matches.

As for McManigal, the Louisburg sophomore came off the bench and provided a spark for the Wildcats on many occasions with nine goals on the year.

“Luke went from playing outside back mainly last year, to being a full time starter at centerback and did a great job,” Conley said. “I was really pleased with how he stepped up and filled that roll for us this season. Colin was like our super sub. He would come into the game and just work so hard. His work rate was extremely high and he caused a lot of problems for the opposing team.

“Mack really did well in his first year. His numbers this season were in the top two in the league and he earned this. He has learned so much in his first year. It was fun watching him grow throughout this year and I can’t wait to see how much he improves over the offseason.”

In a bit of a surprise, junior Michael Seuferling was named as an honorable mention all-league player despite being one of the best outside backs in the Frontier League. Junior Hunter Rogers, also a big part of the Wildcat defense and midfield, was also named an honorable mention.

“Hunter had a great year starting 18 of 18 games,” Conley said. “He really worked to improve his on the ball skill and it showed. He helped start out possession and allowed us to possess the ball a lot more. He also didn’t have a problem getting stuck in and being physical. He scored some fantastic goals from corner kicks.

“Michael is the best outside back we have seen the past two years. He literally shuts down an entire side of the field. He was not responsible for one goal this season. I honestly felt he was robbed with this honor of honorable mention, because he is easily a first team player. Each and every day he gives his very best and he is always looking for ways to improve his game.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE SOCCER

First Team

Jackson Rainforth, Spring Hill, senior; Braden Yows, Louisburg, junior; Colby Zimmerman, Baldwin, senior; Treston Carlson, Louisburg, senior; Grady McCune, Baldwin, senior; Cade Gassman, Louisburg, sophomore; Hunter Williams, Spring Hill, senior; Abel Mendoza, Tonganoxie, senior; Grayson Sonntag, Tonganoxie, junior; Keaton Herron, Eudora, senior

GOALIE: Chezney Haney, Spring Hill, senior

Second Team

Mayson Sprague, Bonner Springs, junior; Matthew Powell, Ottawa, senior; Caleb Brueckner, Spring Hill, sophomore; Timothy Shockey, Bonner Springs, freshman; Keen Knittel, Spring Hill, senior; Jace McCormick, Eudora, senior; Devin Prather, Baldwin, junior; Reese Fogle, Ottawa, junior; Luke Faulkner, Louisburg, senior; Colin McManigal, Louisburg, sophomore

GOALIE – Mack Newell, Louisburg, sophomore

Honorable Mention

Cuyler Kietzman, Tonganoxie, junior; Utah Hester, Baldwin, freshman; Hunter Rogers, Louisburg, junior; Michael Seuferling, Louisburg, junior; Chris Hanson, Ottawa, senior; Dylan Meier, Eudora, senior; Ian Heid, Paola, senior; John Mitchell, Spring Hill, senior; Afton Boone, Tonganoxie, senior; Alex Kooken, Eudora, senior; Grayson Renfro, Piper, senior; Caleb Carr, Baldwin, sophomore; Zack Reno, Bonner Springs, senior; Ridge Gerstberger, Spring Hill, senior; Brenan Kuzmic, Tonganoxie, sophomore; Carden Escobar, Paola, sophomore; Kade Carlson, Ottawa, junior; Dakota Coates, Tonganoxie, senior; Logan Jackson, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Ben Timpe, Paola, senior; Michael Garber, Baldwin, junior; Tavian Cruse, Bonner Springs, sophomore; Aron Mitchell, Eudora, senior

GOALIE: Kyron Fergus, Piper, senior; Jackson McWilliams, Tonganoxie, freshman