Clear, 39° F
The Wyoming Coaches Association recognized the Panther boys’ soccer team after their strong season. Powell earned four All-State designations along with three additional All-Conference …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
The Powell Tribune has expanded its online content. To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free web account by clicking here.
If you already have a web account, but need to reset it, you can do so by clicking here.
If you would like to purchase a subscription click here.
Please log in to continue |
|
The Wyoming Coaches Association recognized the Panther boys’ soccer team after their strong season. Powell earned four All-State designations along with three additional All-Conference selections for seven total.
The four All-State selections were led in part by a trio of seniors for the Panthers.
Up first was senior forward Hawkin Sweeney, who finished with the second most goals in 3A with 32 on the season and 16 assists to go alongside them.
Sweeney is a two time All-State selection, and led a Panther attack that nearly finished with 100 goals during the season.
Sweeney has signed his letter of intent to continue his career at NCAA Division II program Western Oregon University this upcoming fall.
Holding down the midfield was senior Garrett Morris, who helped anchor the midfield as the defensive midfielder for the Panthers.
Despite anchoring the midfield, Morris was still able to bring an attacking presence as he scored five goals and added eight assists this season.
Morris recently signed his letter of intent to continue his soccer career at Casper College and play for the Thunderbirds this upcoming fall.
Morris was a two-time All-State selection after being named to the team in 2021.
The third and final senior named to the All-State team was fullback Reece Bauer.
Bauer played as the Panthers right back and helped to generate an attack through build-up play on the wing, in addition to helping anchor a Panther defense that only conceded 13 goals this season.
Bauer also added three goals and four assists during his senior season while being named a two-time All-State selection.
The final Panther named to the All-State team was sophomore midfielder/forward Chance Franks.
Throughout the season Franks was shuffled between the midfield and center forward position. He provided energy, flying around the field to contest every ball he could.
Franks finished the season with 16 goals and 20 assists, and will look to lead the Panthers next season after earning his first All-State selection.
Panther boys’ head coach David Gilliatt said that sometimes the best players do not get named to the All-State team because close decisions often go to an upperclassman or someone with better statistics.
Despite the uncertainty of the process, Gilliatt was still proud to have four of his players named to the All-State team.
“All four are deserving, and to be honest, Chance [Franks] was deserving as a freshman but I have never seen a freshman get anything above All-Conference,” Gilliatt said. “He clearly left some lasting impressions on the other coaches in the state.”
The four All-State selections tied the Panthers with the most selections in the state, along with state champions Worland.
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS
Powell led the way in All-Conference selections for the 3A West, as the Panthers had seven players named to the team.
In addition to the four All-State recipients the Panthers added senior Keaton Rowton, along with juniors Steven Stambaugh and Holden Cooper.
Rowton was the second half of a dynamic duo with Sweeney for the Panthers attack, as he finished with 20 goals and four assists for Powell.
“I think seven All-Conference players speaks highly of the hard work and dedication these young men have put into improving their game and developing their athleticism all these years,” Gilliatt said. “I think it also speaks to the dedication of their club coaches and parents who have worked with them in the past and taking them to games all over the country.”
Stambaugh was an all-around defender for the Panthers, as he shuffled between left back and center back throughout the season to help anchor the Panthers.
While at left back he also added a goal and two assists for the Panthers.
Goalkeeper Holden Cooper was the final Panther named to the All-Conference team, and finished with more than 70 saves and nine shutouts on the season for the Panthers.
Despite playing in goal, Cooper added one assist for the Panthers this season.
“It is crucial that our younger players truly believe that they have the ability to step into the shoes of our departing players,” Gilliatt said. “We will need them to develop technically and physically if we will continue to compete for a state title.”
The seven All-Conference selections for Powell was three more than state champion Worland in the 3A West.
