Peyton Markell was named Most Valuable Player at the Sweet Home Girls Soccer banquet Nov. 21.
“The MVP award goes to someone that leads and everybody looks up to,” Coach Ramiro Satana said. Santana became emotional as he tried to describe Markell and why she earned this award.
“She was constantly there to help,” he said. “She rarely took breaks during the game. If she sees a wall, she will go through it,” adding that “she will stomp her way if she had to”.
Santana noted that the Markell family has become a big part of the program.
”It will be hard to let her go because she is just so amazing,” he said. “Peyton and her family were always helping and making sure our team was successful.”
Santana reminded those attending the banquet that team awards are voted on by the players.
Rookie of the Year votes ended in a tie and so coaches decided to give it to both players: Reese Linder and Khloe Sautel. Satana says that these awards go on plaques that are displayed in the trophy case in the gym.
The Hustle Award went to two girls for having high energy and always rallying up the energy for the team, he said: Annnabelle Morris and Ziarra Duncan.
Zoe Garrett received Best Defender.
“I never know if she is listening to me because she always looks everywhere when I talk to her, she is always aware of her surroundings, and that is good.” Satana said.
Markell was named Best Midfielder.
“It was hard to pass her on the field,” the coach said.
Best Forward went to Amelia Sullens, for always having confidence in her position and not being afraid.
The Coaches Award went to Miu Simmons and Sautel.
Simmons showed how good she can be in that “she was afraid of nothing,” Santana said. “Everything she did she stuck to it.
“I put Khloe in the biggest spot that I have ever, ever, in my coaching career put a freshman,” Santana said. “She was given much responsibility. And she learned every single thing and was a tough girl and handled her position very good.”
Santana said that this is the first time he had so many four-year letter recipients, noting that he was proud of them for playing all four years and not quitting.
“It is beautiful that they have played for four years,” he said, proceeding to tell each girl why he was proud of them.
“Emerson Martineau is always so calm and so patient. She’s everything you need from a kid in sports. She would play whatever position we ask her to with pride.
“Samantha Pineda Villa has been here all four years she was there for us, and she did a great job. She started playing on defense and became one of our best floaters because she would play wherever we ask her to.
Beatrice Reeve, who was injured and had to have surgery and lost most of the year, “is tough” Santana said. “She still was at almost every practice and she got to finish her season with the last few games. She showed us how great of a defender she is.”
“Amelia Sullens is one of the smartest kids I have coached. She always wanted to know more about the game. It was what made her a great captain.”
“Zoe Garrett is a great kid to have around. Every single time on the field she had no breaks. You could not pass her; if there was an opportunity to go she would never stop.”
“Peyton Markell was someone who I am blessed with having because it felt like I had Peyton for five years, because of her sister playing and graduating last year. They both are amazing, honest and polite young girls.”
Third-year letters went to Annebelle Morris and Kirsten Sautel.
Satana said that these girls “brought joy and laughter to the team.”
“I will miss Kirsten’s laugh,” he said, and expressing gratitude for getting to have Morris, a junior, on the team. “She gets better every year and next year will be the best.”
Receiving second-year letters were Lyndie Burkett, Khloe Wood and Miu Simmons.
First-year letter recipients were Ziarra Duncan, Reece Linder, Rylee Mabe, Natasha Marin, Khloe Sautel and Olivia Sullens.
The freshman girls impressed Satana with their skills they learned from the junior high program, he said. “It has been a while since the high school had connections outside the high-school and I see positive things within the junior high and its program.”
He went on to explain that being able to come to high school as a freshman and play varsity level soccer was “impressive” because while parents and coaches want all the kids to play varsity, it can be “extremely hard and dangerous.”
“As a coach, I’m very protective. I don’t want any of my girls to get hurt” he said. “There are a lot of 17 and 18 year old players on varsity teams and they are tough. But our girls, even though they are only 14 years old, showed they can be too”
“These six girls played their hearts out.”
The Husky varsity had a tough season, going winless in a conference that produced a state playoff quarterfinalist (Philomath) and semifinalist (North Marion).
Junior Varsity Coach Kelsey Walker noted that this year’s JV team was the first in “five or six years,” calling that “just amazing,” and crediting them for sticking together through ups and downs.
“It was a weird year with sometimes only having nine girls, sometimes only having seven, pulling from varsity, which, thank you all for participating in the math that made our team so much more successful, and also give you guys more game time.
“We won this year. That was amazing. We also tied seven to seven. Who knew we were gonna win that last game? That was crazy.”
Most Valuable Player for the JV was Bailey Chafin, who was new to soccer, but took charge from her goalkeeper’s position when things got rocky, Walker said.
“Bailey Chafin decided to be a goal keeper, one of the hardest jobs, and I enjoyed watching her grow over the season as it was her first time ever playing soccer.”
Best Defender was Rylee Mabe, Best Midfielder went to Nakia Marino-Jaurez, Best Forward was Ella Forum, and Rookie of the Year was Hailee Baker, for whom this was her first year of soccer. The Coaches Award went to Danielle Robertson,“ the hardest working soccer player I know,” Walker said.
Rounding out the JV roster were Amelia Berg, Shyann Dunbar, Hope Miser, Raylynn Myers.
