Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:11 AM CDT
Coon named all-state by soccer coaches
After representing the Midwest in international play during the off-season, Jason Coon has been named all-state boys’ soccer for his Charleston High School senior season.
The Trojans’ midfielder led the local players honored by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association in selections announced Monday.
Charleston also had Tommy Ball, Quinn Hussey and Aaron Smith on the All-Section 15 team that includes Mattoon’s Cooper Grady and Terry McCrate. Mattoon’s Hunter Davis received honorable mention.
Coon is one of three Section 15 players named all-state.
He has 14 goals and nine assists this season for a Charleston team that is 17-4-2 going into today’s IHSA Class 2A Jerseyville Sectional semifinal against Marion.
Chosen for the Olympic Developmental team that played in Argentina last spring, Coon this year was also picked for all-tournament teams in the East Peoria Mid-State Classic and Charleston’s Red & Gold Invitational.
“Jason is a true leader,” Charleston coach Paul Stranz said. “He has an understanding of the game that is far beyond that of most of his peers. He is a very driven individual and inspires his teammates to perform at their highest levels, not only during the game but also at practices. His consistent stats, though good, will never truly show the impact that Jason has on the game or our players. He has chosen to do the grunt work in the middle of the field that allows other players to get into the position to finish four our team Jason is easily one of the top players in our area and among an elite group in the state that is privileged to play for Olympic Development Program state and regional teams. Jason has become a very rare type of player that ever coach hopes to have but rarely gets to see.”
Smith was chosen as an all-sectional goalkeeper after receiving honorable mention last year.
As a senior Smith has had 11 shutouts and allowed just 1.1 goals per game. He was named to the Red & Gold Invitational all-tourney team.
“Aaron has been our starting goalkeeper the past two years and has developed into one of the best goalkeepers in Charleston history,” Stranz said. “He has very good reactions and above average communication skills with his defenders and teammates. Aaron has a great range of motion and vision of the play.”
Helping Smith in limiting opponents’ scoring has been Hussey, a senior defender who has chipped in three goals and also was on Mid-State Classic and Red & Gold Invitational all-tournament teams.
“Quinn is a national athlete able to excel in any sport,” Stranz said. “On that pitch Quinn is a fierce competitor. He has speed, agility, lightening reflexes and a vertical jump that is unmatched by anyone on our team and by that of many of our opponents. His vertical leap makes him the perfect weapon to have in the box during corner kick and his speed allows him to recover easily on defense during transitions.”
Ball leads Charleston with 18 goals this season and also has six assists. The senior midfielder was a Red & Gold Invitational all-tourney pick.
McCrate, a senior was the defensive standout for a 9-8-3 Mattoon team.
“Our best player,” Green Wave coach Ryan Ghere said. “He plays sweeper for us and is very quick and aggressive.”
Grady scored 11 goals and nine assists this season leading the offense for Mattoon for three seasons.
“He’s a big strong player,” Ghere said. “He’s very quick with a good shot and plays hard. Our best offensive player.”
Davis scored seven goals and three assists and also filled in as a goalkeeper this year for Mattoon in earning honorable-mention all-sectional.
“He plays hard and is very physical,” Ghere said. “He will do anything to win, a great team player.”
Ghere was also recognized by Section 15 for reaching his 100-win milestone.
Section No. 15 selections:
ALL-STATE
Jason Coon, Charleston, senior midfielder
Dan Lilly, Urbana University, senior forward
Adam Blackman, Urbana, junior midfielder
ALL-SECTIONAL
Tommy Ball, Charleston, senior midfielder
Michael Brummer, Teutopolis, senior forward
Dennis Forrest, Danville, junior midfielder
Cooper Grady, Mattoon, senior midfielder
Miles Henderson, Decatur MacArthur, senior forward
Russell Higgs, Teutopolis, senior defender
Dylan Huey, Effingham, senior defender
Quinn Hussey, Charleston, senior defender
Mitchell Killough, Danville, senior forward
Terry McCrate, Mattoon, senior defender
Brennan McElroy, Decatur St. Teresa, senior forward
Tyler Semple, Effingham, senior defender,
Aaron Smith, Charleston, senior goalkeeper
Austin Wilson, Monticello, senior defender
HONORABLE-MENTION ALL-SECTIONAL
Abdi Aden, Champaign Centennial; Hunter Davis, Mattoon; Tyler Davis, Hoopeston Area/Bismarck-Henning; Matt Grooss, Decatur St. Teresa; Jacob Hanselman, Monticello; Tarik Koric Urbana University; Nick Lund, Urbana; Tyler Mumm, Monticello; Jeremy Niebrugge, Teutopolis; Micah Walker, Champaign Central; Bryson Weaver, Decatur MacArthur
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