Primo on the pitch: Blue Valley West's Besler, St. Thomas Aquinas' Latz head Sun's list of boys soccer honorees

Today the Sun pays homage to a first-time All-Sun Boys Soccer Offensive Player of the Year in Blue Valley West junior Nick Besler.

Meanwhile, we also welcome back a repeat honoree as our Defensive Player of the Year in St. Thomas Aquinas senior and Drake University commitment Sean Latz.

Below, listed alphabetically within each position, is a look at what is a talent-loaded All-Sun Boys Soccer first team from the 2009 campaign.

The biographical information that appears with each player was provided by his coach.

Colby Martin

St. Thomas Aquinas

Martin, a senior bound for the William Jewell College soccer program next season, managed 15 shutouts and a .44 goals-against average amidst what St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing called “as good of a schedule as we have played.”

Martin earned first-team all-state status in Class 5A for the Saints, who won a national title in a pair of post-season polls after compiling a 21-0 record and sweeping East Kansas League, regional and state honors.

The state crown marked Aquinas’ seventh in as many seasons.

“Just a great shot stopper,” Ewing said. “Join that with his ability to relieve offensive pressure quickly with his long punts, kicks and throws, and you see one of the reasons the Saints gave up less than a half a goal a game.”

DEFENDERS

Andrew Farnsworth

Blue Valley Northwest

This senior and four-year starter for the Huskies performed as a starter for Blue Valley Northwest’s Class 6A state championship team as a freshman.

Farnsworth also plays for the Kansas City Wizards Academy team.

He was a first-team all-state selection in 6A this season as well as a first-team All-East Kansas League choice.

“Andrew is a very versatile, skilled player who can play at all positions,” Blue Valley Northwest coach Rick Pribyl said. “He is a leader on and off the field and in most contests this past season was the best player on the field for either team.”

Tommy Harrison

St. Thomas Aquinas

A senior centerback for the Saints, Harrison helped solidify an Aquinas defense on a team that recorded its second undefeated season in the program’s history and the title of national champs.

He had two goals and 12 assists from the back while earning a first-team all-state nod in Class 5A along with first-team All-East Kansas League recognition.

“Tommy played off (fellow Saints defender and All-Sun first-teamer George) Skevington,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing said. “His great touch and vision allowed him to begin our counters positively. He also stroked all of our left-footed dead balls.”

Sean Latz

St. Thomas Aquinas

Latz, a senior and repeat winner of All-Sun Defensive Player of the Year honors this season, keyed the Aquinas defense from the back with four goals and 13 assists.

Included was a pair of assists in the Class 5A state title match for the Saints, who were declared national champions after winning a seventh straight state title.

The Drake University soccer-bound Latz earned All-American status in addition to first-team all-state recognition in 5A and a spot on the first-team All-East Kansas League team.

“A four-year starter at left back, he had his most impressive year as a senior, when he shut down some of the best attackers in and outside of the area as well,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing said.

“He created 13 assists with his huge throw on some of our set pieces. He also served as captain and field general for this squad. He was a coach on the field and in the locker room.”

George Skevington

St. Thomas Aquinas

As the Saints rolled to their first undefeated season since 1994 and national championship status, this senior and Rockhurst University-bound soccer senior was hard to miss given his 6-3 height and tall talents.

Skevington tallied eight goals and five assists while tacking on first-team all-state honors in Class 5A as well as first-team All-East Kansas League recognition.

“Our success sprang from our defense and our dead balls,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing said, “with George in the middle of our defense and the center of our set plays.”

Devin Zvosec

Bishop Miege

This senior and team co-captain for the Class 5A state runner-up Stags finished fourth in the voting for Kansas All-American while racking up first-team 5A all-state, first-team All-East Kansas League and first-team 5A All-Northeast Kansas Soccer Coaches Association honors.

Zvosec scored nine goals with two assists, scoring in two EKL games as a defender. Bishop Miege coach Joe Huppe said Zvosec is being recruited by a number of NCAA Division I schools.

“The heart and soul of our team,” Huppe said. “We have only conceded 16 goals with him on the field. He has helped contribute to 11 shutouts in 20 games. We could play him in any position on the field, and he would still be one of the best players.”

MIDFIELDERS

Nick Besler

Blue Valley West

Besler, a junior, ascended to the perch of All-Sun Offensive Player of the Year this season while displaying an impressive brand of versatility for his 13-6 Jaguars team, which advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 6A state playoffs.

Depending upon the flow of the match, Besler could perform forward or back and be a difference maker.

He scored 11 goals with 11 assists and earned first-team all-state honors in Class 6A as well as first-team All-East Kansas League status and the nod as the EKL’s Offensive Player of the Year.

“Nick had many game-winning goals for us as well as numerous big defensive stops,” Blue Valley West coach Alex Aiman said. “On the offensive end he was dangerous, and on the defensive end he could get us out of danger. As a coach or a teammate, he is the guy you want on your team.”

Jon Kankam

SM Northwest

Kankam, a senior, achieved first-team all-state honors in Class 6A. He also was a first-team all-NEKSCA selection in 6A as well as a first-team All-Sunflower League pick.

The senior standout for the Cougars, who earned third place at the 6A state tournament, punched in four goals with two assists in the regular season.

He will continue his soccer career collegiately at NCAA Division I Xavier.

“Jon is deceptive with the ball with great vision to find the open player,” Shawnee Mission Northwest coach Todd Boren said. “Many of our attacks go through Jon at the attacking midfield position.”

Zach Kohlrus

St. James Academy

Kohlrus, a junior and repeat first-team all-state selection in Class 4-1A, didn’t miss a beat in leading the Thunder’s march to the 4-1A state championship despite missing six weeks of action due to a stress fracture.

He stormed back with a vengeance, scoring four goals in the space of his team’s last five games, including game-winners in the regional final and state quarterfinal round.

Despite only a 12-9-0 season match record, the Thunder parlayed a tough schedule into a perfect post-season.

“Zach was our best all-around player,” St. James Academy coach Rick Enna said. “He provided a lot of wonderful creativity and helped solidify the midfield and offensive attack. He was the key offensive force in leading the Thunder to the 4-1A state championship.”

Chris Sojka

KC Christian

Sojka, a senior and first-team all-state selection in Class 4-1A, paced the Panthers offensive attack while registering eight goals and three assists for the campaign.

“Chris was our most important offensive player during the season,” Kansas City Christian coach Joe Hirleman said. “He possesses great speed, skill, stamina and an effective shot. He is a very versatile player as well and can play anywhere in the midfield or as a forward.

“In addition to his skill and athleticism, Chris worked very hard every day in practice and provided solid leadership throughout the season.”

Jordan Zarse

St. Thomas Aquinas

Zarse, a first-team all-state selection in Class 5A and first-team All-East Kansas League pick, proved the second-leading scorer for the Saints, who captured a seventh consecutive state championship and were later named national champions.

The senior knocked in 10 goals along with a team-high 11 assists. He will take his game to Benedictine College next season.

“An offensive center midfielder, Jordan used his touch and speed to get the ball forward, quickly putting the defense under immediate pressure,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing said.

FORWARDS

Taylor Lemmon

Maranatha Academy

Lemmon proved an offensive machine for Maranatha.

The senior pounded home an amazing 38 goals as a junior, then followed suit with 37 in his final prep season.

Lemmon will play for NCAA Division I Virginia Tech next season.

“The statistic that excited me about this year was his assists,” Maranatha coach Keith Nelson said. “His total of 16 for this year was almost triple what he had his junior year. This was due to his team play as well as the level of the boys around him being better players.

“As a small school, we don’t have many athletes sign Division I letters of intent, so we are very proud of Taylor and excited for him to succeed at the next level of soccer.”

Sam McCrillis

SM Northwest

McCrillis, a senior, earned first-team all-state status in Class 6A; first-team all-NEKSCA in 6A; and first-team All-Sunflower League for the Cougars, who earned third place in 6A at state.

He had nine goals and one assist during the regular season.

“Sam is a very creative striker on the ball in one-on-one situations who can create shot opportunities for himself or crossing opportunities for goal-scoring chances for his teammates,” SM Northwest coach Todd Boren said.

Emilio Quezada

St. Thomas Aquinas

Quezada, a member of the KC Wizards Juniors, paced the Saints to the tune of a team-high 14 goals on their way to a national title and seventh straight state title, this time in Class 5A.

The junior also tacked of six assists for a team-best 34 team points. He earned honorable mention all-state recognition and was a second-team All-East Kansas League pick.

His knack for clutch play he displayed by scoring all three goals in the final weekend spread over the Saints’ 5A state semifinal and final-round victories.

“He is just magic with the ball,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Craig Ewing said. “His touch and his movement off the ball allowed him to be in position to score big goals such as the two he scored in the state final.”

Beau Ramirez

Bishop Miege

A team co-captain for the Class 5A state runner-up Stags, Ramirez earned first-team 5A all-state, first-team All-East Kansas League, first-team 5A all-NEKSCA and outstanding all-NEKSCA all-academic status this season.

The senior scored six goals with eight assists for the 15-5 Stags.

“Basically our only forward we could count on,” Bishop Miege coach Joe Huppe said. “An incredible work rate. Speed and quickness are his strengths. He goes in the back when we need him to protect a lead. He will be a wing player or defender in college but played the role up top for us that we needed for the benefit of the team’s success. He has great intensity and can go 80 minutes every game.”

Jordan Rideout

Blue Valley North

Rideout, a junior, was the leading scorer for the Mustangs this season by virtue of his 15 goals.

He was a first-team all-state selection in Class 6A as well as a first-team All-East Kansas League honoree.

“Jordan reads the game extremely well,” Blue Valley North coach Tom Holland said. “He has a great awareness and is willing to strike the ball the first time with either foot and is strong in the air.”

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