All three area coaches who coached their teams during the Pensacola Sports All-Star boys and girls soccer games had one word to describe Thursday's two games.
special.
For West Florida women's soccer head coach Haley Jetton, who just completed her first year with the Jaguars, it was special for that very reason. She was new to Florida and West Florida.
“It was an honor just to be asked to be a part of this,” Jetton said.
For Gulf Breeze women's soccer head coach Albert Gatica, it was not only a final time coaching several seniors, but also a final time on the sideline with his daughter Haley Gatica, who will graduate this spring. there were.
“When I found out I was going to be the coach this year, and she joined the team, I was really looking forward to this. It was my last chance to be on the sideline with her.” Albert Gatica said. “The fact that she scored made it even more special for me.”
And Tate boys soccer coach Mason Clark had similar feelings after his first year with the Aggies. He last coached his son Jackson Clark, who he has coached since he was a young boy, on Thursday. This will be the second time Mason Clark has coached his own children in the Pensacola Sports All-Star Game, having coached his oldest son, Seth, several years ago.
“I didn't think I could get another shot at that. It was pretty cool,” Mason Clark said.
In the end, on a night when the score didn't really matter, the top soccer seniors from Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties played their final high school games at Ashton Brosnaham Park. Thursday.
This football game was the third game of the year in the Pensacola Sports High School All-Star Series. His volleyball game was held at Pensacola State University in mid-November, and his football game was held at Booker T. Washington in mid-December.
But for bragging rights, the East girls team, made up of players from nine schools from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, defeated the West team 7-1. On the boys side, the West team, made up of six Escambia County schools, defeated the East team 4-1.
“Historically, we haven't won that many games. For the last 10 years, we've won on penalties,” said West boys coach Mason Clark. “It means a lot to them to win in regulation.”
“We were able to keep that tradition going. I hope it continues,” said Gatica, who coached the East girls team.
“There was no question that we were going to go out and lock down (the Western world). Between Navarra, Pace and Gulf Breeze, they were all close races this year,” said Gulf Breeze's Amelia Jacobs. Told. “I definitely thought we were going to be a good team.”
last ride
For some players, this could be their last organized soccer match. Booker T senior Kyle Hunnicutt said after the game that it was even more special to end the year with his teammates.
“I’ve grown up with some of these guys since I was a freshman, so it’s great,” Hunnicutt said. “Leaving Washington with a W, having fun on the field, that's the best thing I ever wanted.”
Although the Wildcat star's playing days are far from over, University of South Florida officials said the All-Star Game helps create a “great community” in football. After the game, Jacobs, who had a three-goal hat trick and was named East Division team MVP, said the game “really helped cap off (her) high school career.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m sad, but it’s just that something ended for me to go to college,” said Jacobs, who has signed with the University of South Alabama.
Tate University's Jackson Clark, who was named MVP of the West men's team, scored two goals and said, “It was great to win with my teammates.''
Creation of a “super team”
The All-Star Game, which spans multiple schools, creates an opportunity for coaches to enjoy the talent of some players who struggled during the regular season.
Coincidentally, several girls from the Pace team, including Barkley Jernigan, Becca Ryan, and Lexi Basel, played on the same field at Ashton Brosnaham in late January after the Patriots eliminated the Dolphins from the district tournament. Mr. Gatica pointed out that
“I have coached a lot of other girls in club soccer so I knew most of them well. It was great to see them develop into great players and great kids. . That's special to me,” Gatica said. “It was also special that (Pace) was on the same sideline as me.”
As for the Pace players, Jacobs said it was fun having Jernigan on the same team after playing together a bit over the summer.
“It was fun to actually play the game with her,” Jacobs added.
Jetton was able to acquire Tate's Cora Helmig. She scored a goal late in the game that ended her chances of a shutout and was named the West girls team's MVP. Jetton ended her first year in the Florida Panhandle in what she called “pretty amazing.”
“It couldn't have been a better way to end the season. It was a great All-Star night, and I'm glad we were able to do it despite the inclement weather,” Jetton said. night. “
On the boys side, Mason Clark said it was fun to see all the seniors together at the end. He said it will be a “fun and lively” practice for the match, especially since they have coached many of the players in their early years. Younger than that or at club soccer level.
Hunnicutt and Jackson-Clark both said it was fun to finally get to play with each other. Hunnicutt was named the 2023 PNJ Player of the Year, and Jackson Clark led the area with 26 points this season.
“There's going to be some nerves when we play against each other during the season, but when we come together there's love and connection,” Hunnicutt said. “Great players can connect with great players. It was just a beautiful thing.”
“I hate playing against Kyle, but it's great to have him on the team,” Jackson Clark said with a little laugh.
complete all-star roster
The players from each team selected as All-Stars for this game are as follows:
east girl: Priscilla Courtney, Milton. Alison Johnson, Fort Walton Beach; Mariana Gunter, Fort Walton Beach; Talia Brooks, Crestview; Haley Gatica, Gulf Breeze. Amelia Jacobs, Gulf Breeze. Skyler Hendricks, Gulf Breeze. Jazmin Lortsch, Gulf Breeze. Berkeley Jernigan, pace. Becca Ryan, Pace. Lexi Bass, Pace. Katie Kaus, Navarre. Daisha Taylor, Navarre; Ali Dalton, Navarre. Caitlin Lawson, Navarre; Olivia Travis, Niceville. Chloe Aldrich, Niceville; Kayla Consinglio, Milton. Ilianna Rivera, Crestview. Naomi Riches, Rocky Bayou Christian. Kylie Robinson, Choctaw.Katie Finkler, Niceville
Girls of the West: Spirit Meeks, West Florida. Autumn Caving, West Florida. Sophie Whittaker, West Florida; Jada Barrett, West Florida; Savannah Epstein, West Florida; Hope Stringfellow, Escambia. Cayden Foley, Escambia. Rhys Allen, Escambia. Cameron Fields, Escambia. Justin Chmura, Escambia. Marion Rosenthal, Pensacola Catholic. Megan McCarthy, Pensacola Catholic; Cora Helmig, Tate. Eva Grissom, Tate. Avery Winder, Tate. Michelle Higgins, Tate. Mia Nickinson, Booker T. Washington. Lindsay Lawrence, Booker T. Washington. Eva MacArthur, Booker T. Washington. Cindy Ayala, Booker T. Washington. Lauren Vann, Pensacola.Francis Yanez, Pensacola
Boys of the East: Mason Monks, Crestview. Turtle's Notcher, Crestview. Dylan Dombre, Navarre. Chase Dixon, Navarre. Hunter Christopher, Navarre. Kai Sam, Milton. Christian Baker, pace. Marcus Cullen, Pace. Eli Oswalt, Choctaw. Campbell Rynerson, Choctaw. Gideon Rossell, Rocky Bayou Christian; Camden DeWitt, Rocky Bayou Christian; Lucas Isaacson, Gulf Breeze. Kyle Consenza, Gulf Breeze. Brett Battelle, Gulf Breeze. Grant Wheeler, Niceville, Frank Lupera, Niceville. Jeremy Covington, Niceville; Landon Tryon, Fort Walton Beach. Noah Burkett, Fort Walton Beach.Brian Camacho, Fort Walton Beach
Boys of the West: Finn Fritz, Catholic of Pensacola; Will Watson, Pensacola Catholic; Dalton Laflamme, Pensacola Catholic; Kyle Hunnicutt, Booker T. Washington. Tony Lipnicki, Booker T. Washington. Ethan Koivu, Booker T. Washington. William Stroup, Booker T. Washington. Kyle Miller, Escambia; Lenin Barahona, Escambia. Reynaldo Portugal, West Florida. Cody Carmody, Pensacola. Cole Jolly, Tate. Jackson Clark, Tate. Michael Christenson, Tate. Jayden Fernandez, Pensacola; Sam Benzinger, Pensacola. Harrison Jones, Pensacola. Clayton Nolen, Pensacola.Aiden Birch, Pensacola
Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at X (@BenGriecoSports) or by email at BGrieco@gannett.com..
