CAMPBELL TABBED LEAGUE'S 'DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR,' FOUR TEAMMATES ALSO HONORED

By: Tim Birney  /  October 31, 2022  /  Photo: Tim Birney

ATHENS — Athens junior Alex Campbell was named the NTL’s “Defensive Player of the Year,” and junior Korey Miller was tabbed a first-team-all star, while three of their teammates also earned recognition recently in voting by the league’s coaches.

Senior Brayden Post was a second-team selection, while sophomore Marco Quiros and junior Mitch Hamilton earned honorable mention recognition.

Wellsboro senior Peyton McClure was named the NTL “Player of the Year,” and the league’s all-state selection, while his classmate Jack Poirier was named the “Offensive Player of the Year.”

Wellsboro’s Todd Fitch was named “Coach of the Year,” after leading the Hornets to an unbeaten league record.

FIRST TEAM
Strikers
Korey Miller, junior, Athens: A heady player with a knack for getting in position to score, Miller led the Wildcats with 13 goals, and was second on the team with six assists.

Also selected to the first-team as strikers were: Wellsboro junior Caden Smith, Galeton junior Zach Pagano, and NP-Liberty sophomore Brady Stetter.

Midfielders
Selected as first-team midfielders were: Wellsboro senior Jack Piorier, Wellsboro senior Sam Rudy, NEB junior Cesar Alvarez, and Williamson senior Duncan Kerr.

Defense
Alex Campbell, junior, Athens: Athletic, physical, and possessing a high soccer iQ, Campbell anchored the Wildcat defense. He had one assist on the season.

Also selected to the first-team defense were: Wellsboro senior Peyton McClure, NEB senior Joe Stanton; and Williamson senior Cody Peers.

Goalkeeper
Wellsboro senior Aiden Gehman.

SECOND TEAM
Strikers
Selected to the second team as strikers were: Galeton senior Gavin Sykora, Wellsboro sophomore Alex Citrino, NEB junior Josh Stanton, and Williamson senior Trent Achey.

Midfielders
Brayden Post, senior, Athens: Athletic, with a high soccer IQ, Post could be counted on to be in the right place. He was second on the team with 11 goals, and had two assists.

Selected to the second team in the midfield were: Galeton senior Matt Smith, Troy junior Brady Spalding, and Williamson junior Will Gehman.

Defense
Selected to the second-team defense were: Williamson senior Robert Kipferl, Troy sophomore Ethan Cole, Wellsboro junior Ian Hoose, and Wellsboro junior Watson Feil.

Goalkeeper
Williamson sophomore Logan Stickler.

HONORABLE MENTION
Strikers
Marco Quiros, sophomore, Athens: A fiery player with good foot skills, Quiros made an impact in his first year with the Wildcats. He had six goals and one assist.

Strikers also receiving honorable mention recognition were: Wellsboro sophomore Lucas Cuneo, Williamson senior Ayden Sprague, and Williamson sophomore Kade Ficks.

Midfielders
Mitch Hamilton, junior, Athens: A skilled player, his defense and passing often flies under the radar. He had two goals and four assists on the season.

Midfielders also receiving honorable mention recognition were: NP-Liberty junior Zach Wilcox, Towanda sophomore Jack Wheaton, and Wellsboro junior Jacob Abadi.

Defense
Defenders receiving honorable mention recognition were: Galeton junior Matt Zur, Towanda sophomore Conner Barnes, NP-Liberty junior Corey Smith, Wellsboro sophomore Gabe Sprouse, and Williamson sophomore Jordan Monroe.

Goalkeeper
Galeton senior Ayden Whipple.