The Grayson girls soccer team, which dominated its region unlike any other Class AAAAAAA team this season, was rewarded when 8-AAAAAAA announced its end-of-season awards earlier this week.
The Rams won their 10 region games by a combined score of 91-4, and their closest game was a 7-2 victory over second-place Archer. Grayson, ranked No. 8 in Class AAAAAAA by Score Atlanta, is 14-3 overall and hosts North Gwinnett on Thursday in the first round of the state playoffs.
Grayson players earning recognition from the region include Brianna Tello (goalkeeper of the year), Symone Cooper (defender of the year), Mirela Vojnikovic and Kaitlyn Costello (co-midfielders of the year), and Brittany Montgomery (forward of the year). Archer’s Jennifer Crawford was named coach of the year.
Grayson also placed six players on the 12-member all-region first team, which includes GK Brianna Tello (Grayson), D Symone Cooper (Grayson), D Jordyn McCartney (Grayson), D Cassidy Wallace (Archer), D Toree Thomas (Rockdale County), MF Mirela Vojnikovic (Grayson), MF Kaitlyn Costello (Grayson), MF Lauren Sandidge (Archer), MF Allison Boss (Archer), F Brittany Montgomery (Grayson), F Jordan Hall (Archer), and F Millian Molison (Rockdale County).
Second-team all-region players are GK Aileen Giron (Archer), GK Dana Taylor (Rockdale County), D Unique Ward (South Gwinnett), D Maria Ramos (South Gwinnett), D Ashley Weesner (Newton), D Rowan Irons (Shiloh), D Ruth-Ann Minto (South Gwinnett), MF Carly Kinpling (Rockdale County), MF Ashley Mancuso (Rockdale County), MF Gizelle Evan (South Gwinnett), MF Kara Gartner (Newton), MF Celesie Alonso (Shiloh), F Aliyah Taylor (Archer), F Jazmine Theus (Grayson), F Kendra Davis (South Gwinnett), F Makena Tucker (Archer) and Lissette Sanchez (South Gwinnett).
*Region champions: The regular season is drawing to a close this weekend and the playoff brackets are filling up fast. Congratulations to the region and area champions officially listed on the Georgia High School Association's brackets for the playoffs, which begin on Thursday for the three highest classes and on Tuesday for the four smallest classifications:
- AAAAAAA: East Coweta (Region 2), Hillgrove (3), Lambert (5), Collins Hill (6), Grayson (8)
- AAAAAA: Lee County (1) Richmond Hill (2), Tucker (4), Johns Creek (7), Dacula (8)
- AAAAA: Veterans (1), Wayne County (2), Whitewater (3), Eagle’s Landing (4), Chamblee (5), Decatur (6), Paulding County (7), Buford (8)
- AAAA: Columbus (1), Richmond Academy (3), Woodward Academy (4), LaGrange (5), Northwest Whitfield (6), Marist (7), St. Pius (8)
- AAA: Worth County (1), Pierce County (2), Savannah Arts (3), Westminster (5), Calhoun (6), Greater Atlanta Christian (7), Jackson County (8)
- AA: St. Vincent’s (2), East Laurens (3), Harlem (4), Lamar County (5), Model (7), Social Circle (8)
- A: Savannah Country Day (Area 1), First Presbyterian (2), Holy Innocents’ (6), Wesleyan (8)
Note that some of the other region titles have been clinched, but the teams were not listed on the GHSA brackets as of Thursday night.
*National rankings: Whitewater (15-0-1), the No. 1 Class AAAAA team in the most recent Score Atlanta rankings, is also the top Georgia team in this week's NSCAA national rankings of spring teams. The Wildcats are ranked No. 5, moving up 14 spots from two weeks ago. Other Georgia teams in the top 25 are St. Pius (No. 10, previously unranked) and Westminster (down one spot to No. 15). Peachtree Ridge, which was No. 11 in the previous poll, fell out of the top 25 after a loss to Academic Magnet (S.C.). Whitewater also leads five Georgia teams in the NSCAA Region II rankings of teams from Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. The Wildcats are No. 1 in the region, followed by No. 2 St. Pius, No. 3 Westminster, No. 8 Peachtree Ridge and No. 9 Marist.
