News Summary
The Midlands high schools announce the All-Area Boys Soccer Team for the season, with Cullen Maas from AC Flora named Player of the Year. He achieved an impressive record of 32 goals and 11 assists. Other talents honored include players from Chapin, Gray Collegiate, and Newberry, showcasing the abundance of skill in local soccer. These selections recognize players’ outstanding contributions and acknowledge the dedication of coaches and supporters in developing soccer talent in the region.
Columbia, SC – The Midlands area high schools have announced the All-Area Boys Soccer Team and the Players of the Year for the 2025 season, with Cullen Maas from AC Flora earning accolades as both the Player of the Year and the Reader’s Choice Player of the Year. This recognition highlights his impressive performance on the field, where he scored 32 goals and made 11 assists during the season. Maas was also honored with the Region 3-4A Player of the Year and selected for the Class 4A All-State team.
This year’s All-Area First Team features a talented roster of student-athletes from various Midlands high schools. Notable inclusions are:
- Tanner Battafarano, Cardinal Newman: A junior forward who contributed significantly to his team’s success with 12 goals and 10 assists, aiding in their SCISA 4A championship victory.
- Jacob Braden, Chapin: This junior defender/midfielder earned recognition as a Class 5A Division II All-State selection.
- Ernesto Brazell, Swansea: A junior defender recognized as the Region 4-3A Player of the Year while scoring 8 goals and providing 7 assists.
- Ryan Conder, Mid-Carolina: A senior center/midfielder with 4 goals and an exceptional tally of 21 assists, honored as a Class 2A All-State selection.
- Jay Etheredge, Gray Collegiate: This senior defender demonstrated his skills with 4 goals and 14 assists and was selected for the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star game.
- JJ Evans, Gray Collegiate: Another senior from Gray Collegiate, he excelled with 7 goals and 7 assists, earning a spot in the North-South All-Star game.
- David Flores, Newberry: A senior defender who contributed with 3 goals and was named a Class 2A All-State selection.
- Junior Gonzalez, Gray Collegiate: This senior defender also made the Class 4A All-State selection after scoring 5 goals and delivering 6 assists.
- Connor Hughes, Chapin: A junior goalkeeper with a 0.798 goals against average and 9 shutouts.
- Richard King, Newberry: Another standout goalkeeper, with a 0.805 goals allowed average and 12 shutouts, recognized as a Class 2A All-State selection.
- And many more talented players contributing to their respective teams’ successes.
The Second Team displays additional talent with names such as Ethan Alexander (Lexington), Kyle Bacon (Lugoff-Elgin), and Wyatt Jordan (Chapin) marking the next tier of exceptional performances this season.
Recognition and Achievements
The selections for the All-Area Boys Soccer Team are made based on players’ performances throughout the season, with individual and team accomplishments playing a key role in recognition. This year, players like Bryan Lee from Spring Valley, who scored 16 goals and made 8 assists, and Dalton Purcell from Blythewood, with 15 goals and 19 assists, emerged as strong contenders for individual honors.
Context and Importance
Soccer is a growing sport within the Midlands area, with high school programs fostering talent and competing at high levels. The establishment of an All-Area team provides recognition not only for standout athletes but also represents the dedication and hard work of coaches and supporters in these schools. As the season concludes, the impact of these athletes will resonate within their communities and pave pathways for future endeavors in collegiate soccer.
The honors received by the players highlight their pivotal contributions to their teams and serve as an inspiration to younger athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels. Many of these selections are also looking forward to continuing their soccer careers at the collegiate level, further extending the significance of their high school soccer achievements.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Emma Valdes Named Player of the Year in Girls Soccer
Emma Melinauskas Named Athlete of the Week for Spring Sports
Additional Resources
- The State: Midlands High Schools All-Area Soccer Team
- HSSR: Midlands Spring Sports Teams
- El Paso Times: 2025 Texas UIL Soccer Playoffs
- MRT: Midland High Boys Soccer
- OAOA: Permian Defeats Midland Legacy
- Wikipedia: Soccer
- Google Search: High School Soccer
- Google Scholar: High School Soccer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Soccer
- Google News: High School Soccer
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