Play Soccer! AHSAA State Tournament ready for action
No. 1 ranked Bob Jones boys will face second-ranked Hewitt-Trussville on Thursday
HUNTSVILLE – Mark Russell, executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission, said it best, “Play soccer!” His proud start of what will be the 26th annual AHSAA State Soccer Tournament set to be held in Huntsville at the Spencer Sports Complex came during the event’s Media Day Luncheon where the usual Huntsville warm welcome and red carpet were extended to all as the 40 teams from across Alabama will converge for the chance to win one of the 10 state championships up for grabs this week.
“This is top notch willing to do whatever they need to do to make this successful for the kids,” said Tara Osborne, soccer director for the AHSAA. “What a beautiful facility here in Huntsville and everybody takes pride in making this place special.”
The local teams representing the Madison area which made the elite Final Four of the State Tournament include the new No. 1 ranked Bob Jones boys (16-5-1) who will face second-ranked Hewitt-Trussville (15-4-6) at 3:00 p.m. in one of the two Class 7A semi-finals on Thursday and the boys from Madison Academy (18-3-0) who tangle with No. 1 Susan Moore (19-2-2) on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the semis of Class 1A-3A.
“Hewitt-Trussville upset No. 1 ranked Florence and we upset No. 2 ranked Vestavia Hills to get here and they have an outstanding goalie and two strong forwards we will have to contend with,” said Michael Parker head coach of the Patriots. “Four years ago I began a new culture with this team as I moved eight from the freshman team to play on varsity. Today, those players are now seniors and they are a tight-knit unit and that makes them special.”
Bob Jones is led by seniors J.P. Tarrer who posted 10 goals and 172 tackles on the season, Kevin Martinez who had seven goals and eight assists with 58 tackles while pressing, team captains Zac McGee, with seven goals and eight assists with 126 tackles and Arnav Maskey, who also posted seven goals along with 102 tackles on the season. In goal has been senior Jose Guzman who has had 61 saves and three saves on penalty kicks while he posted 10 shutouts on the season schedule. Junior Ryan Jones has also had a banner season for the Patriots with 232 tackles and four assists off his front handspring throw-in.
“Our team motto all season has been ‘DAWG,’ as we want to play with a ‘dawg’ mentality when we’re on the field,” added Parker.
“Events like this just don’t happen by accident. They happen because the communities rally around schools and teams and the AHSAA never takes this effort for granted,” said Heath Harmon, executive director of the AHSAA. “I have been with 51 other state athletic associations throughout the country and each time they want to know about the AHSAA Championships and how we handle them. I tell them we provide an opportunity for young people with great support.”
“They have two turf fields here that other facilities across the state don’t have and the overall facility from parking to great grass playing fields we’re happy with,” added Osborne. “The people here are all about the details and they want to make it special for our kids, too.”
Thirty matches will be played with 10 champions crowned. The City of Huntsville, Madison County and the Huntsville Sports Commission have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make the footsteps for success.
