Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Ethan Gyenis
By Ray Hamill — Arcata’s Ethan Gyenis and Eureka’s Aidan Sloper each received MVP recognition this week after outstanding individual seasons for both players on the soccer field.
Gyenis, who helped lead the Tigers to a league championship was named H-DNL outfield MVP, while Sloper was named MVP Goalkeeper after starring for the Loggers between the posts.
And both players got the nod not just for how they performed, but for the roles they played in leading their respective teams.
“Ethan was the most dominant striker in the league by far,” Arcata head coach John Davidson said. “We were fortunate to have a player so consistent and productive. In addition to being a great goalscorer, he was a kind and caring captain and a great teammate.”
Gyenis scored 27 goals this season and left a lasting impression on the Arcata coaches with his approach to the game.
“It’s been an honor to coach him for four years,” Davidson added. “He aspires to keep working on developing his game.”
According to Davidson, Gyenis is still undecided about his college future but is considering taking his talents to College of the Redwoods, along with some of his Arcata teammates, which would be a big plus for the Corsairs.
Sloper, meanwhile, edged out a pool of talented goalkeepers for his MVP award.
And according to his coach, Sloper’s impact on his team’s success went well beyond his performances.
“He’s the best goalie in HDN,” Eureka head coach Eddie Garcia said. “Having him back there played a huge part in the success that the team accomplished this year.
Aidan Sloper
Submitted photo
“He always had a positive attitude and everyone on the team respects him.”
Garcia also believes Sloper will succeed in soccer and life after graduation this year, and the senior shot stopper plans on playing at the next level.
“He has a bright future ahead of him, on the field as well as off the field,” the coach said.
In addition to Gyenis, four other members of the league champions were named to the H-DNL All-League team, including Izaiah Grosveld, Isaac Johnson, Josiah Gomez and Kayin Kloberdanz.
Three other Eureka players — Jiagdae Her, Ean Savage and Will Mooney — also were named all-league.
The versatile Savage led his team in scoring while switching between defense and attack this season, while Her was a consistent and reliable’ leader on defense and Mooney’s composure in midfield “helped us imprint our style in every game,” according to Garcia.
Del Norte’s Yahir Alanis and Mario Ledezma, also were named to the all-league team, along with Fortuna’s Aristeo Herrera and Jesus (Chuch) Dominguez Diaz, McKinleyville’s Gino Dolson-Gonzales, and St. Bernard’s Esteban Cervantes.
The all-league selections and MVPs are voted on by the league coaches.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Arcata — Kaden O’Brien
Eureka — Tomas Paoli, Joe Morris, Diego Ravas, Kaleb Green, Trenton Gerber
Del Norte — Lyon Rigden, Eyan Smith, Brandt Pennington, Adrian Contreras
Fortuna — Adria Magana, Hector Diaz, Julian Ceja Carillo, Cody Collins
St. Bernard’s — Le Quoc Throng
Categories: Arcata, Del Norte, Eureka, Fortuna, McKinleyville, Soccer, South Fork, St. Bernard's
There is no way Arcata goalie did not win this award. He has better stats and was more consistent. Definitely the best goalie in humboldt by far.
Agreed, not taking anything away from any of these excellent players, but the Arcata keeper was the best keeper in the league and one of the league’s five best players overall.
Agreed, not taking anything away from any of these excellent players, but the Arcata keeper was the best keeper in the league and one of the league’s five best players overall.
These comments are based on the premise that the basic stat of goals against per game is a reflection of the keeper. They aren’t. They’re a reflection of the backline, the defensive midfield…and the keeper. Arcata had the best backline in the league by a large margin and arguably had the best defensive midfield too. The AHS keeper is clearly very talented. I hope he continues playing. But Sloper being voted defensive MVP by the league’s coaches doesn’t diminish the AHS keeper’s talent. Instead, it acknowledges Sloper’s and, more importantly, it rewards his individual contribution to his team’s success.
Who else would have had the better defensive midfield ??? They had the best midfield in the league and had subs that were better than other teams midfielders
Congratulations to all these outstanding student athletes!
I think Mario Ledezma should’ve won mvp, because that boy is the goat and scored two bangers on that arcata goalie and that eureka goalie and finished the season with 11 goals.
That eureka goalie should’ve never won it, Mario Ledezma aka the goat, should’ve MVP