After a winning season and a trip to the playoffs, the Gettysburg High School Boys Soccer team has brought home awards from the Mid Penn Athletic Conference.
Selected first team all-stars were Senior Midfielder Quaide Clarke, Senior Defender Alex Cunningham, and Senior Forward David Langaman; Second team all-stars were Junior Defender Nic Aumen and Senior Midfielder Luke Sanders.
Junior Goalkeeper Jake Bernier and Senior Defender Ben Kittleberger received honorable mentions.
The Player of the Year award went to Clarke, who was the only player nominated for this award; and the voting was unanimous.
Co-Head Coach Ian Hancock won Coach of the Year
After the Bishop McDevitt playoff game, Ian Hancock told his players that “the season was about family and community; that teams become like a family, and that’s what they will remember—along with having one of the best records (15-2) of any Gettysburg soccer team and being division champs.”
Hancock said the players will get to see 2024 on the division championships banner in the high school, and that nothing can take that away.
Commenting on the Warriors loss to Bishop McDevitt in the playoff, Co-Head Coach Scott Hancock praised the team. “We expected Bishop McDevitt to be a much better team than their ranking, so the closeness of the playoff game was no surprise,” he said. “Along with Boiling Springs, they were the best team we played this fall. Ian and I were very impressed with our players at how they responded to going a goal down in the second half—only the second time this season we’d been behind in a game.
“For the last thirty minutes of regulation, and through thirty minutes of overtime, we outplayed and outshot McDevitt, and certainly earned the tying goal. It was a bit misfortunate not to have won it before it went to the penalty shootout.
“McDevitt, though, was still dangerous; were it not for two jaw-dropping saves by Goalkeeper Jake Bernier, the game would not have gone to penalty kicks. Jake, who hadn’t really been tested much through the season, had an outstanding game overall.”
“It takes courage to be willing to take a penalty kick in any game,” said Hancock. “And it’s especially brave to be willing to step up to the penalty spot in an elimination game.”
“Ian and I are extremely proud of each of the players who did so,” said Hancock. “Ian had kept detailed records of each player’s success rate over the last few weeks of practice, so we have no regrets; everyone did the best they could in the moment.
Featured Image Caption: Quaide Clarke
Great players, great coaches and great examples for fans and youth coming up. Thanks for your beautiful year we experienced.