LocalSportsJournal.com
Four girls’ soccer players from the area garnered first-team all-state honors for the recently completed season.
In all, 23 area players were first, second or third team as well as honorable mention. The teams were named by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The four first-team selections included Mona Shores’ senior Shay Norden, Spring Lake senior Clara Saunders, Western Michigan Christian sophomore goalkeeper Eliana Clapp and teammate Nora Pollock, a junior forward.
Norden, a Division 1 selection, led the Sailors to an OK-Green conference title in her final season. Three Grand Haven players were honored in senior goalkeeper Hannah Taylor (third team), junior midfielder Gillian Sorrelle (honorable mention) and Buc senior defender Avery Christian (honorable mention).
Saunders was a repeat first teamer from 2023 and, in 2024, was a key member of the Lakers’ Division 2 state championship team. Senior defender Brooke Bolthouse and freshman forward Aveya Patino were named to the second team. Senior midfielder Ella Andree was named to the third team.
Three Fremont Packers were honored, including junior forward Mia Clemance (second team), sophomore defender Grace Evans (third team) and sophomore midfielder Maddie Mater (honorable mention).
Four other area players were honorable mention selections: Montague junior goalkeeper Addison Pranger, Montague junior forward Ava Pelton, Whitehall sophomore forward Kate Beda and Hart freshman forward Lilliana Mena.
Besides the two first-team players, Western Michigan Christian landed two other players on the teams: freshman forward Emersyn Paling on the third team and senior forward Brooklyn Watts as an honorable mention selection.
North Muskegon senior defender Kennedi Koekkoek landed on the second team and sophomore midfielder Emma Buchmiller was honorable mention.
Shelby had two players honored in sophomore forward Kylie Brown and senior forward Molli Schultz. Both were named honorable mention.
