Meet The Ledger's 2023-24 All-County Boys Soccer Team
The more things change, the more things stay the same when it comes to boys soccer in Polk County.
McKeel sustained many graduations from last season's team, yet returned to the Final Four for the second year in a row. Lake Gibson had a coaching change yet won another district title.
On the other hand, stability paid dividends as Lakeland Christian was perhaps the top team in the area and was coached by Grandy Streets, who just completed his 17th season with the Vikings.
While long-time programs remain the top teams on the west side of the county, the top team on the east side was third-year program Davenport. In fact, the three teams on the northeast part of the county – Davenport, Ridge Community and Haines City – combined to go 31-13-1.
BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Strawbridge stood tall in middle of Lakeland Christian's defense and as Polk's player
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The Ledger boys soccer player of the year
Henry Strawbridge
Lakeland Christian, Senior
Defender
Strawbridge was the leader of the Vikings on the field and off. At center back, he anchored an LCS defense that allowed just four goals with nine shutouts and a 0.33 GAA against Polk County teams. The Vikings were 10-1-1 against Polk teams. Strawbridge also was a force offensively on set pieces as he scored seven goals with one assist.
The Ledger boys soccer coach of the year
Tanner Adams
McKeel
The Wildcats graduated nine seniors, including player of the year Calvin Steele, from last season but Adams rebuilt the attack and led McKeel back to the state tournament for the second year in a row.
The Ledger boys soccer first team
Eros Hagan
Auburndale, Senior
Defender
10 goals, one assist.
Brayden Gathwright
Lakeland Christian, Freshman
Forward
11 goals, 11 assists.
MacAlister Kranzler-Ratcliffe
Winter Haven, Senior
Forward
17 goals, 6 assists.
Drew Snyder
McKeel, Junior
Forward
11 goals, 2 assists.
Emmanuel Beltran
Fort Meade, Senior
Forward
14 goals, 14 assists.
Gregory Jackson II
Lake Gibson, Junior
Forward
13 goals, 8 assists.
Judeson Aldecat
Lake Region, Sophomore
Midfielder
28 goals, six assists.
Sebastian Diaz
Ridge Community, Senior
Forward/Midfielder
10 goals, 8 assists.
Donovan Knighten
Lake Wales, Senior
Forward
10 goals, 2 assists, 129 steals.
Sebastian Brock
Bartow, Junior
Defender
5 goals, 12 assists.
Charlie Hill
Lakeland Christian, Junior
Defender
Helped team to 0.955 GAA.
Junior Baffoie-Bonnie
McKeel, Senior
Defender
Helped team to just 16 goals allowed in 23 games.
Christopher Franco
Davenport, Sophomore
Defender
Helped team to just 24 goals allowed in 19 games.
Joseph Kralick
Lake Wales, Sophomore
Goalkeeper
232 saves.
The Ledger boys soccer second team
Avery Cassell: Lakeland Christian, Junior, Forward
Johnathon Rocendo: Frostproof, Junior, Midfielder
Emanuel Ramirez: Davenport, Senior, Forward
Bryan Cardenas: Frostproof, Senior, Midfielder
Sebastian Revelo: Lake Wales, Senior, Midfielder
Hunter Mendez: McKeel, Junior, Midfielder
Breckin Southern: Lakeland, Senior, Midfielder
Dylan Flores: Fort Meade, Freshman, Forward
Guercheley Fanfan: Ridge Community, Junior, Midfielder
Justin Adams: Bartow, Senior, Midfielder
Cameron Payne: Auburndale, Senior, Midfielder
Tim Jones: Mulberry, Senior, Defender
Wyatt Layne: Lake Wales, Senior, Defender
Diego Garay: Davenport, Junior, Defender
Gray Ottman: Lakeland Christian, Junior, Goalkeeper
The Ledger boys soccer honorable mention
ALL SAINTS: Andrew Roppe.
AUBURNDALE: GK Austin Newbern, F Drake Sadler, D Zach Raisin, MF Tyler Sievert, MF Wil Brown.
BARTOW: GK Ismael Rosilla, D Keelan McKinzy, D Gideon Campbell, F Adolfo Perez.
DAVENPORT: Geriel Vega, Jonathan Castillo, Anthony Zuniga, Anthony Hernandez.
FORT MEADE: D Pedro Lopez, MF German Miranda, GK Adolfo, Maldonado, MF Eric Miranda, F Alan Beltran.
FROSTPROOF: F Jose Casiano, F Omar Valencia, MF David Garcia, GK Alan Trejo-Mejia, F Marcos Islas.
GEORGE JENKINS: MF Emory Jame, MF Brad Pennywell.
LAKE GIBSON: F Sebastian Esteva, D Jonathan Earl
LAKE REGION: MF Hector Gomez, D Jose Santiago, MF Elvin Hernandez.
LAKE WALES: F/MF Martin Aguilar, MF Keaton Kohl, F James Burke, D Bryson Woods, D Isaac Rivera.
LAKELAND: Sam Blackwell.
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN: MF Adrian Villanueva, D Landon Harrell, D Micah Roof, MF Trace Andrews, MF Ethan Petcoff.
MCKEEL: D Zane Chisholm, GK Nate Miller, F Alejandro Araque, MF Konnor Dobson, MF Anthony Lucio, D Beck Hendrik.
MULBERRY: MF Victory Mayen, GK Joaquin Sanchez, F Miguel Pineda, Andres Jimenez, MF Gio Solid, MF Saif Alrfaee, MF Adrian Jones.
RIDGE COMMUNITY: D Eugene Velazquez, D Ricardo Coyt, MF Anthony Mahon, F Hoyito Leslie, MF Owen Moreno, GK Oboam Maurison.
SANTA FE CATHOLIC: Alex Larson, Tobias Tolba, Mateo Gomez-Matarranz.
WINTER HAVEN: F Anthony Castro, MF Jonathan Lamonica, MF Fahad Adem, MF Noah Rimpel, D Manuel Miranda, GK George Nolan, GK Layton Kemp.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: All-Polk County boys high school soccer team for winter 2023-24
