All-County soccer team selected - The Stokes News

The Stokes News, along with area coaches, has selected the 2019 All-County boys’ soccer team.

South and West Stokes didn’t have the best overall record as teams on the pitch this past season, but both squads were full of young and talented athletes. This year the all-county team consisted of six players from each team, including six underclassman.

During the season the teams deadlocked at 2-2 on Sept. 4 and 0-0 on Sept. 12. In fact, the teams have tied six times over the past 10 meetings.

West Stokes finished second in the WPAC last season before dropping to the bottom of the league this year after losing eight seniors, four players that decided not to play, and a season ending injury to Zach Heath, a key member of the team.

The Wildcats put four seniors on the all-county team with leading scorer Dylan Gupton leading the way. Kyler Todd, Joe Ashby, and Alex Lynch were the other three and were invaluable according to first year coach Kelsey Perrell. Junior Alex Rhodes and freshman phenom Junior Suarez were selected, with Suarez receiving much praise from Perrell.

Gupton was selected to the WPAC All-Conference team and to the area all-region squad. Ashby was also selected all-region and was a member of the WPAC honorable mention team along with his teammate, Todd.

The Sauras fielded 19 players with only three seniors on the team. The played with 12 freshman and sophomores and gained valuable experiences through the year, according to long-time coach Danny Bowman. Athletes making the all-county team from South Stokes this season were: seniors Utah Mendenhall and Parker Bullins, juniors Carson Stanley and Connor Barron, sophomore Elijah Booe, and freshman Tyler Whitaker.

Mendenhall, Bullins, and Stanley were selected Northwest 1A All-Conference and were voted to the all-region team. Parker was the leading soccer for the Sauras this season as Stanley was one of two all-conference goalies with 169 saves in 2019 and was an all-state nominee.

Booe and Barron was selected to the honorable mention team and Whitaker was second on the team with the most shots on goal of 51 and the third leading scorer on the young Saura squad.

Both teams will look to improve next season, with West returning 11 players and South 16.

Robert Money can be reached at 336-749-1193.