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Carr, Philippe share top honors on 2015 WSCA boys All-State team

11/30/2015, 12:45am CST
By ERIC ANDERSON
Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association logo

The panel of coaches who selected the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association boys All-State team couldn't pick between a pair of talented senior strikers when it came to determining the state's top player this fall, so Hartland Arrowhead's Blake Carr and Milwaukee Marquette's Alec Philippe shared the organization's top award.

Carr finished his only season of prep soccer with 54 goals, setting the program career record, and added 14 assists in helping Arrowhead (21-2-3) advance to its first WIAA state final since 1985. The University of Wisconsin recruit scored in 24 of 26 matches, including his team's 5-2 loss to Marquette in the Division 1 final.

Philippe, meanwhile, had three assists in the championship game as the Hilltoppers (19-2-0) won their second straight state title and WIAA-record 11th – all coming in the past 16 seasons. Still undecided on his college plans, he had 27 goals and 12 assists this season and posted 54 goals and 21 assists in his two-year varsity career.

The WSCA co-players of the year head up the 11-member All-State first team, which includes eight seniors and three juniors. Philippe was the lone junior named to the top squad last season and therefore is the lone repeat selection.

Five of this year's first-teamers earned "Best of Rest" honors on the all-state team last fall, equivalent to honorable mention: Middleton forward Bradan Allen, Whitefish Bay forward Evan Conway, Grafton midfielder Jake Demerath, Pewaukee forward Griffin Jende and Madison Memorial midfielder Dominick Mesdjian.

Allen, one of the three juniors on the top team, recorded 33 goals and seven assists in 19 appearances for the Cardinals (16-4-1) this season and has 46 goals and 13 assists in 30 career games.

Conway, a senior who has verbally committed to UW-Milwaukee for next fall, led Division 2 state champion Whitefish Bay (23-2-1) with 25 goals and added four assists. Demerath racked up 24 goals and 26 assists for state semifinalist Grafton, and the Creighton recruit was the only Division 3 player named to the first team.

Jende, who is headed to Marquette University next fall, closed out his record-setting career with 32 goals (10 game-winners) and 18 assists for the Pirates. He leaves Pewaukee with 90 goals and 45 assists, both program records. Mesdjian, a member of UW's recruiting class along with Carr, had 10 goals and 13 assists for Memorial this fall and concluded his prep career with 21 goals and 29 assists.

Three teams each had two first-team selections: Marquette, Arrowhead and Whitefish Bay.

Marquette junior Ben Leas was the lone defender on the top squad – he had two assists and led a backline that posted 12 clean sheets as he joined Philippe as the Hilltoppers' representatives on the first team.

The combination of Arrowhead junior midfielder Zak Wegner (16 goals, 18 assists) and Carr caused troubles for opposing defenses all season.

And senior midfielder Jordan Palmer, who also has verbally committed to Marquette, had 10 goals and six assists and played an integral role for Bay's state-championship side along with Conway.

The first-team goalkeeper was Racine St. Catherine's senior Toney Anderson, the lone Division 4 player in the top XI. Anderson, headed to NCAA Division III UW-Whitewater next season, posted a 1.33 goals-against average and six shutouts – but missed the Angels' sectional final and state semifinal matches after suffering a a dislocated elbow and a fractured left arm in a sectional semifinal.

Two more Marquette players, defender Jack Bradford and midfielder Michael Russell, made the second team. Madison East junior keeper Conor Schilicting was joined by 10 seniors on the squad – it's the first time since 2012 that the WSCA named an All-State second team.

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player Year Team
GK Toney Anderson Sr. Racine St. Catherine's
D Ben Leas Jr. Milwaukee Marquette
M Jake Demerath Sr. Grafton
M Dominick Mesdjian Sr. Madison Memorial
M Jordan Palmer Sr. Whitefish Bay
M Zak Wegner Jr. Hartland Arrowhead
F Bradan Allen Jr. Middleton
F Blake Carr Sr. Hartland Arrowhead
F Evan Conway Sr. Whitefish Bay
F Griffin Jende Sr. Pewaukee
F Alec Philippe Sr. Milwaukee Marquette

Co-Players of the Year: Blake Carr, Hartland Arrowhead, and Alec Philippe, Milwaukee Marquette.

SECOND TEAM

Pos. Player Year School
GK Conor Schilicting Jr. Madison East
D Jack Bradford Sr. Milwaukee Marquette
D Dan Klundt Sr. Hudson
D Sam Kornetzke Sr. Cedarburg
D Ben Krolczyk Sr. Sussex Hamilton
D Zach Stone Sr. Oregon
M Steve Andrusko Sr. Brookfield East
M Michael Russell Sr. Milwaukee Marquette
M Clay Vichich Sr. Whitefish Bay
F Steven Abalos Sr. Mount Horeb
F Frankie Herrera Sr. Madison West

Honorable mention

Goalkeepers: Ryan Berger, sr., Racine Case; Adin Chiappa, sr., Whitefish Bay; Josh Koleske, sr., Appleton North; Payton Spencer, sr., Hudson.

Defenders: Nate Brody, sr., Madison West; Charles Danek, sr., Whitefish Bay; Noah Ganzen, sr., Appleton North; Davis Green, sr., Sun Prairie; Trevor Johnson, sr., Racine St. Catherine's; Jacob Kieckhafer, sr., Sheboygan North; Josh Reikowski, sr., Milwaukee Thomas More; Luke Schroeder, sr., Eau Claire Memorial; Leobardo Villa, sr., Green Bay East.

Midfielders: Jose Barron, sr., Beloit Memorial; Logan Block, jr., Grafton; Shawn Brown, sr., Phillips; Erik Dahl, sr., Madison West; Antonio De Castro, jr., Green Bay Preble; Nathan Feiner, sr., New Richmond; Sam Gomez, sr., Cedarburg; Lamin Jarju, jr., Oshkosh North; Dominic Lambo, so., Milwaukee Marquette; Joey Messina, sr., New London; Joe Schauer, sr., Whitnall; Schuyler Tambling, sr., McFarland; Alex Tomashek, sr., Hartford; Derek Waleffe, so., Middleton; Evan Watzka, sr., Green Bay Notre Dame; Drew Winkowski, sr., Kettle Moraine.

Forwards: Osman Bajraktarevic, sr., Appleton North; Jacob Brazee, sr., Winneconne; Michael Carreon, sr., Kimberly; Joe Graumann, sr., Lakeside Lutheran; Derrick Grimm, sr., Howards Grove; Tigrio Huerta, jr., Delavan-Darien; Demetrius Kigeya, so., Madison Memorial; Jack Kocha, sr., Racine St. Catherine's; Kevin Mesich, sr., West Allis Hale; Jack Mittelsteadt, jr., Schofield D.C. Everest; Damien Overby, sr., River Falls; Ben Prange, sr., Wauwatosa East; Connor Provan, jr., Sussex Hamilton; Isaac Putzier, jr., Green Bay Preble; Nate Sampson, jr., Milwaukee University School; Mitchell Schaller, sr., Onalaska; Nicolo Vitale, sr., Sheboygan North.

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