Captain Kovalcik reporting for duty
Oak Glen star chosen to lead Class AA/A squad
NEW MANCHESTER — Maggie Kovalcik is a natural-born leader.
During Sunday’s OVAC All-Star Game, Kovalcik was barking out instructions to her teammates. Yes, in a game meant to be fun, the Golden Bears senior was taking it as serious as a state tournament game.
One of the most gifted goal-scorers in the state, Kovalcik lifted Oak Glen to new heights this season when she led her team to the first state tournament appearance in school history.
At the OVAC All-Star game, Kovalcik was named the Class 4A Player of the Year. On Monday, she added to her accolades, chosen as the captain of the Class AA/A Girls’ all-state soccer team, as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
“This fits Maggie to a ‘T,'” Oak Glen coach Ryan Wells said. “I have coached Maggie in soccer, in basketball, she is a leader among leaders. This is something she absolutely deserves.”
After leading Oak Glen to three OVAC championships in three seasons, Kovalcik was determined to get her team over the hump. The only thing left on her bucket list was to bring Oak Glen its first trip to Beckley for the state tournament.
Mission accomplished.
Kovalcik had 36 goals this season, bringing her career total to 99. She also added 11 assists.
“She is going to be irreplaceable and a huge void left next season,” Wells said of his senior striker. “Not just from a statistical point, but as a constant. She never missed a game, a practice, never came out of game. She is one kid who always performed at a top-notch level.
“Her speed definitely helped her. It helped her create within our system. She had the ability to be two touches and then be 5 yards behind any back. You can coach a lot of things, but you can’t coach speed.”
Kovalcik is joined on the first team by teammate Jillian Williams.
“Jillian was our field general and led by example,” Wells said of his junior defender. “She was the extension of the coach on the field. If something was going wrong, Jillian would see it and figure it out and direct the other 10 girls. She lives and breathes soccer.”
Robert C. Byrd captured a second straight Class AA/A championship with a 3-1 victory against Charleston Catholic.
Ashton McKane scored five goals in the state tournament, including two in the victory against the Irish to bring her total to 52 on the season to go along with eight assists.
The runner-up Irish are represented on the first team by midfielder do-it-all Lindsey Carr and defender Audrey Miller.
Joining Kovalcik and McKane as first-team forwards are Huntington St. Josephs’ McKenzie Moran (40 goals, 20 assists) and Winfield’s Payton Frohnapfel.
Carr is joined in the midfield by Abi Hugh (28 goals, 16 assists) of St. Joe and Hannah Floyd (22 goals, 11 assists) of Fairmont Senior.
Along with Miller and Williams in the defense are Winfield’s Kalei Jordan and Bridgeport’s Olivia Arbogast.
The goalkeepers are Winfield’s Emily Hudson and Williamstown’s Mara Rinehart (86 saves, 10 shutouts, 0.8 goals per game).
The utility players had no problem scoring — Oak Hill’s Courtney Smith, Wheeling Central’s Kenadee Wayt (42 goals, six assists) and Fairmont Senior’s Trisha LeMasters (37 goals, 12 assists).
Charleston Catholic defender Jenna Jordan captains the second team. She is joined in the defense by Bridgeport’s Kristen George, Winfield’s Grace Cole and Wheeling Central’s Ireland Wayt.
Second-team forwards are Charleston Catholic’s Bella Cinco, Oak Glen’s Reece Enochs, Weir’s Julia Gianni and Elkins’ Sophia Triplett.
Oak Glen’s Brooklyn Loveland, Robert C. Byrd’s Madison Smith and Sissonsville’s freshman duo of Anna Gregor and Amelia Compston make up the midfielders.
Rory Marple is the lone second-team netminder.
Isabella Aperfine (Weir), Elora Shinn (Nitro) and Lura Simons (Robert C. Byrd) hold down the utility spots.
Class AA/A
First Team
F — McKenzie Moran, Huntington St. Joe, sr.
F — Maggie Kovalcik, Oak Glen, sr. (captain)
F — Payton Frohnapfel, Winfield, jr.
F — Ashton McKane, Robert C. Byrd, sr
M — Lindsey Carr, Charleston Catholic, jr.
M — Abi Hugh, Huntington St. Joe. sr
M — Hannah Floyd, Fairmont Senior, sr.
D — Kalei Jordan, Winfield, jr.
D — Jillian Williams, Oak Glen, jr.
D — Audrey Miller, Charleston Catholic, soph
D — Olivia Arbogast, Bridgeport, sr.
G — Emily Hudson, Winfield, jr
G — Mara Rinehart, Williamstown, jr.
Utility — Kenadee Wayt, Wheeling Central, sr.
Utility — Courtney Smith, Oak Hill, sr
Utility — Trisha LeMasters, Fairmont Senior, sr
Second Team
F — Bella Cinco, Charleston Catholic, fresh
F — Reece Enochs, Oak Glen, soph
F — Julia Gianni, Weir, sr
F — Sofia Triplett, Elkins, jr.
M — Brooklyn Loveland, Oak Glen, soph
M — Anna Gregor, Sissonville, fresh
M — Amelia Compston, Sissonville, fresh
M — Madison Smith, Robert C. Byrd, jr
D — Kristen George, Bridgeport,sr.
D — Jenna Jordan, Charleston Catholic, sr, (captain)
D — Grace Cole, Winfield, sr.
D — Ireland Wayt, Wheeling Central, sr.
G — Rory Marple, Bridgeport, sr
Utility — Elora Shinn, Nitro, sr.
Utility — Isabella Aperfine, Weir, soph
Utility — Lura Simons, Robert C. Byrd, sr,
Honorable Mention
Alexis Adams, Weir; Dani Beverly, Logan; Nicole Billie, Wheeling Central; Kira Bircher, Pocahontas County; Diana Birchfield, Scott; Laila Calhoun, Pocahontas County; Hailey Chewing, Chapmaville; Sarah Crimm, Robert C. Byrd; Abbie Denham, North Marion; Payton Gregory, Philip Barbour; Macy Haddox, Magnolia; Anna Hewitt, Charleston Catholic; Savannah Hoff, Winfield; Mackenzie Hollaway, Weir; Brooklynn Hundley, Nitro; Olivia Krinov, Lewis County; Kali Krynicki, Madonna; Jillian Leo, Williamstown; Casey Martin, James Monroe; Kailey Mounts, Minto Central; Zoey McCutcheon, Sissonville; Lilly McMullen, Williamstown; Stephanie Miller, Bluefield; Abigail Myers, Oak Glen; Shayna Paxton, Herbert Hoover; Hannah Runions, Poca; Amelia Setser, Scott; Ember Smith, South Harrison; Tiara Snyder, Robert C. Byrd; Victoria Sturm, Lincoln; Addyson Thomas, Wheeling Central; Brayylyn Travis, Philip Barbour; Makayla Virden, Madonna; Brooklyn Watts, Oak Glen; Rikki Wellman, Mingo Central; Maddie Wilson, Bridgeport; Alison Woolum, Mingo Central; Morgan Wylie, James Monroe.