ND's Williams leads all-state soccer honors with player of the year

~ Class 2 state champions have five players honored.

Notre Dame's Ty Williams considers the two Class 2 titles he won playing for the Bulldogs the highlight of his high school soccer career.

But he added that the 2007 Class 2 player of the year award he received Monday also feels really sweet.

"The state championships are better, but it's nice to to be honored like this, especially since my high school soccer career is over," he said. "It is nice to be honored with that award."

Williams had another productive year offensively, scoring 25 goals and recording seven assists for 57 points.

Kelly's Lana Whitworth, left, grabbed the ball away from East Prairie's Rianon Threstier, top, after East Prairie's Grace Swann (partially hidden) blocked a shot by Kelly's Carissa Klipfel, right, during the third quarter Monday night at the Lady Devils Invitational at Chaffee High School. Kelly won 62-32 in the first-round game. High school roundup on Page 3B. (Fred Lynch)

He capped his high school career with one goal and one assist in the Class 2 semifinal game against Duchesne, then had an unassisted goal in the title game against Smithville.

"Ty is not only a great soccer player, but he's one of the best young men I've ever coached," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said. "He's a quality kid. He's president of the student body. He's a very, very Christian young man and always did the right thing. I remember games this year when the referees are looking at each other and not sure who the ball went off of and he'd say, 'No, sir that was off me.'"

Williams said he is undecided over which college he'll attend but he is looking to continue to play soccer at that level.

He also won the all-Southeast region player of the year for Class 2.

Joining Williams on the first team from Notre Dame were midfielder Ryan Willen and defender Mark Zimmer.

Willen, who was also named co-offensive player of the year for the Class 2 Southeast region, sharing the honor with Clayton's Rawdon Parker, had 13 goals and eight assists on the season for 34 points.

Willen, who has signed to play basketball at Lafayette College next fall, caught fire in the state playoffs and especially in the championship game. He scored the first two goals of the title contest and also assisted on the Bulldogs' third goal.

Zimmer, who also won Class 2 defensive player of the year and the Southeast region defensive player of the year in Class 2, was a force in the back row all season for the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs junior goalie Ryan Bass and junior midfielder Joda Holloway were named to the Class 2 state second team.

Bass gave up only 19 goals in 27 games. He was also awarded the Class 2 Southeast region's co-goalkeeper of the year, sharing the honor with Lutheran South's D.J. Lambert.

Holloway recorded four goals and seven assists for 15 points.

Wittenborn was named the coach of the year for Class 2.

Seven other local players received state honors.

Jackson senior midfielder Spencer McCormack was named to the Class 3 second team. His teammate and fellow senior Caleb Beussink received honorable mention as a defender.

Central's Zach Zaruba, a junior midfielder, also receuved honorable mention in Class 3.

Four Saxony Lutheran players received Class 1 all-state honors. Crusaders' defender Alex Rodewald and midfielder Garrett Fritsche were named to the first team.

Two junior forwards earned second team honors in Andrew Etzold and Bryant Steffens.