Tag Archives: Gatorade POY

AJ Cochran, CBC Cadets, Named Missouri Gatorade POY

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AJ Cochran, Scott Gallagher MO (CBC Cadets, 2011)

AJ Cochran, Scott Gallagher MO (CBC Cadets, 2011)

CHICAGO (February 23, 2011) — In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Alec Cochran of Christian Brothers College High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade Missouri Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Cochran is the second Gatorade Missouri Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Christian Brothers College High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Cochran as Missouri’s best high school boys soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Cochran joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Kevin Garnett (1992-93, Maudlin HS, S.C.), Tony Meola (1986-87, Kearney HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior defender anchored a defense that posted 14 shutouts this past season, leading the Cadets (20-8-2) to the Round of 16 at the Class 3 state tournament. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Cochran is a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Men’s National Team Player Pool. He was the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association Class 3 Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection.

Shea Groom, Liberty Jays, Named Missouri Gatorade POY

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Shea Groom, Liberty Jays (2011)

Shea Groom, Liberty Jays (2011)

CHICAGO (May 12, 2011) — In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Shea Groom of Liberty High School as its 2010-11 Gatorade Missouri Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Groom is the first Gatorade Missouri Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Liberty High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic
achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Groom as Missouri’s best high school girls soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Groom joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, East Brunswick HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.

The 5-foot-6 senior forward has led the Blue Jays to a 20-3 record entering this week’s regular-season finale against Raymore-Peculiar High, scheduled for May 12. Groom scored 41 goals and passed for 19 assists through 23 games. The 2009-10 Gatorade Missouri Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Groom is a member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-20 Women’s Soccer Team Player Pool. The 2010 Missouri State High School Soccer Coaches Association Class 3 Player of the Year, Groom enters this week’s game with 144 goals and 71 assists in her prep soccer career.

Chris Agorsor Named Gatorade Player of the Year

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Thought I’d point you to a young man getting plenty of attention following the completion of the US Soccer Developmental Academy Finals last week. The Baltimore Bays won the U18 age group and were led by Chris, who recently completed his high school degree a semester early at private school McDonogh in Baltimore, who he also led to a State title last November.

The LA Times, where the photo came from, covered the Academy Final which was against LA FC:

Despite his injury, Agorsor, who has a scholarship offer from Virginia but is considering playing professionally in Europe, brought back the Bays with his tournament-leading sixth goal and also drew a penalty kick in the 90th minute that forced the game to overtime.

Chris’ future plans have been the subject of a year of speculation on Big Soccer. The most recent interview comes from the Potomac Soccer Wire who sat down with him last week to discuss his plans which seem to lean towards playing at Virginia.

There’s also a YouTube video from the Gatorade Awards ceremony if you’d like to see more of this young man who currently sits at the top of his peer group. For more action, here’s 4 minutes of highlights the Bay’s win over the Chicago Fire Academy team early in the playoffs.