Jasper varsity girls earn honors on soccer field
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER'S ALL-DISTRICT PICKS included back row, Jessica Alvis, Amanda Miesch, and Marcie Ratcliff, First Team; and Coach Ron Vickers, Coach of the Year. Middle row- Morgan Marx, Second Team; Haley Shipman, Offensive Player of the Year; and Caroline Kipp, Second Team. Front- Hannah Vickers and Allison Collins, Honorable Mention. Not pictured are Tabitha Wagnon, honorable mention, and Natalie Dufner, second team.

Freshman Haley Shipman has been selected as Offensive Player of the Year by the District 18-4A girls soccer coaches. In addition, three Jasper players were named First Team All-District, three to the Second Team and Coach Ron Vickers was selected Coach of the Year.

"I told the girls that my award really belongs to more than one coach," Vickers said. "This group of girls has been coached by many during their soccer careers. Thanks to the Twister Soccer Club and coach Robbie Lovett, a majority have been playing competitively since they were in elementary school. This award should also be shared with the parents who have traveled with them to tournaments, taken them to weekly prac tices and sent them to soccer camps."

The Lady Bulldogs finished third in the district with a 12-4 record and a season record of 15-6, the most wins in a season since soccer became a sport at Jasper High School in the 1997- 1998 school year.

Shipman's Offensive Player of the Year award is based on outstanding performance. She scored a total of 25 goals on the year, 18 of those during district play.

First Team picks include senior Jessica Alvis, midfielder; senior Amanda Miesch, center defender; and junior Marcie Ratcliff, goalie.

Second Team picks include junior Morgan Marx, wing defender; sophomore Caroline Kipp, midfield wing; and sophomore Natalie Dufner, forward.

Three freshmen earned Honorable Mention awards: Allison Collins, wing; Hannah Vickers, defender; and Tabitha Wagnon, midfielder.

The Lady Bulldogs' third place district finish advanced them to the playoffs, but they were knocked out in the first round by Whitehouse-Tyler. With 15 season wins, they earned recognition as an up-andcoming team and were the

Vickers said that the influx of experienced players was the key to this season's success.

"I'm really the same coach I was last year," he said. "We had an influx of players with competitive soccer experience instead of recreational soccer. Thanks to parents and soccer club organizers and coaches, Jasper's high school program can be competitive with even the 4-A teams in our district."

After UIL realignment, next year Jasper will move from District 18-4A, composed of teams to the north into a district that includes Silsbee, Hardin-Jefferson, Lumberton, Vidor, and Livingston.