By Mark Schmerling

Capturing the Western Highlands Conference championship, and finishing the season with an overall mark of 16-5, after reaching the third round of state playoff competition, made it a very fine season for Polk County’s varsity women’s soccer team this spring.

Players who helped the Wolverines accomplish so much were honored at a special awards ceremony on June 8.

“We had a really good group,” assessed head coach Lennox Charles. “They worked hard.”

Among varsity players, Ashley Love and Samantha Firby shared offensive player of the year honors. Rhian Alley was named defensive player of the year. Second-year goal tender Kara Overholt was honored as varsity player of the year, with Elena Preston earning the Wolverine Award.

In noting Overholt’s contributions, Charles noted that she was “a key part of us being solid and successful last year and this year. As goaltender this past season, Overholt made about 150 saves, including some heroic efforts in the penalty-kick overtime against West Stokes in the second round of the state playoffs, where Polk emerged a 4-3 winner.

“She’s smart, and she works hard,” noted Charles, who labeled Overholt “a very positive role model for us.”

Named to the All-Western Highlands Conference team were Alley, Caroline Lee, Firby, Sarah Phipps, Overholt and Love.

Wolverines on the All-Region team are Alley, Love, Firby, Overholt and Daisy Mondragon.

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Photos:

9562: Polk County women’s soccer team members with the trophy they earned as Western Highlands Conference champions this spring. (Photo by Mark Schmerling)

9564: Polk County High School junior varsity soccer award winners from this spring, shown from left, are Cameron Capozzi (Coach’s Award), Bella Marino (Defensive Player of the Year) and Baylee Love (Offensive Player of the Year). (Photo by Mark Schmerling)

9565: Polk County High School’s women’s varsity soccer team won the Western Highlands Conference title, advanced to the third round of the state playoffs, and finished the season at 16-5 overall. Shown here are some of the top players, with the awards they received on June 8. From left, front: Ashley Love (co-offensive player of the year), Elena Preston (Wolverine Award) and Samantha Firby (co-offensive player of the year. Back row, from left: Miriam Santabanez (Wolverine Award), Rhian Alley (Defensive player of the Year) and Kara Overholt (Player of the Year). (Photo by Mark Schmerling)

9569: Six members of Polk County High School’s women’s varsity soccer team were named as this spring’s All-Western Highlands Conference players. They are, from left, front: Rhian Alley, Caroline Lee and Samantha Firby; back: Ashley Love, Sarah Phipps and Kara Overholt. (Photo by Mark Schmerling)

 

9570: The following Polk County women’s varsity soccer players were named as All-Region players following their 16-5 season, which included two wins inthe state playoffs: from left, front: Rhian Alley, Ashley Love and Samantha Firby; back: Daisy Mondragon and Kara Overholt. (Photo by Mark Schmerling)