BHS boys soccer players earn district awards

The Boerne High boys soccer team finished the 2023 season by having 14 players honored by the District 26-4A coaches.

Senior Joe Ballenger was named Most Valuable Player of the district, senior Jess Gonzales was voted Midfielder of the Year, senior Noah LeMaster was tabbed as Goalkeeper of the Year and the Boerne coaching staff was named the staff of the year.

Junior Brett Hettie, junior Bear Kelly, junior Hudson Vickery and senior Logan Walter were named to the 26-4A first team.

Freshman Shae Gonzales, senior Jake Herman, senior Fernando Palacios and sophomore Austin Vecino were named to the 26-5A second team, while freshman Ezekiel Fernandez, sophomore Liam Griffiths and junior Jarrett Ibarra were recognized as honorable mention selections.

Also, Jess Gonzales and LeMaster were named 1st Team All-State by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches and Ballenger was recognized as TASCO honorable mention. Jess Gonzales and Ballenger were also named to the 4A Super Elite team by the Texas High School Coaches Association.

BHS head coach Michael Strong was also named the Texas State Coach of the Year by the UIL and the National Federation of State High School Associations.

As the two-time defending state chanps, BHS was looking for a three-peat and almost pulled it off. The Hounds ran the table in district at 12-0 and then beat Burnet, La Vernia, Marble Falls and Corpus Christi London to face Hidalgo in the regional finals. The Pirates defeated the Greyhounds in a shootout to end the Boerne year at 25-3-2.