photo by: Journal-World Sports Staff

The Journal-World All-Area Teams.

photo by: Henry Greenstein/Journal-World

Baldwin coach Drew Ising runs through a tunnel of supporters after beating Ottawa on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Baldwin City.

Coach of the Year: Drew Ising, Baldwin

Ising finished his Baldwin coaching tenure with a 12-7 record in 2024 and the team’s third straight regional championship. The Bulldogs also had their second-best offensive and defensive goal totals.

photo by: Courtesy of Drew Ising

Bailey Smith

Player of the Year: Bailey Smith, Baldwin

Smith scored 23 goals and recorded 14 assists as a Frontier League first-team midfielder with the most overall points. After primarily being a playmaker for Baldwin, Smith took on an extended role as a goal scorer this year, and is second in career assists at Baldwin and fourth in career goals.

Stella Comparato

Stella Comparato, Lawrence

Comparato played an integral part of the Lions offense this year, either scoring or assisting on the team’s five goals as a sophomore. The midfielder earned second team All-Sunflower League honors.

Jayla Erpelding

Jayla Erpelding, Eudora

Erpelding finished her Eudora career with 14 goals and 10 assists while earning first-team All-Frontier League honors. She is Eudora’s all-time-leading goal scorer, all-time assist leader and total point scorer, and has records for goals in a season, assists in a season and points in a season.

Josie Kim

Josie Kim, Bishop Seabury

Kim took up an elevated scoring role this year after switching from center defender to target forward. The position change was fruitful, as she finished with a team-high 10 goals. The junior led the Seahawks as a team captain as well.

Natalie Loving

Natalie Loving, Tonganoxie

Loving was the team’s MVP this year as a freshman with five goals and eight assists. She earned second-team All-League honors with her ball skills and ability to work through a defense.

Miley Maxwell

Miley Maxwell, Tonganoxie

Maxwell scored 12 goals as a freshman and earned second team All-League honors as a result. Initially a defender, Maxwell was tasked with switching to offense and excelled right away.

photo by: Contributed

Xeva Oldridge

Xeva Oldridge, Bishop Seabury

Oldridge, who played goalkeeper through her club career, switched to center back due to injury and immediately became a point of strength in the team defense. Her physicality and athleticism gave her an edge in stopping opposing teams’ best forwards.

Nora Prather

Nora Prather, Baldwin

Prather scored six goals and nine assists while making first team All-Frontier League as a midfielder. Prather was one of the most important pieces to the team’s defense, and was critical in this year’s team having its best regular-season goal differential.

Riley Prier

Riley Prier, Free State

Prier earned second team All-Sunflower League this year as one of the most versatile players on her team. Prier played center back and defensive midfielder this season, and was best at shutting down the opponent’s best player.

Taylor Woods

Taylor Woods, Free State

Woods is on pace to become Free State’s girls soccer all-time scoring leader after a 12-goal junior season with five assists as well. Her ability to separate makes her one of the best players in the state, and she earned first team All-Sunflower League. Taylor led the Firebirds to their first state quarterfinal game.

Honorable Mention: Xin Clobes (Eudora); Lizzie Fisher (Eudora); Helena Gutierrez-Gibbs (Bishop Seabury); McKenna Klamm (Tonganoxie); Alex McBride (Baldwin); Brecken Ostronic (Lawrence); Alyssa Reichard (Baldwin); Maggie Wagner (Lawrence); Amelia Wiles (Free State).