The coaches have voted in District 26-6A and several Trojan soccer players have received high praise and recognition after a strong first season in 6A. Ninety percent of the squad was named TASCO Academic All-District, 4 were named Academic All-State, and 8 players received different levels of All-District recognition for their strong play on the field.
Three Trojans received All-District Honorable Mention Honors after a big 2023 season. Junior midfield duo, Angel Martinez and Kyle Bresler were named to the honorable mention category, as was freshman forward Trevor Rener. Bresler netted a pair of goals on the season, while Rener tallied a whopping seven in his freshman campaign. With three more years to improve, Rener is a budding star for Anderson soccer and is a nice compliment up front next to phenom Jud Anderson.
The Trojans had a pair of players named All-District 2nd Team this year as well. Junior winger Jesse Lang had one goal and a pair of assists this year and was a strong presence on the wing for Anderson. Rowan Martin, a right-back in the class of 2025 also received the honor and was a huge part of the strong defense that gave up just over 2 goals a game.
A trio of Trojans earned First Team All-District Honors after strong seasons, senior goalkeeper Chris Stewart, senior center back Ian Klumpen, and junior forward Jud Anderson. Stewart appeared in 19 games in net for Anderson and recorded 112 saves over the course of the season. A calming presence in goal, Stewart was the anchor of the formidable Trojan defense. Klumpen was the most important player on Anderson’s backline and stepped up big time in his senior season. His defensive dominance paved way for him to be awarded as a first-team selectee. The two seniors will surely be missed and hard for the Trojans to replace come next year. They’ve finished off their high school careers on a high note after being honored among some of the best in the area.
Jud Anderson was not only First Team All-District, but also District 26’s forward of the year. Jud wound up with 17 goals and 7 helpers after a dominant junior season. He’s poised for a strong senior season in 2024 as he will make a run at being named district player of the year. We’ll have a full article covering Jud’s dominance on the pitch coming out in the next few days so Anderson soccer fans should be on the lookout for that.
The Trojans didn’t only succeed on the field, they succeeded in the classroom as well. In order to be named TASCO Academic All-State, you must carry a 4.0 GPA over all four years of high school, and multiple of Anderson’s senior soccer players were able to achieve this. Ben Lewis, Ian Klumpen, Miles Metzger, and Owen Beasley were all able to balance soccer with academics to earn this notable honor. This goes to show how important being a true “student-athlete” is and not just focusing on success on the pitch, court, or field.
The 2023 season, was an overall successful one for Anderson soccer and it culminated in many players receiving a multitude of academic and athletic honors. The Trojans have already begun gearing up for the 2024 campaign and despite losing their starting goalie and center back, return most of their starting varsity players. They’re poised to build on this season and compete for a playoff spot in one of the toughest districts in the state.
