Sixteen county stars make Super All-State for boys soccer as DiPiazza, Bautista, Miller win Coach of the Year awards
Published 8:15 pm Thursday, May 29, 2025
- Oak Mountain, Thompson, Briarwood, Calera, Chelsea, Helena, Pelham, Indian Springs, Montevallo and Westminster OM all earned All-State soccer honors as 16 players made Super All-State and David DiPiazza, Mike Bautista and Lee Miller won Coach of the Year. (File)
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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor
The All-State boys soccer teams are once again laden with local talent, and this year’s lineup may be one of the most stacked in recent memory.
The Oak Mountain Eagles, Thompson Warriors, Briarwood Christian Lions, Calera Eagles, Chelsea Hornets, Helena Huskies, Pelham Panthers, Indian Springs School, Montevallo Bulldogs and Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights were all represented on the All-State teams.
In addition to the selections to each classification’s First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention lists, 16 different players received Super All-State honors as the top players across all five classifications.
Three county coaches took home top coaching honors as Oak Mountain’s David DiPiazza, Briarwood’s Mike Bautista and Chelsea’s Lee Miller were named Coaches of the Year of their respective classifications.
DiPiazza led Oak Mountain to the Class 7A state championship game for the second-straight year after amassing a 60-match unbeaten run in the build-up to the finals.
Bautista and Miller shared honors in Class 6A after big seasons from both schools.
Miller took Chelsea to its first Final Four since 2011 thanks to a win over Calera in the quarterfinals and a miraculous run to qualify for the playoffs, the final part of which ironically came from a Briarwood win.
Bautista guided the Lions to a Class 6A, Area 8 championship and a first-round victory over McAdory. Once in the second round, they put Chelsea on the ropes before ultimately falling in a penalty shootout in the battle of area foes and top-10 sides.
Oak Mountain’s Gabe Capocci and Luke Jovanovich both made the Super All-State First Team while Sam Collins and Nate Taylor earned spots on the Super All-State Second Team. All four made the Class 7A First Team with Gerardo Rodriguez and Roy Soldevilla securing Class 7A Second Team selections.
For Thompson, Aram Arreola made the Class 7A Second Team as a forward and Brayden Herrera, Dylan Huerta, Erick Huerta, Dylan Ruiz and Yair Santana each earned Honorable Mentions.
Calera’s Matthew Doerfler earned Super All-State First Team and Class 6A First Team selections for his standout season in the midfield. Senior defender Armando Molina-Perez made the Class 6A Second Team and Alex Garcia and Edson Gonzalez secured Honorable Mentions.
Chelsea’s Luke Miller made the Super All-State Second Team and Class 6A First Team as a defender. Harper Jones joined him on the First Team while Max Wever made the Second Team. Cooper Baumbaugh, Parker Dean and Daniel Teixeira each took home Honorable Mentions.
Helena’s Austin Lewis made the Class 6A All-State Second Team, and his teammates Ryan Borden, Augustin Rodriguez and Devon Sasser earned Honorable Mentions.
Pelham’s senior keeper Jeffery Palacios and freshman defender Orlando Avalos secured Super All-State First Team and Class 6A First Team honors. Acxel Avalos, Luis Bravo, Jair Camargo and Levi Clardy earned Honorable Mentions.
Briarwood’s Sawyer Felton received spots on the Super All-State Second Team and Class 6A First Team. He was joined by Thomas Lanier who made the Class 6A First Team as well. Cameron Harrington, Gavin Patterson, Ian Robertson and Jake VanDixhorn made the Honorable Mention list.
Indian Springs had three selections to the Super All-State Team including defender Erik Ledvina on the First Team and forward Alex Hage and midfielder Avery Biga on the Second Team. All three made the Class 5A First Team while Forrest Crawford and John Blackstone earned Second Team honors.
Montevallo junior midfielder Alexis Lopez made the Class 5A All-State First Team while junior defender Erik Angel received a Second Team selection. Irving Choto, Christian Diaz and Jan Carlo Velasco secured Honorable Mentions.
Westminster OM had two selections on the Super All-State First Team in senior forward Aiden Gamble as well as junior goalkeeper Sam Carter. State championship MVP Charlie Krulak made the Super All-State Second Team alongside his fellow senior JD Barnes.
All four made the Class 4A First Team and were joined by junior defenders Walter Moore and Rocco Zaccagni.