BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association released its 11-member All-State Dream Team, Miss Soccer 2024 honoree and the Offensive and Defensive Player of The Year in each of the four MHSAA divisions Thursday night.
What a talented group of players that excelled at the high school and club level this year and over the last few years.
Below is a profile of each player honored by the MIHSSCA and announced on the Michigan Soccer Network’s YouTube channel as part of the annual Dream Team Reveal Show for the recently completed 2024 season:
DREAM TEAM PROFILES
SOFIA NEHRO, Ann Arbor Skyline sr. G: One of Michigan top goalkeepers the last four years, Nehro departs as the best goalkeeper in Skyline history. She helped the Eagles record 46 shutouts and post a 59-13-10 record over four years. Skyline’s four-year team goals-against-average is 0.54 where Nehro played over 80 percent of the minutes in net. This year, Nehro’s team outscored the opposition 57-7 with 13 shutouts and 261-44 in her career with the aforementioned 46 clean sheets. This year, she conceded some of her minutes to former Girls Academy player Ainsley Gardner but had a season and career individual goals-against-average of under 0.50. Nehro originally committed to the University of Wisconsin but has since enrolled at the University of Michigan and will try to walk on to the Wolverines roster. During her career, Skyline won two districts and two Southeastern Conference-Red Division titles with two league runner-up finishes. The Eagles also reached the district finals four times with a pair of district titles, one regional title and one Final Four appearance in 2022. Skyline was 15-2-2 this season, won both a league and district title in Division 1 and never fell out of the top-10 of the Division 1 rankings, where the Eagles have been a mainstay for several years. Skyline was ranked No. 2 in the state entering the postseason before succumbing to Salem (1-0) in the regional semifinals.
KENDALL AIKENS, Hudsonville sr. M: A Miss Soccer candidate both as a junior and senior, Aikens was a key part of the school’s best four-year run in school history where the Eagles were a mainstay in the state rankings in Division 1 for four consecutive seasons. The 5-foot-10 attacking midfielder, who carries a 4.06 GPA, helped Hudsonville to a 14-2-2 record this season and a noteworthy 66-7-10 overall record over four years despite playing a high-level schedule. Hudsonville outscored the opposition 60-13 this season with 10 shutouts and outscored the opposition 258-37 with 55 shutouts during her career. The Michigan Rangers standout was a prized recruit for NCAA Division II national powerhouse Grand Valley State University after being courted by numerous NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III programs. She had 17 goals and six assists as a senior for a team that was ranked No. 1 all season before falling in the Division 1 district finals to Caledonia (2-1) in a shootout despite a 28-4 shots advantage. She finished with 62 goals and 34 assists for her career. Aikens was also named this week the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year. She is also an accomplished player on the club circuit playing for the Rangers (formerly Michigan Fire Juniors) and is also a member for several years on the Michigan, Midwest regional and National Olympic Developmental Program team in her age group. She led her high school to three conference championships and one league runner-up in the Ottawa Kent Conference-Red Division where the Eagles were 42-1-5 over four years with the sole loss being a shootout defeat to Grand Haven (1-0) in this year’s OKC-Red tournament semifinals.
AVA LUTKE, Hudsonville Unity Christian jr. M/F: Already considered a top-100 prospect nationally, the Michigan Rangers standout has accomplished more in three years at the high school level than most do in an entire career. The three-time Division 3 All-State First Team honoree was also All-State Dream Team in both 2023 and 2024 and the top-rated player in Division 3. This year, she spent more of her time as an attacking midfielder as compared to a striker the last two seasons, but the versatile standout also excels up top in her natural position at forward. The NCAA Division I Michigan State-commit had 21 goals and 19 assists this season and has 76 goals and 55 assists so far at the prep level and should be the front-runner for Miss Soccer in 2025 after being a candidate already this season. Team-wise, Unity Christian has won three Ottawa Kent Conference-Blue Division league titles, three straight district and regional crowns and played in three D-3 state titles games, losing to Williamston in 2022 and winning in 2023 and 2024. The Crusaders outscored the opposition 110-11 this season with 15 shutouts and posted a 22-1-1 record this season. Overall, Unity’s three-year totals with Lutke in the lineup includes a combined 64-5-4 record, 42 shutouts and a 326-36 scoring edge. She is a three-time All-League, All-District, All-Area, All-Region and All-State First Team player and amongst the all-time greats for Unity Christian, which tied the state record this season with its 12th state title.
KAYLA BAAR, Plainwell sr. F: This four-year varsity veteran and three-year starter ranks amongst the top players in school history and finds her way well into the top 10 in terms of scoring goals in a game, season and career for Plainwell. This year as the focal point of the Plainwell offense, the three-time All-District and All-Wolverine Conference player rang up the scoreboard with 41 goals and six assists. She finished her career with 99 goals and 25 assists for a team that was a staple in the Division 2 top-15 rankings the last four years. Plainwell reached the D-2 Final Four her junior year, lost in the district finals her freshmen and sophomore years and Plainwell was in a loaded district this as a top-five team before bowing out to neighboring Richland-Gull Lake (2-1) in a shootout in the district semifinals. With Baar on the roster, Plainwell outscored the opposition 87-10 with 14 shutouts this year and outscored its opponents 318-44 with 50 shutouts during her stellar career. Baar and the Trojans also went 31-0-0 in Wolverine Conference play over four years and captured league titles all four seasons with undefeated conference records. The Michigan Rangers club product was recruited by numerous colleges at various levels due to her noticeable speed, work ethic and ability to finish and will take her game to NAIA national powerhouse Spring Arbor University in the fall.
RYLEE FELTON, Milford sr. M: Felton only played 1.5 seasons of high school soccer for Milford but made a huge impact for the Mavericks. Milford set multiple school records as of late with Felton playing holding midfield. This season, the Mavericks captured their first league title in 34 years and also captured the school’s first district crown in girls soccer. Milford set a school record for wins (15) and finished 15-4-0 this season before bowing out in the Division 1 regional semifinals to Bloomfield Hills (1-0). She was amongst her team leaders in assists and goals for a team that outscored the opposition 67-10 with a school record 13 shutouts in 19 games. The NCAA Division I University of Cincinnati signee is believed to be the first All-State Dream Team player in program history. Milford also finished third in the Lakes Valley Conference Tournament after winning the regular season crown this spring. Last year, Milford finished second in the regular season LVC standings and finished second in the conference tournament as well. Milford had 11 shutouts in 2023 and outscored the opposition 57-11 before bowing out in the district semifinals to Walled Lake Central. Felton is also an accomplished player at the club level thriving in the Michigan Hawks club system and is part of a unit that will attend the ECNL national championships next week in Seattle.
ALYSAA DAAVETILLA, Hartland sr. M: This four-year starter has helped Hartland land firmly on the map during her tenure and was part of the school’s best four-year run in program history. The Eagles were the 2021 Division 1 state champions and finished as the 2024 Division 1 state runner-up. The school also reached the regional finals in 2022. Daavetilla finished with 12 goals and six assists this season to lead her team and was amongst the team leaders on the offensive end all four years. This year she led Hartland to a 16-4-3 record, the school’s first KLAA-West Division title, a league tournament runner-up finish, and both district and regional titles. She will take her talents to NCAA Division II Northern Michigan University. She had 25 goals and 19 assists playing either a holding or attacking midfielder during her career and is just the third All-State Dream Team player in Hartland history.
CLAIRE HAMMILL, Salem sr. M: One of several high-level club players to come out and play one year of high school soccer this spring, Hammill was near-brilliant in helping the Rocks win their first Division 1 district title since 1998 and win their first regional crown and reach the Final Four for the first time since 1995. The holding midfielder took a majority of her team’s set pieces and finished with 12 goals and 11 assists. Hammill earned All-KLAA, All-District, All-Region, All-Area, Division 1 All-State First Team and All-State Dream Team in her first and only high school campaign. Salem finished the year 15-6-5 with a loaded schedule, placed fourth in the KLAA-West Division at 6-3-5, recorded eight clean sheets and outscored the opposition 55-24. The road ended in the state semifinals loss to Rochester Adams (2-1). Hammill is also a six-time All-State swimmer with the Rocks and has played with the Michigan Hawks club team since the sixth grade. She is signed to play in the Big Ten Conference for NCAA Division I Rutgers University and is currently headed to the ECNL National tournament for the U-19 level with the Hawks. Hammill is also a member of the Flint City AFC side in the USL-W League this summer.
SYDNEY ‘SYD’ RYAN, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central sr. M: After playing solely for two years with Midwest United on the ECNL club circuit, the two-year prep standout has helped Forest Hills Central win back-to-back district titles in Division 2 and keep the school’s footprint in the Division 2 top-15 rankings. The NCAA Division II Grand Valley State signee will be part of a stellar incoming freshmen class with the Lakers in August but not before she made an impact with the Rangers the past two years. This year, Ryan helped her team finish 16-6-1, third in the OKC-White Division and district champs as one of the team leaders in assists and goals but also generated quite a few ‘hockey assists” as the fuel to the fire in Forest Hills Central’s powerful engine. She earned All-OKC-White Division, All-District, All-Area, All-Region, All-State First Team and All-State Dream Team as a senior this year. Ryan was All-State Third Team as a junior.
GABRIELLE ANULARE, New Baltimore Anchor Bay sr. M: Anulare will take her talents to NCAA Division I University of Toledo but not before a stellar four-year prep career with Anchor Bay. Playing either holding midfielder or attacking midfielder, Anchor Bay won four straight Division 1 district titles in her career and reached the regional finals in 2023 when she was a junior and during her freshman campaign in 2021. The No. 1-rated player at the district and regional levels, Anulare was also a two-time All-Macomb Area Conference-Red Division selection and a four-time All-District honoree. A two-time All-Region and All-State First Team selection, Anulare is as accomplished of a player to come out of Anchor Bay in program history. She was amongst the top five on her team in goals, assists and points all four years and helped the Tars collect a 47-19-15 overall record in four seasons. She had four goals and 11 assists as a senior in helping Anchor Bay reach the regional semifinals before falling to eventual D-1 state champion Rochester Adams (3-2). Anulare and her teammates were also knocked out of the postseason in 2023 by eventual state champion Rochester Stoney Creek as well. Anulare also played for Liverpool FC in the ECNL club circuit the last few years.
AVA STEEN, Hudsonville Unity Christian soph. D: The sophomore center back stepped into a starting and more prominent role this year and was a key part of her team’s Division 3 state championship run after being the first defensive sub off the bench in 2023 on a senior-laden team. This year, Steen was just one of eight returning letterwinners at Unity Christian but helped the Crusaders go 21-1-2 overall, win the OKC-Blue Division crown, tie for the league tournament title with D-2 state champion Spring Lake, and go on another run in the postseason where Unity did not allow a goal in the state tournament for two consecutive seasons. Unity Christian was a combined 43-2-3 the last two years with 31 shutouts, won two league, district, regional and state titles, posted a 110-11 scoring edge with 15 shutouts this season and a 113-8 scoring edge with 16 shutouts last year. The Crusaders also own 12 straight shutouts in the postseason. Steen still has two more years of high school and club soccer but will likely be a high-level college recruit in the future.
AVERY NAM, Saline sr. M: Another one-year wonder on the high school circuit, Nam is one of several Michigan-based players that grew up in the Michigan Hawks club program but worked it out to be able to play one season of high school soccer. She only scored six goals with 12 assists but had numerous “hockey assists” for a team that finished 14-2-3, finished second in a loaded Southeastern Conference-Red Division behind Ann Arbor Skyline and also reached the district finals before a 1-0 defeat to Skyline ended the Hornets season. Saline outscored its opponents 93-12 this season with 10 shutouts and Nam was the engine in the midfield fueling that stellar attack. Nam has signed with NCAA Division I University of Richmond and was named All-State Dream Team, Division 1 All-State First Team, All-District, All-Region, All-SEC-Red Division and All-Ann Arbor Area this spring in her only season with Saline.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
DIVISION 1: SHAY NORDEN, Muskegon Mona Shores sr. F: Called up to varsity midway through her freshman year, Norden was an impact player to say the least during her fine career with the Sailors. She helped Mona Shores win four Ottawa Kent Conference-Green Division titles and become a team that was ranked in the top 15 in Division 1 or listed as honorable mention for the better part of four seasons, including all of the 2024 campaign in the top 15. She originally was recruited by NCAA Division I and Division II schools and committed to a D-II college in Florida before recently switching over to NCAA Division III Calvin University, a top 25 team in the nation several times in the last decade. This season, Norden rang up the scoreboard for 26 goals and 11 assists to earn All-State First Team and D-1 Offensive Player of the Year honors. She was also All-State Third Team as a sophomore and a three-time All-League and All-District performer. She finishes her career with 73 goals and 14 assists and is just the second female player to earn All-State First Team in program history.
KAYLA BAAR, Plainwell sr. F: This four-year varsity veteran and three-year starter ranks amongst the top players in school history and finds her way well into the top 10 in terms of scoring goals in a game, season and career for Plainwell. This year as the focal point of the Plainwell offense, the three-time All-District and All-Wolverine Conference player rang up the scoreboard with 41 goals and six assists. She finished her career with 99 goals and 25 assists for a team that was a staple in the Division 2 top-15 rankings the last four years. Plainwell reached the D-2 Final Four her junior year, lost in the district finals her freshmen and sophomore years and Plainwell was in a loaded district this as a top-five team before bowing out to neighboring Richland-Gull Lake (2-1) in a shootout in the district semifinals. With Baar on the roster, Plainwell outscored the opposition 87-10 with 14 shutouts this year and outscored its opponents 318-44 with 50 shutouts during her stellar career. Baar and the Trojans also went 31-0-0 in Wolverine Conference play over four years and captured league titles all four seasons with undefeated conference records. The Michigan Rangers club product was recruited by numerous colleges at various levels due to her noticeable speed, work ethic and ability to finish and will take her game to NAIA national powerhouse Spring Arbor University in the fall.
AVA LUTKE, Hudsonville Unity Christian jr. M/F: Already considered a top-100 prospect nationally, the Michigan Rangers standout has accomplished more in three years at the high school level than most do in an entire career. The three-time Division 3 All-State First Team honoree was also All-State Dream Team in both 2023 and 2024 and the top-rated player in Division 3. This year, she spent more of her time as an attacking midfielder as compared to a striker the last two seasons, but the versatile standout also excels up top in her natural position at forward. The NCAA Division I Michigan State-commit had 21 goals and 19 assists this season and has 76 goals and 55 assists so far at the prep level and should be the front-runner for Miss Soccer in 2025 after being a candidate already this season. Team-wise, Unity Christian has won three Ottawa Kent Conference-Blue Division league titles, three straight district and regional crowns and played in three D-3 state titles games, losing to Williamston in 2022 and winning in 2023 and 2024. The Crusaders outscored the opposition 110-11 this season with 15 shutouts and posted a 22-2-1 record this season. Overall, Unity’s three-year totals with Lutke in the lineup includes a combined 64-5-4 record, 42 shutouts and a 326-36 scoring edge. She is a three-time All-League, All-District, All-Area, All-Region and All-State player and amongst the all-time greats for Unity Christian, which tied the state record this season with its 12th state title.
DIVISION 4: KATE CREIGHTON, Plymouth Christian sr. M/F: One of the top Division 4 players the last few years, Creighton graduates with a four-year total of 99 goals and 83 assists playing forward or attacking midfielder. This season alone, Creighton moved back to the attacking center midfielder position and still collected 23 goals and 24 assists to become the Division 4 Offensive Player of the Year. She was All-State First Team three times after earning All-State Third Team honors as a freshman. Her Plymouth Christian team captured three district championships during her run, won three Michigan Independent Athletic Conference championships with one league runner up finish, and reached the regional finals once (2022) and the regional semifinals two other times. Plymouth Christian outscored the opposition 80-15 with 12 shutouts during her senior campaign and finished 13-5-3 overall and 7-0-1 in the league. Her teams posted a four-year total of 52-23-4 overall, including 25-2-1 in league play, and outscored the opposition 291-107 with 33 shutouts during her stellar career. Although she did not play club soccer the last three years, she was also All-State three times in girls volleyball for a top-10 powerhouse team which reached the D-4 state quarterfinals last fall. Creighton is also a serious nutritionist and an avid distance runner, running road races and even half marathons in her spare time. She will compete in soccer at the NCAA Division III level at Wheaton College in suburban Chicago, Illinois, after being recruited by numerous schools for both volleyball and soccer.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
DIVISION 1: MIA HESLEY, Portage Central sr. D: Hesley departs Portage Central as one of the school’s all-time best defenders on the pitch. The two-time All-State player earned Division 1 All-State First Team and Division 1 Defensive Player of the Year honors this year after leading the Mustangs to a 15-3-1 overall record and both the regular season and conference tournament championship in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference this season. She anchored a back line that recorded 12 shutouts this season and outscored the opposition 62-8 with a team goals-against-average of 0.43 this spring. The four-year varsity veteran and three-year starter helped Portage Central record 51 shutouts over the last four seasons, while posting a combined 64-14-5 record, including 29-4-3 against SMAC competition where the Mustangs finished either first or second in the regular season standings and conference tournament each year. That total includes two regular season conference championships and two runners-up to go along with back-to-back SMAC conference tournament titles after finishing second during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Hesley’s team outscored the opposition 264-44 over four seasons, won four straight Division 1 district titles, reached the regional finals three times and the regional semifinals one time. The Mustangs also reached the Division 1 Final Four in 2022 when her team recorded a school record 19 clean sheets. She will play collegiately at NCAA Divion III Hope College, a top-25 team nationally last year.
DIVISION 2: TESSA GROOTERS, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central jr. D: After not playing high school soccer her freshman year, Grooters was sterling in the backfield the past two seasons for the Rangers and earned All-State First Team and Division 2 Defensive Player of the Year accolades for Forest Hills Central. This year, she helped the Rangers finish 16-6-1 with a 7-3-0 record in the Ottawa Kent Conference-White Division with 13 shutouts and a 64-21 scoring edge where she took most of her team’s set pieces this season. She also helped FHC’s defense overcome some injury issues to other key players this season where the Rangers reached the regional finals and contributed 13 assists this season. Last year, Grooters was a part of eight clean sheets and a 65-25 scoring edge that included a district title, a 12-6-3 record and a runner-up finish in the Ottawa Kent Conference-White Division at 7-2-1. She is already being courted by NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II schools around the Midwest with one more year to go on the club and high school circuits. Her Midwest United club team also qualified for the ECNL national championships next week.
DIVISION 3: GRACE CAMERON, Flint Powers Catholic sr. D: A rare breed of a defensive-minded player, Carmeron was named Division 3 All-State First Team all four years as one of the state’s top center backs during her career. Headed to NCAA Division I Central Michigan University in the fall, Cameron, who also played club ball with the Michigan Hawks-Magic team in her age group, helped the Division 3 Chargers navigate a schedule of mostly Division 1 and Division 2 opponents. Cameron helped Powers Catholic win four straight district titles and finish in the top four of the Saginaw Valley League all four years. The SVL Conference MVP as a senior, Cameron got more involved in the offense her junior and senior years as a center back and took most of her team’s set pieces before finishing with 43 goals and 47 assists for her career. She provided 13 goals and 17 assists as a senior. Powers Catholic reached the Final Four in 2023 and regional finals and both 2022 and 2024. Cameron anchored the back line for a team that finished 16-5-2 overall this season and third in the SVL, and helped her team outscore the opposition 49-15 with 11 shutouts this season. Overall, Powers Catholic was 55-18-13 over four years with 40 clean sheets and outscored its opposition 247-73 in that four-year span. Cameron was also a Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year finalist this season and also earned Genesee County Kiwanis Athlete of the Year in 2024 to wrap up her stellar prep career.
DIVISION 4: KATHLEEN DOANE, Jackson Lumen Christi jr. CB: Doane was a key cog of Lumen Christi’s grand turnaround season where the Titans were at one time 5-7-0 overall in early May before righting the ship and making a run to the school’s first Division 4 state championship and first appearance in the state finals in 24 years. The Michigan Jaguars E-64 standout helped Lumen Christi go on a 7-0 run in the postseason where the Titans outscored the opposition 24-2 with five shutouts that ended with a 2-1 shootout victory over longtime state powerhouse and defending state champion Kalamazoo Christian. That was the fourth straight game Doane’s side defeated a top-10 team while the Titans also ousted another team that was listed as honorable mention in the rankings in the district finals as well. Overall, Doane anchored a young backline that allowed 34 goals this season with the Titans making the switch from the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference over to a much deeper Catholic High School League-AA Division where they finished seventh. Her team also recorded nine shutouts this season and five in the postseason while recording nine straight wins to close the season. Lumen Christi finished 10-2-0 over the final 12 contests. Doane has already committed to NCAA Division I University of North Carolina-Ashville with one more prep and club season to go. Doane is a two-time All-State player and earned All-State First Team and Division 4 Defensive Player of the Year as well as being All-CHSL, All-District, All-Region, Jackson All-Area and Jackson Area Player of the Year in that region of the state.
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
