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Cunningham, Stanko earn Dream Team status

Dan Stickradt | December 1, 2010 | Comments (2)

TOPS: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian ends his high school soccer career by earning a spot on the All-State Dream Team. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Sean Cunningham and Caleb Stanko entered the 2010 boys soccer season as two of the state’s best. The Oakland county duo were acknowledged for just that recently by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Both were named to the 11-member All-State Dream Team by the MHSSCA earlier this month to cap their respective high school careers. The Dream team annually lists 10 field players and one goalkeeper from around the state that had exceptional high school seasons.

Cunningham, a senior midfielder/defenseman from Troy, was named to the Dream Team for the second straight year. It was the first Dream Team honor for Stanko, a senior midfielder/forward from Auburn Hills Oakland Christian. His older brother, Jake Stanko, made the Dream Team in 2008 when the Lancers won the state championship in Division 4.

Dzenan Catic of East Kentwood was named the 35^th recipient of the Mr. Soccer award, given annually to the state’s top player. Catic, a midfielder, helped lead East Kentwood to three state titles in four years, including the crown this season.

Catic, Stanko and Cunningham were part of the Dream Team squad that also included Grand Rapids Northview senior midfielder T.J. VanSlooten, East Kentwood senior forward Nermin Crnkic, North Farmington senior midfielder Eric Weberman, East Kentwood senior midfielder Tarwo Konbloa, Grand Blanc junior defenseman Zach Carroll, Sterling Heights Stevenson junior midfielder Jerome Cristobal, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central junior forward Jason Stacy and Grand Blanc senior goalkeeper Tyler Yahcik.

There were a total of 23 players from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area that were named to the all-state teams in one of the state’s four divisions this season.

Cunningham was voted to the Division 1 First Team, along with Lake Orion’s Blake Skimeria and Clarkston’s Jarrett Kersten.

On the D-1 Second Team, Rochester Stoney Creek’s Aaron Hedben, Rochester Adams’ Dylan Knott and Troy’s Matt Smolinski all made the cut.

Justin Kane of Adams made the D-1 Third Team, while on the D-1 Honorable Mention list are Lake Orion’s Jacob Sims and Jesus Ginez, Adams’ Matt Szilard, Stoney Creek’s Nick Sobczynski and Ryan Finstad and Troy Athens’ Alec Bezerra.

Auburn Hills Avondale was the NOS area’s sole Division 2 school, and the Yellowjackets landed three on the all-state tally. Ryan Williams making the second team, and both Nate Chapman and Tyler Koontz were honorable mention.

In Division 4, Stanko and Oakland Christian teammate Drew Perrin both made the first team list. The Lancers were the No. 1ranked team in the state the whole season until being upset in the regional semifinals.

Oakland Christian had four players earn honorable mention status, with Louis Tillesen Dylan Anderson, Felix Siekmann and Ben Lashar making the list.

Joe Heins of Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest also made the honorable mention list, becoming only the Crusaders’ second all-state player in 12 years.

MR. SOCCER LIST

2010: Dzenan Catic East Kentwood

2009: Soony Saad Dearborn

2008: Kevin Cope Plymouth Salem

2007: Casey Townsend Traverse City West

2006: Casey Townsend Traverse City West

2005: Eric Alexander Portage Central

2004: Jake Stacy Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central

2003: Billy Weaver Lake Orion

2002: Simon Omekanda Rochester Adams

2001: Ryan Alexander Detroit Jesuit

2000: JD Johnston Portage Northern