Athens’ Brannon is 28th recipient of Miss Soccer award
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — In its storied 30-year history, the Troy Athens soccer program has earned much respect and dozens of noteworthy accolades.
It continued Sunday afternoon with another right honor.
The Red Hawks and retiring coach Tim Storch learned that senior midfielder Olivia Brannon was named the recipient of the 28th annual Miss Soccer Award, given to the state’s top soccer player, as selected by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association
Brannon is the Red Hawks’ fourth female player at Athens to win the award and sixth overall including Mr. Soccer award winners. Tiffany Laskowski (2001), Stephanie Lusiner (1994), Cindy Wass (1986), Mark Noffert (1984) and Mary Hagan (1981) have also been honored. The four Miss Soccer awards winners at Athens are more than any other school.
Livonia Stevenson and Plymouth Canton have had three years each where they produced the Miss Soccer honoree. Hudsonville Unity Christian, Birmingham Seaholm, Novi and Portage Central have had the Miss Soccer in two years apiece.
This past season, Brannon led the Red Hawks, ranked third entering the postseason, to a stellar 19-3-0 record that included the OAA Red Division championship (9-1-0) and a district title. Athens lost to second-ranked Utica Eisenhower, 3-2, in the Division 1 regional semifinals.
Brannon, a defender in the Novi Jaguars club season, finished the year with 16 goals and eight assists for 40 points. She also was honored as the 2011 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year last month and signed with the University of Virginia. She is a starter on the Olympic Developmental Program U-18 National Team.
Brannon also earned All-State Dream Team, given to the state’s top 10 field players and goalkeeper, as well as All-State First Team Division 1, All-Region, All-District and All-OAA Red Division.
“Olivia is a special player and person,” said Storch, who is retiring from teaching and coaching at Athens where he has been an icon since 1981. “She’s one of the best we’ve had at Athens and very deserving of this award. She loves the game of soccer.
“The one thing about Olivia is she puts her team first. She cared more about leading our team than awards,” said Storch.”We’ve had quite of few players win Miss Soccer and Mr. Soccer and Olivia ranks right up there with them. She plays for our (U-18) national team and has had an incredible career so far.”
OTHER WINNERS
2011: Olivia Brannon Troy Athens
2010 Anne Steinlage Spring Lake
2009 Paige Webster Portage Central
2008: Laura Hayboer Hudsonville Unity Christian
2007: Emily Esbrook Novi
2006: Laura Hayboer Hudssonville Unity Christian
2005: Kristi Timar Novi
2004: Meghan Garrity Birmingham Marian
2003: Megan Pipkens Holt
2002: Lindsay Tarpley Portage Central
2001: Tiffany Laskowski Troy Athens
Anne Morrell Plymouth Canton
2000: Anne Morrell Plymouth Canton
1999: Andrea Sied Livonia Stevenson
1998: Allison Campbell Livonia Stevenson
1997: Sara Kloosterman Farmington Harrison
1996: Amber Berendowski Brighton
1995: Heather Brown Birmingham Seaholm
1994: Stephanie Lusiner Troy Athens
1993: Carrie Povolaitis Troy
1992: Kara Nance Rochester Adams
1991: Regen Coyen Livonia Stevenson
1990: Carrie Maier Farmington
1989: Jenny Russell Plymouth Canton
1988: Kelly Davis Livonia Churchill
1987: Jill Estey Plymouth Salem
1986: Cindy Wass Troy Athens
1985: Annette Ruggiero Farmington Hills Mercy
1984: Katie Andrea Birmingham Seaholm
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Troy Athens
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