Here are the All-Upstate high school boys soccer teams and player of the year for 2024.
Player of the year
Eddie Merck
Daniel
Sr. | Midfielder
Why chosen: Merck was the heart and soul of a Daniel team that won its third consecutive Class AAA state championship, and he is the back-to-back player of the year on the All-Upstate team.
Merck controlled games in whatever way necessary for Daniel (19-6). He scored 60 points (21 goals and 18 assists). At times, he concentrated on shutdown defense in the middle. Merck, an all-state pick and a North-South all-star, signed with Presbyterian.
Wilfer Bustamante
J.L. Mann
Sr. | Forward
Why chosen: Bustamante led Class AAAAA Upper State finalist J.L. Mann (22-3) in points with 68 and goals with 28. He was picked for the Clash of the Carolinas all-star game.
Luke Manley
Wade Hampton
Sr. | Forward
Why chosen: Manley was the top scorer for region champion and Class AAAAA Upper State runner-up Wade Hampton (16-3-1). He had 40 points and was a Clash of the Carolinas all-star.
Steve Ouattara
Powdersville
Sr. | Forward
Why chosen: Ouattara was the top goal scorer in the Upstate with 30 and had 69 points for a Powdersville team (20-3-1) that went 10-0 in Region 2-AA and reached the Upper State final.
Patrick Kucaba
St. Joseph’s
Sr. | Midfielder
Why chosen: Kucaba was the leading scorer as St. Joseph’s (17-4) won its second straight championship in Class A. He had 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists and made the Clash of the Carolinas all-star team.
Brody Pike
Powdersville
So. | Midfielder
Why chosen: Pike led Powdersville in points with 73 on 25 goals and 23 assists, He scored three goals in an Upper State quarterfinals win against Chapman.
Kanye Ridgill
Riverside
Sr. | Midfielder
Why chosen: Ridgill played a huge role as Riverside (16-5-1) won its fourth consecutive state championship, playing all over the field and sometimes in the back when the Warriors had a lead. He also scored the only goal in the Class AAAA state championship game.
Andres Giraldo
Riverside
Sr. | Defender
Why chosen: Giraldo was a leader of a defense that allowed only one goal in regulation during its last six games of the season. The Clash of Carolinas all-star assisted on the game-winning goal in the state title game on a 30-yard free kick to the net.
Nate Porterfield
J.L. Mann
Sr. | Defender
Why chosen: Porterfield was the defensive leader as J.L. Mann allowed just three goals in eight Region 1-AAAAA games. He is a Clash of Carolinas all-star and signed with Gardner-Webb.
Javien Rambert
Sr. | Powdersville
Defender
Why chosen: Rambert made all-state for his play on a defense that allowed just six goals in going 10-0 in Region 2-AAA. Powdersville allowed three goals in eight games to reach the Upper State final.
Joshua Linebaugh
St. Joseph’s
Jr. | Goalkeeper
Why chosen: Linebaugh recorded five straight shutouts as St. Joseph’s reached the Class A state championship game and beat Christ Church 2-1 in overtime. Region foes had two goals in eight games against Linebaugh.
ALL-UPSTATE BASEBALL TEAM: Greenville subscribers | Spartanburg | Anderson
Second team
Forward: Tavo Bastos, Woodruff, Jr.
Forward: Smith Darby, J.L. Mann, So.
Forward: Eduardo Melgar, Berea, Sr.
Midfielder: Eathan Campuzano, Powdersville, Sr.
Midfielder: Davidson Chou, St. Joseph’s, So.
Midfielder: Nate King, Wade Hampton, Sr.
Midfielder: Sebastian Restrepo, Hillcrest, Sr.
Defender: Ryder Fann, Southside Christian, Sr.
Defender: Payne Hornish, Christ Church, Jr.
Defender: Hunter Williams, Daniel, Jr.
Goalkeeper: Asher Risell, Woodmont, Sr.
Todd Shanesy is an award-winning senior writer who now covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com . Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ .
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Meet the All-Upstate high school boys soccer teams, player of the year for 2024
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