Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Over the past several years the Your Prep Sports area has been home to some of the best soccer teams and top individual players in the state.

City High, West High and Regina all reached the state tournament last season with Regina claiming its second straight Class 1A title and seventh in the past 10 years.

This year figures to be more of the same with area teams loaded with individual talent and high expectations.

The ultimate goal for every area team is a spot at the state tournament that runs from May 30 to June 1 at Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines.

Before the season gets rolling here are five area players to make sure to pay attention to this season.

Gada Ambo

Senior, West High

One of the most dynamic players in the state Ambo led West High with 19 goals and seven assists last season while helping the Trojans to a spot in the Class 3A state semifinals.

Ambo was the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division player of the year and a first-team all-state pick by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association last season after ranking seventh in 3A in goals.

The speedy forward scored goals in 14 of the final 19 matches of the season.

Adam Englebrecht

Junior, City High

A first-team Mississippi Valley Conference all-division pick as a defender as a sophomore Englebrecht will take a bigger role for the Little Hawks this season.

Englebrecht had two goals and three assists last season for a City High team that advanced to the Class 3A state tournament but was most valuable on defense where he helped the Little Hawks hold opponents to 13 goals.

Expect Englebrecht to use her versatile skill set to become more of an offensive threat this season.

Alec Wick

Sophomore, Regina

In his first season of varsity action Wick wasted little time establishing himself as one of the top players in Class 1A.

Wick earned first-team all-state honors as a freshman ranking second on the team with 15 goals and adding three assists to lead Regina to its second consecutive 1A state title.

In his first state tournament appearance Wick took full advantage of his time on the state’s biggest stage scoring four of seven goals for Regina at state tournament while being named to the Class 1A all-tournament team.

Jorel Justus

Senior, Solon

After scoring seven goals in his first two varsity seasons combined Justus emerged as one of the most prolific scorers in the state last season ranking fifth in Class 1A with 23 goals.

A first-team all-state pick, Justus had a team-high 12 assists to go with his 23 goals helping solon to a 15-5 record and regional final.

Ayi Ajavon

Junior, Liberty High 

The first season in Liberty High history was a success and the play of Ajavon was one of the biggest reasons why.

A speedy forward, Ajavon ranked in the top eight in Class 2A in both goals and assists while helping Liberty High to a 10-7 mark in its debut season.

Ajavon ranked eighth in 2A with 19 goals to go with a team-high 13 goals which tied for fifth in 2A while earning honorable mention all-state honors.

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