By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City schools Washburn Rural, Topeka High and Hayden combined to earn 10 of 12 first-team spots on the 2024 All-Centennial League boys soccer team.
Junior Dylan Willingham (19) has been named the Centennial League soccer player of the year after helping lead Washburn Rural to the league title and a third-place finish in Class 6A. [Photo by Rick Peterson Jr./KSHSAA Covered]
Washburn Rural, which won its 30th straight league championship (outright or shared) and finished third in the Class 6A state tournament, put five players on the all-league team, led by junior Dylan Willingham, who was named the Centennial player of the year.
Washburn Rural sophomore Brodye Kocher-Munoz has been named the Centennial League soccer co-newcomer of the year for 2024. [File photo/TSN]
Rural coach Brian Hensyel was named the league coach of the year while sophomore Brodye Kocher-Munoz was selected as the co-newcomer of the year
Willingham is joined on the first team by senior Ryder Nikkel and juniors Liam Morrison, Brandon Hamilton and Draden Chooncharoen.
Centennial League runnerup Topeka High put four players on the all-league first team -- seniors Ian Martinez, Antonio Aguirre and Jaime Alvarado and junior Billy Lutz -- while Hayden is represented by senior Cooper Grace.
Rural's Kocher-Munoz and juniors Drew Moore and Miles Cook received second-team honors along with Topeka High sophomore Carlos Acosta-Martinez.
Eight city players received honorable mention.
Manhattan's Ibrahim Alali and Junction City's Ethan Hileman round out the all-league first team while Junction City's Bruno Puche-Ferre was named the league's co-newcomer of the year.
ALL-CENTENNIAL LEAGUE SOCCER
First team
Cooper Grace, Hayden; Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural; Liam Morrison, Washburn Rural; Brandon Hamilon, Washburn Rural; Draden Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural; Ryder Nikkel, Washburn Rural; Ibrahim Alali, Manhattan; Ian Martinez, Topeka High; Antonio Aguirre, Topeka High; Jaime Alvarado, Topeka High; Ethan Hileman, Junction City; Billy Lutz, Topeka High.
Second team
Carlos Acosta-Martinez, Topeka High; Emilio Aleman, Emporia; Carter Granado, Emporia; Kevin Magana, Emporia; Zach Bender, Junction City; Bruno Puche Ferrer, Junction City; Hendrick Lechuga-Nevarez, Junction City; Brodye Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural; Drew Moore, Washburn Rural; Luke Butler, Junction City; Tanner Lang, Manhattan; Miles Cook, Washburn Rural.
Honorable mention
Emporia -- Brayden Sailer, Braxton Pugh, Thiago Esquivel. Hayden -- Aiden Roberts, Tagen Rodriguez, Preston Meitner. Manhattan -- Advith Natarajan, Vince Doering, Holden Arthuar-Day. Topeka High -- Bruno Nunez, Irvan Aguilar-Soto, Carson Bradney. Washburn Rural -- Matthew Houser, Pierce Cannon.
Player of the Year -- Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural.
Co-Newcomers of the Year -- Bruno Puche-Ferre, Junction City and Brodye Kocher-Munoz, Washburn Rural.
Coach of the Year -- Brian Hensyel, Washburn Rural.
