SEQUIM — Dangerous from close range or long distance, strong on set pieces and courageous on the back line and possessive in midfield, Sequim’s Aidan Henninger and Brandon Wagner captained the Wolves back to the Class 2A boys soccer state tournament.
Their performances earned them the Peninsula Daily News All-Peninsula Boys Soccer Co-MVP award as selected by sports staffers.
Henninger marshaled the Sequim defense, a strong communicator with teammates and an instinctual and athletic talent linking the Wolves’ back line with Sequim’s midfield.
His size and strength aided him in battles for the ball in the air and while jockeying for space in and around the goal.
The four-year varsity letter winner signed to play soccer at Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) in January and was a first-team All-Olympic League pick in May.
Wagner, who committed to play for Jake Hughes and the Peninsula College Pirates this past spring, was a playmaker in midfield for the Wolves all season, notching first-team All-Olympic League honors.
He showcased the ability to score on the run or off rebounds, to find teammates in space and converted on penalty kicks and set pieces.
Hughes has known Wagner and his family for years, having also assisted for the Wolves in years past.
“He is hard working, reliable and has a great willingness to learn,” Hughes said. “Brandon has a number of attributes that I believe will continue his success as a student-athlete. I’m excited to get to continue to work with him, and I’m positive he will have a good experience here at PC.”
Henninger and Wagner worked together for one of the more well-executed goals of the season as Henninger snuck up behind the Port Angeles defense and was perfectly placed to head in Wagner’s corner kick in a 4-0 win over the Riders.
Both players came up clutch in the postseason.
Henninger produced a “thundering header” in the words of Sequim coach Ken Garling to put the Wolves up 1-0 early in a district match with Franklin Pierce. Wagner then blasted a goal from 30 yards out for a 2-0 lead. After the Cardinals made a comeback to secure overtime, Wagner’s deep throw to Javier Gomez led to Gomez’s game-winning-goal with seconds to spare.
Wagner also assisted on Ethan Knight’s goal in the Wolves’ close 2-1 state tournament loss to Burlington-Edison.
2022 All-Peninsula Boys Soccer Team
• MVPs: Aidan Henninger, sr., and Brandon Wagner, sr. Sequim: First-team All-Olympic League selections at defender and midfielder for state tournament-bound Wolves.
• Ethan Knight, sr., Sequim: Forward was a top goal scorer for Wolves.
• Xander Maestas, sr., Port Angeles: Speedy hoops star for PA basketball worked similar magic in his first and only year of varsity soccer. Second-team All-Olympic League pick.
• Dayton Williams, jr., Port Angeles: Riders junior was a first-choice scoring option and a first-team All-Olympic League pick.
• Ethan Bello, sr., Forks: Turned out for soccer for first time and led Spartans in goals. First-team All-Pacific League midfielder.
• Brandon Charters, sr., Sequim: Second-team All-Olympic League choice in midfield excelled at finding his teammates with well-placed passes.
• Rafa Flores, sr., Sequim: A strong contributor in the middle for Wolves.
• Damon Gundersen, sr., Port Angeles: Scrappy midfielder defended well for Riders.
• Tyler Lawson, sr., Sequim: Lawson continued to display his knack for finding himself in the right spot for set piece goals as a senior.
• Connor Scanlon, jr., East Jefferson: Second-team All-Nisqually League selection notched five goals in one game against Cascade Christian
• Arturo Dominguez-Gomez, jr., Forks: Second-team All-Pacific League in midfield for Spartans.
• Micajah Shiflett, sr., East Jefferson: Honorable mention All-Nisqually League for Rivals.
• Juan Pablo Flores Contreras, sr., Forks: First-team All-Pacific League defender led the Spartans’ defense.
• Hector Garcia-Dominguez, sr., Forks: Stepped in as goalkeeper for the Spartans. Second-team All-Pacific League pick.
• Jack Van de Wege, sr., Sequim: Second-team All-Olympic League choice in goal had a number of clean sheets for Wolves.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
Sequim’s Brandon Wagner, right, dribbles upfield during a game against Kingston in April. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
