PORT ANGELES — Both Cale Rodriguez and Kanyon Anderson, the Peninsula College men and women’s soccer coaches were named by the Northwest Athletic Conference as the North-East Region coaches of the year.
Meanwhile, Cesar Gervacio for the Pirate men was named the North-East Region Most Valuable player.
Anderson is leading his women’s team into the NWAC Final Four this weekend. Cale Rodriguez led his team to a North Division title.
In addition to the coaches, a total of 14 women and 11 men earned NWAC academic and athletic awards.
The Pirate women placed seven players on the North-East Region All-Star Team, while nine players earned NWAC Academic Excellence honors and three more were named All-Region.
The All-Star list includes Hoku Afong, Audrey Barham, Kameryn Jury-Hale, Akari Hoshino, Ellie Small, Kennady Whitehead and Coby Yoshimura.
Should the Pirates win Friday’s semifinal, those seven players will not play in the NWAC Women’s All-Star Game, set for 10 a.m. on Sunday at Starfire Stadium. They would, of course, play that same day in the championship match at 2:30.
Academic honors, an award only available to sophomores, went to Barham, Malia Henderson, Elizabeth Hornsey, Ellie Small, Bri Vallente, Cicely Warnick, Kennady Whitehead, Coby Yoshimura, and Bailie Zuber.
In addition, Zuber, Cierra Hamilton and Sydney Warren were named to the North Region All-Conference Team.
Anderson’s Coach of the Year honor marks the fourth time in his seven years as head women’s soccer coach that he received that recognition.
“This team has been dedicated to the team first concept,” Anderson said. “The players on the all-star list are deserving and are great players, but they don’t put the individual accolades above the team.”
For the men, as region champions, Peninsula was allowed eight nominations for the All-Star Team and the other five coaches in the North voted all eight onto the All-Star Team. They will play in the NWAC Men’s All-Star Game at noon, Sunday, at Starfire Stadium and coach Rodriguez, a second-year coach who won his first NWAC Region Coach of the Year award, will coach them.
That list includes Gervacio, Peninsula’s leading scorer, who won MVP honors. He will be joined by Juan Carrillo, Marlon Nava, Jason Ramos, Jose Soto, Demar Stewart and Salvador Vargas.
Soto also will be honored with an NWAC Academic Excellence award.
Finally, Alex Ramos, Miguel Valderrama and Joey Hollimon were named North Region All-Conference.
“It is a tremendous honor to have eight players selected to the All-Star team,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a true testament to the season that this team has had this year, and their body of work. All eight players had terrific seasons, yet there are truly several other players who are just as deserving.”
Rodriguez also appreciated his recognition as Coach of the Year.
“I am blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to work with talented and dedicated players every single day. They deserve all the credit. I can’t thank them enough for trusting in me,” he said.
