By BUTCH HARMON
For the Williamston boys soccer team, it was a season to remember.
While the Williamston girls have made numerous post-season runs and played in state title matches, the Williamston boys had never reached the state title game. In fact, the Hornets had never won a regional title.
Until this season.
Williamston capped off a memorable season by advancing to the Division 3 state title match, where it dropped a 1-0 overtime thriller to Grand Rapids South Christian.
“It was a tremendous run from this group,” Williamston coach Brent Sorg said. “It was neat to see, and it was something special to be a part of. The guys will remember this for a lifetime. It’s a life-long memory.”
The Williamston boys soccer program started in 1989, and this year the Hornets won their fourth district title. The previous three district titles saw the Hornets lose their first-round match in the regional. This season, the Hornets defeated Freeland 3-2 in the first round of the regional, and then in the championship match, the Hornets defeated Frankenmuth 2-0 to win the regional title.
Williamston then continued its post-season run by defeating Elk Rapids 2-1 in overtime in the state semifinals.
“This team made history,” Sorg said. “We won our first regional, we won our first semifinal, and obviously getting to the state finals for the first time. This team raised the bar for Williamston boys’ soccer.”
The Hornets had a number of standouts on this year’s team, led by senior goalkeeper Charlie Coon. Coon earned first-team, all-state honors this season as he recorded nine shutouts.
Senior midfielder Ross Needler also earned first-team, all-state honors while senior midfielder Phil Erickson was named second-team, all-state. Senior defender Ian Blanchard and senior forward Zach Sundin both earned third-team, all-state honors, while junior defender Hunter Lyle was named honorable mention, all-state.
The senior class was key in Williamston’s tournament run, and a total of 12 seniors will be lost from this year’s team. Eight of those seniors started for the Hornets.
“It will be a challenge next year,” Sorg said, “but the guys coming back are looking forward to it. The guys are already talking about what they will be doing in the off-season. We also have a talented freshman class coming up.”