Twelve St. Michael Soccer Players Receive Post-Season Recognition

Nine St. Michael soccer players were named “All-State” by the Alabama High School Coaches Association for the suspended spring 2020 season.  From the men’s team, Ezra Sexton (FR) and William Edmiston (SR) were named to first team all state, while Jeremy Del Angel (SR), Graham Roh (SO) and Blaine Kenny (SR) were named to second team.  From the women’s team, Sydney Barter (SR), Lane Raley (JR), Tatum Hoffman (8th grade, Christ the King) and Francheska Arellano (7th grade, St. Benedict) were named second team all-state. 

All nine players were also recognized on the all-region teams, in addition to Mary Ford (SR). Anthony Lazzari (SR) was named regional player of the year by the local coaches, a remarkable honor reflecting the respect earned over the course of his career, a he was injured and unable to play this season.  

Dominic Murphy (JR) and Lane Raley rounded out the honors,  recently named as “AHSAA North-South All-Stars.” 

“We’re proud of these student-athletes,” says Paul Knapstein, St. Michael athletic director and head women’s soccer coach. “Our season was progressing well, with the men’s team ranked 5th in the state and the girl’s team ranked 3rd before the season was canceled due to Covid19. We’re sorry it ended this way, particularly for our seniors, but the future looks bright.” 

Of particular note is Tatum Hoffman is one of just five 8th graders of the 302 players named to the men’s and women’s all-state teams, across all classifications. Francheska Arellano is the only 7th grader.  

St. Michael principal Faustin Weber points out the significance of the younger honorees from a systems perspective: “There’s a student from Christ the King and a student from St. Benedict on the all-state team,  and we should add that Ezra  played for us last year as a St. Patrick student and was named all-state this year. Their success underscores the blessings of being a seamless 7-12 program.” 

Weber goes on to say: “I was asked recently by a local reporter, after we named Philip Rivers as our future football coach, whether I thought he would have impact on St. Michael enrollment. I told him 'not that much, really, because we're close to a wait list already.' But I'm excited for what it may do for Christ the King, St. Patrick and St. Benedict. We can take about 90 freshmen each year. If the trending continues, enrolling in one of these three schools  may soon be the only way to get into St. Michael. "