Samuel Agyei
Cascade | forward
Agyei was a first-team All-Western Conference 4A South choice in 2014, and he seems destined for similar success this season. He is, said Bruins coach Sam Croft, “one of the better strikers in the league.” Agyei has the ability “to take on multiple defenders with a lot of confidence and then to make the right decision when he has the ball,” Croft went on. “He’ll be up top as one of our major playmakers on offense, not a doubt, and we’re looking for him to continue what he started last year.”
Gus Baxter
Snohomish | defender
Baxter was a big part of Snohomish’s run to the 2014 Class 4A state championship. A first-team All-Wesco 4A North selection a year ago, he is “a kid that’s just been coming into his own,” said Panthers coach Dan Pingrey. “He’s a guy that’s really going to keep getting better over the next four or five years. … He’s always had a good technical body, and now he’s growing into his body.”
Brady Henderson
Archbishop Murphy | midfielder
A member of Everett’s esteemed Henderson soccer family (grandfather Dick Henderson, dad Pat Henderson and uncle Chris Henderson), Brady Henderson is one of the area’s top players. “Everybody knows who he is,” said Archbishop Murphy coach Mike Bartley. “He’s well known as a very good player by all the kids (on opposing teams).” Henderson will be more of an attacking midfielder this season, Hartley said, “and it’s going to fall on him to try to push the team forward, create opportunities, score goals and win games.”
Silvan Katynskiy
Mariner |goalkeeper
An outstanding student (3.88 GPA) and equally strong athlete, Katynskiy has enough soccer skills that “we’re going to play him a little bit on defense this season,” said Marauders coach Vince DeSimone. “He’s a pretty good defender.” But Katynskiy was one of two All-Wesco 4A South first-team goalies last season and at that position “he is special,” DeSimone said. “He’s very serious and positive, but when he has to get a little bit rowdy he does a pretty good job of that, too.”
Sebastian Navarro
Marysville Pilchuck|midfielder
A first-team All-Wesco 3A North pick last season, Navarro is a “dynamic” player, according to Tomahawks coach Paul Bartley. “He can control the ball really well in the midfield, and he makes other players better because they know he’s going to distribute the ball to them,” Bartley said. “He has a really well-rounded game as far as playing on offense and defense.” Navarro expects to play college soccer next season, “and he has several schools talking to him at this time,” Bartley added.
Griffin Small
Edmonds-Woodway |goalkeeper
A four-year starter for the Warriors, Small was one of two first-team All-Wesco 4A South goalies a year ago. With his experience and skill, “he totally controls the goal box,” said Edmonds-Woodway coach Tony Gilman. “He will clean up everything that comes in there. He’s an excellent player.” Small, who will play next season at St. Martin’s University, is “very good at taking care of balls out of the air and he has very good range side to side,” Gilman said.
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