It was an evening of farewells at last night’s LHHS soccer banquet, with coaches, players and parents showing some love for 8 graduating seniors and one departing foreign exchange student. Jonathan Esselin, known to all as Young Swede, is classified as a junior but will head back to his native Sweden when the spring semester ends. (Click here to view a slideshow from the banquet.)

After a successful year as District Champs and Regional Quarterfinalists, awards were in order so head coach Hanes Brindley announced the players named to the 9-5A All District Team. On the first team were: Mason Miller, Reagan Dunk, Murphy Short, Chase Davis, Joel Mendoza, Emmet Kumeh, Myles Osborn and Drew Donica; chosen for second team were: Isaac Garcia, Jonathan Esselin, Luke Stringer and Big Guy Abdoulaye Faly; earning Honorable Mention were Jack Blanton, Carter Bredehoeft and Ben Toler. Emmet Kumhe was the district’s Defensive Player of the Year and Myles Osborn was named District Goalkeeper of the Year. Hanes Brindley was named 9 5A Coach of the Year. Team Defensive MVP was Mason Miller, Team Offensive MVP was Joel Mendoza and Team MVP was Emmet Kumeh.

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When Robbie Daniel played Wildcat soccer in the 1990s, he earned the team’s 110% Award through hard work and determination. After he was killed by a drunk driver, the award was renamed in his honor and a memorial scholarship established. Returning to LH to present the award was two-time winner Preston Osborn, currently a junior at SMU. Preston proved he could keep a secret – judging by the dropped jaws of his parents when his brother, Myles, was called to the stage. Luckily for the Wildcats, third Osborn Wesley will be trying out for next year’s team as a freshman, and the legacy continues. Go Cats!