CHICAGO, June 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In its
36th year of honoring the nation's most elite high
school athletes, Gatorade today announced Alyssa Thompson of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, Calif. and Bryce Boneau of Keller High School (Keller, Texas) are the 2020-21 Gatorade
National Soccer Players of the Year. Thompson and Boneau won the
prestigious award for their accomplishments on and off the field,
joining an impressive group of former winners. Past Gatorade
National Girls Soccer Players of the Year have combined for 17 gold
medals and nine National Championships, while past Gatorade
National Boys Soccer Players of the Year have combined for 11
National Championships and 13 MLS first round draft
picks.
A significant feat, Thompson is the second-ever sophomore to
receive the national honor for girls soccer. In overall program
history across all sports, she is only the eighth sophomore to win
a Gatorade National Player of the Year award.
Thompson and Boneau were surprised by their family, coaches and
teammates at their respective schools. Mallory Pugh, Chicago Red Stars and USWNT
forward, and Christian Pulisic,
Chelsea FC and USMNT midfielder, also virtually surprised and
congratulated the newly crowned winners on their incredible
accomplishments. Check out videos of the announcements: Thompson
and Boneau.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic
excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and
exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field,
distinguishes Thompson and Boneau as the nation's best high school
soccer players. A national advisory panel comprised of
sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select our
winners from nearly a million other student-athletes who play
soccer nationwide.
Competition for both the girls and boys national award was
fierce. Thompson topped the list of state winners in girls soccer
who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments,
including five returning state Gatorade Players of the Year, 28
with a GPA of 4.0 and above and 34 with signed Letters of Intent or
verbal commitments to play soccer at Division I
schools/universities. Boneau surpassed the competition among state
winners, which includes 22 with signed Letters of Intent to play
soccer at Division I colleges/universities, 36 who volunteered at
two or more organizations and 16 with a GPA of 4.0 and above.
"Alyssa is the perfect blend of physical ability and mental
mastery of the game," said Sheldon
Shealer, a high school soccer editor for
TopDrawerSoccer.com. "Despite her small stature, she's faster,
smarter, more technical and more determined than players in her age
group. Beyond being a great individual talent, she's also a team
player who helped Harvard-Westlake to a perfect season in what is
arguably the strongest girls soccer region in the nation."
The 5-foot-4 sophomore forward Thompson led the Wolverines to an
18-0 record and both the Southern Section, Division 1 and the SoCal
Division I Regional championships this past season. Thompson scored
48 goals and passed for 14 assists, tallying a hat trick in a 5-0
win over Villa Park High in the sectional title game and four goals
in a 6-1 win over Pacifica High in the
regional final. She is a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-18 Women's
National Team and is ranked as the nation's No. 2 prospect in the
Class of 2023 by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Thompson has donated her own money to No Kid Hungry, an
organization that supports children dealing with food insecurity.
She has also volunteered locally supplying PPE materials to
hospital workers and hygiene kits to local foster children.
Thompson has maintained a 3.52 GPA in the classroom. She has
made a verbal commitment to play soccer on scholarship at
Stanford University beginning in the
fall of 2023.
"For me, Bryce would be in the top echelon of the kids who
played high school this year," says Adrian Solca, executive
director of Solar Soccer Club and the United Soccer Coaches
Association 2019 National Youth Coach of the Year. "His technical
ability is at a high level. His first touch with both feet is very
good, he's very agile, he always knows how to advance the play, he
controls the tempo and he's the kind of guy that makes the team
tick. Either through consistency, or a brilliant pass or an extra
run in front, he adds that surprise element in the offensive third
from the midfield."
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior midfielder Boneau scored 18
goals and passed for 19 assists this past season, leading the
Indians (17-3) to the Conference 6A, Region 1 tournament
semifinals. The Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Year,
Boneau was a Conference 6A First Team All-State selection. He is a
three-time All-District selection despite missing significant time
during both his freshman and junior years because of
injuries.
Boneau has volunteered on behalf of the St. Barnabas Anglican
Church in multiple capacities, including the Children's Ministry.
The president of his school's Play it Forward chapter, through
which he collects and distributes refurbished and reconditioned
sports equipment to underserved youth, he has also donated his time
to the City of Keller, the local
Daddy/Daughter Dance and the Community Storehouse Food Pantry in
Fort Worth.
Boneau has maintained an A average in the classroom. He has
signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at
the University of Notre Dame this
fall.
"For more than 35 years, the Gatorade National Player of Year
award has been given to the most elite student-athletes across the
country, making it the most prestigious award in high school
sports," said Gatorade Senior Vice President and General Manager
Brett O'Brien. "The past year has
been difficult for all high school athletes, but Thompson and Bryce
have persevered and we have no doubt they will have continued
success in sports and beyond."
Each year a selection committee evaluates the nation's top
talent in the District of Columbia
and all 50 states, choosing national winners in 12 different
sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country,
boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls
soccer, and boys and girls track and field.
Gatorade is dedicated to recognizing, supporting and keeping
athletes in the game because of the lifelong skills sports instill
on and off the field. Since the program's inception in 1985,
Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of
professional and college championships, and many have also turned
into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business
owners and educators. Previous winners include a distinguished list
of athletes, such as Peyton Manning,
Abby Wambach, Jayson Tatum, Derek
Jeter, Elena Delle Donne and
many other sports icons.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program,
check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit
playeroftheyear.gatorade.com, on Facebook at
facebook.com/GatoradePOY or follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/Gatorade.
PREVIOUS GATORADE
NATIONAL GIRLS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
|
YEAR
|
NAME
|
HOMETOWN
|
STATUS
|
2019-20
|
Emily
Mason
|
Flemington,
NJ
|
High School
Senior
|
2018-19
|
Sophie
Jones
|
Atherton,
CA
|
Duke
University
|
2017-18
|
Isabella
D'Aquila
|
San Juan Capistrano,
CA
|
Santa Clara
University
|
2016-17
|
Kennedy
Wesley
|
Cerritos,
CA
|
Stanford
University
|
2015-16
|
Ella
Stevens
|
Loganville,
GA
|
Chicago Red
Stars
|
2014-15
|
Mallory
Pugh
|
Highlands Ranch,
CO
|
US Women's National
Soccer Team
|
2013-14
|
Katie
Cousins
|
Forest, VA
|
Played for University
of Tennessee
|
2012-13
|
Morgan
Andrews
|
Milford,
NH
|
Washington
Spirit
|
2011-12
|
Morgan
Andrews
|
Milford,
NH
|
Washington
Spirit
|
2010-11
|
Morgan
Brian
|
St. Simons Island,
GA
|
Chicago Red
Stars
|
2009-10
|
Mollie
Pathman
|
Durham, NC
|
Retired from Boston
Breakers
|
2008-09
|
Rachel
Quon
|
Lake Forest,
IL
|
Retired from Chicago
Red Stars
|
2007-08
|
Teresa
Noyola
|
Palo Alto,
CA
|
Retired from Houston
Dash
|
2006-07
|
Melissa
Henderson
|
Garland,
TX
|
Retired from Houston
Dash
|
2005-06
|
Lauren
Cheney
|
Indianapolis,
IN
|
Retired from US
Women's National Soccer Team
|
2004-05
|
Amy
Rodriguez
|
Rancho Santa
Margarita, CA
|
FC Kansas
City
|
2003-04
|
Ashlyn
Harris
|
Satellite Beach,
FL
|
Orlando
Pride
|
2002-03
|
Heather
O'Reilly
|
East Brunswick,
NJ
|
Retired from US
Women's National Soccer Team
|
2001-02
|
Jill Oakes
|
West Hills,
CA
|
Retired from Chicago
Red Stars
|
2000-01
|
Mary
McDowell
|
Lakewood,
CO
|
Played for the
University of North Carolina
|
1999-00
|
Aleisha
Cramer
|
Lakewood,
CO
|
Retired from US
Women's National Soccer Team
|
1998-99
|
Christie
Welsh
|
Massapequa,
NY
|
Retired from US
Women's National Soccer Team
|
1997-98
|
Aly Wagner
|
San Jose,
CA
|
Retired from US
Women's National Soccer Team
|
PREVIOUS GATORADE
NATIONAL BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
|
YEAR
|
NAME
|
HOMETOWN
|
STATUS
|
2019-20
|
Jony Munoz
|
Olathe, KS
|
University of
Missouri-Kansas City
|
2018-19
|
Omar
Hernandez
|
Dalton, GA
|
Wake Forest
University
|
2017-18
|
Ousseni
Bouda
|
Millbrook,
NY
|
Stanford
University
|
2016-17
|
Umar Farouk
Osman
|
Lakeville,
CT
|
University of
Michigan
|
2015-16
|
Lucas
Mendes
|
Arlington,
VA
|
Al Wakrah
SC
|
2014-15
|
Jack
Harrison
|
Sheffield,
MA
|
Manchester City
organization
|
2013-14
|
Abu
Danladi
|
Los Olivos,
CA
|
Nashville
SC
|
2012-13
|
Cristian
Roldan
|
Pico Rivera,
CA
|
Seattle Sounders
FC
|
2011-12
|
Emmanuel
Boateng
|
Carpinteria,
CA
|
New England
Revolution
|
2010-11
|
Luis
Rendon
|
Midlothian,
VA
|
Played for Duke
University
|
2009-10
|
Soony Saad
|
Dearborn,
MI
|
Al-Wehdat
SC
|
2008-09
|
Dillon
Powers
|
Plano, TX
|
Dundee United
FC
|
2007-08
|
Chris
Agorsor
|
Owings Mills,
MD
|
Retired from Richmond
Kickers
|
2006-07
|
Brayan
Martinez
|
West Orange,
NJ
|
Monterrey
Flash
|
2005-06
|
Eric
Alexander
|
Portage,
MI
|
Retired from FC
Dallas
|
2004-05
|
Lee Nguyen
|
Plano, TX
|
Ho Chi Minh City
FC
|
2003-04
|
Patrick
Phelan
|
Wilbraham,
MA
|
Retired from San
Antonio Scorpions
|
2002-03
|
Greg Dalby
|
Poway, CA
|
Retired from
Charlotte Eagles
|
2001-02
|
Jordan
Harvey
|
Mission Viejo,
CA
|
Los Angeles
FC
|
2000-01
|
Ned
Grabavoy
|
New Lenox,
IL
|
Retired from Portland
Timbers
|
1999-00
|
Alecko
Eskandarian
|
Oradell,
NJ
|
Retired from Los
Angeles Galaxy
|
1998-99
|
Kyle
Martino
|
Westport,
CT
|
Retired from Los
Angeles Galaxy
|
1997-98
|
Nick
Downing
|
Redmond,
WA
|
Retired from
Charlotte Battery
|
1996-97
|
Nick
Garcia
|
Dallas, TX
|
Retired from Toronto
FC
|
1995-96
|
Andrew
Kirk
|
Milwaukee,
WI
|
Retired from Tampa
Bay Mutiny
|
1994-95
|
Pierre
Venditti
|
Milford,
CT
|
Played for University
of Maryland
|
1993-94
|
Andriy
Shapowal
|
Chagrin Falls,
OH
|
Played for University
of Virginia
|
1992-93
|
Mike
Fisher
|
Batavia,
IL
|
Played for University
of Virginia
|
1991-92
|
Matt
McKeon
|
St. Louis,
MO
|
Retired from Kansas
City Wizards
|
1990-91
|
Claudio
Reyna
|
Newark, NJ
|
Retired from New York
Red Bulls
|
1989-90
|
Todd
Haskins
|
Ellicott,
MD
|
Retired from D.C.
United
|
1988-89
|
Chris
Henderson
|
Everett,
WA
|
Retired from New York
Red Bulls
|
1987-88
|
Lyle Yorks
|
Storrs Mansfield,
CT
|
Retired from D.C.
United
|
1986-87
|
John Gwin
|
Boise, ID
|
Played for Duke
University
|
1985-86
|
Kevin
Hundelt
|
Florissant,
MO
|
Retired from St.
Louis Steamers
|
About Gatorade
The Gatorade Company, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), meets
the needs of consumers who participate in Sports and Fitness,
through brands that include Gatorade, Propel, Muscle Milk, Evolve
and Bolt24. The solutions they provide are driven by a deep
understanding of the unique needs and occasions of different types
of sports and fitness. Gatorade, their marquee brand, is
underpinned by more than 50-year history of studying the best
athletes in the world and sports-nutrition research by the Gatorade
Sport Science Institute, allowing it to provide
scientifically-formulated products that meet athletes' needs both
on and off the field. For more information and a full list of
products, please visit www.gatorade.com.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion
times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the
world. PepsiCo generated more than $70
billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary
food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade,
Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product
portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages,
including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail
sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in
Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. "Winning
with Purpose" reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the
marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business
strategy and brands. For more information, visit
www.pepsico.com.
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