Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) players Stephanie Devita (Hillcrest High School) and Emmett Lunceford (Irmo High School) were recently announced as recipients of the most prestigious individual high school soccer award available when they were both named as the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year for 2009-2010.
The Gatorade Company established an award honoring America’s elite high school student-athletes in 1985. The Gatorade Player of the Year award has become the most highly prized individual accolade in high school sports. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one award-winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction boys and girls soccer. ESPN RISE, the multimedia high school division of ESPN, in partnership with The Gatorade Company, administers the selection process for the Gatorade State and national Players of the Year. All final decisions are the result of a collaborative effort between ESPN RISE and The Gatorade Company. Recipients are honored for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
Devita (High School Sophomore) and Lunceford (High School Junior) play for the CESA 93 Girls Premier and CESA 92 Boys Premier team respectively. Lunceford and the CESA 92 Boys Premier were the 2009 USYSA Region III Champions and both players will help lead their teams during the upcoming 2010 USYSA Region III Championships to be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana June 17-23, 2010.
The Gatorade Player of the Year Award is unique in that only one player is selected on a yearly basis from the state of South Carolina. Players from all classifications regardless of school size are eligible for selection and with the high quality of players competing within our state at the high school level it is a great accomplishment for both Stephanie and Emmett to be chosen as the best of the best.
CESA is extremely proud of both players. Their soccer ability and dedication is without doubt of the highest caliber. In addition, Stephanie and Emmett have proven to be true student-athletes and have gained the respect and admiration of fellow players, parents and coaches by conducting themselves in a manner that shows that they understand fully the steps that must be taken to ensure that one can be successful both on and off the soccer field.
Soccer is the ultimate team sport and both of our Gatorade Player of the Year award winners has been instrumental in helping to create an environment in both training and matches that has allowed those around them to flourish both individually and collectively. We at CESA are fortunate to have had much success due to the consistent high-level performances that our teams have been able to achieve. I think that in this case our whole club can join together to applaud the individual accomplishments of these two worthy players.
