I like the idea of having a coach from each region represent the region at this meeting to ensure that each region at least feels as if their player(s) are represented. If it is offered to a coach in the region and he declines then another should be offered. Before all of these posts I was unsure how the committee was even selected. This is just our second year with a varsity program and previously I was an assistant at Wren so I was not aware of how the process worked, I am now, so thanks for the education. I will not be at the State Championships this weekend but I will be at the meeting this summer.
My concern is obviously for one of my guys that I nominated. Austin Snow had 25 goals and 7 assists and he is a sophomore and was named All Region and Co-Player of the Year in Region 1 2A. He led the region in scoring and points in region matches and also for the season as a whole. I was told by a coach that was present on the committee that he wasn't selected because he was a sophomore and members of the committee felt that AM and BE deserved more players. While there is little doubt that those two schools have VERY strong teams, no one on that committee saw Austin play this year and that is where my concern lies. I sent an email to someone that should have been very familiar with the process prior to the meeting occurring and never received a response. So I had to rely on a piece of paper with stats and accolades listed on it to "vouch" for him.
As far as some of the reasoning that I have read above some of it I feel like is fair and some I disagree with. I don't think that a kid has to play on a team that is ranked inside of the top 10 nor play a statewide schedule. The kids have no control over scheduling. Our schedule wasn't "weak", our opponents had the 7th most wins amongst 2A upstate schools when the playoffs started, of those 6 3 had at least one selection and the other 3 did not. We finished 12-7 so he was not a heart and soul player on a team that finished sub .500.
In the end I felt he was deserving and that is why I nominated him. No use crying over spilt milk at this point because it is what it is. Hopefully he will use this as motivation to keep improving as a player and leave no doubt next year. Again, I appreciate all of the information that has been shared in this thread and hopefully if the process can be improved it will be.
Jeremy McCall
Powdersville High School
