On Sunday, October 22, two Academy of Holy Angels (AHA) athletes were named best in class by the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association. Congratulations to senior attacker Audrey Garton who was named 2023 Class AA Ms. Soccer and to senior defender Everett Hoeppner who was named 2023 Class AA Mr. Soccer!

Audrey Garton, who attended Seward Montessori of Minneapolis Public Schools for middle school, has many individual and team career highlights at AHA, including 2022 Class AA State Champion, three time All-State Selectee, and all-time program leader in goals (69) and total scoring (125 pts).

Dave Marshak, head girls soccer coach, said, "Audrey is a multisport captain and elite prospect who defied those who told her she had to specialize. She turned herself into the best player in the state in her class through sheer hard work and determination. Her dedication to her team and our program are unrivalled, and I have never coached a better athlete."

Audrey will lead the girls team in the State Tournament this week when they face Zimmerman in the quarterfinal game on Thursday, October 26. The team finished the regular season with a record of 17-1-1 and earned the #1 seed at State Tournament. 

Everett Hoeppner, who attended Nativity of Mary School in Bloomington, overcame injuries to achieve great success. James See ’05, head boys soccer coach, shared, “Returning to the StarDome in 2022 after over ten months of grueling rehabilitation following a season-ending injury in 2021's section final, Everett's resilience was on display as he led the Stars in his second year as a captain. While some could say 10+ months on the sidelines is a detriment to one's sporting development, this notion was the complete opposite for Everett. He learned the power of relationships within a group setting, while his blossoming voice within our locker room soon became a difference maker in both 2022 and 2023. Everett's success and accolades were indicative of his character, talents, and high level of humility in his approach to the game. On the field, Everett's steadfast defending habits, proactive leadership, and unwavering commitment between the whistles was a guiding light in our team's 2023 success."

The boys team finished the season with a record of 15-1-2 and were consistently ranked #1 in state all season long. Their only loss came in a well-fought section final game against Hill-Murray. See continued, “Everett led his team to a .777 Goals Against Average (GAA) in 2023, which was the second lowest GAA in Class AA. Everett also added five goals to his name this season and, more importantly, he was a fierce leader, attentive to details, and a genuinely kind and caring character within our team's locker room.” 

This is the second time in school history that both a boy and girl has earned this top recognition. The last time was in 2021, when Carter Hermanson '22 and Cat Duffy-Shaw '22 earned the 2021 distinction. Carolyn Arnebeck, athletic director, added, “I'm so proud of both Audrey and Everett and all that they have accomplished. It's quite extraordinary to have both Mr. Soccer and Ms. Soccer from the same school for the second time in two years! These student athletes are a great representation of the amazing talent that we have within both the girls and boys soccer programs.”