Appeal Tribune
| WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2022 | 1B
SPORTS
Stayton’s Jayden Esparza kicks the ball down the field during the game against Philomath on Sept. 30, 2021 in Stayton. ABIGAIL DOLLINS/STATESMAN JOURNAL
Announcing All-Mid-Valley boys soccer
Pete Martini
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Jayden Esparza has been a driving
force for Stayton his entire career.
The senior is a three-time Oregon
West Conference Player of the Year, and
two-time Class 4A State Player of the
Year.
This season, the forward netted 17
goals and had 11 assists for the Eagles,
and for his effort, he is the Statesman
Journal Boys Soccer Player of the Year.
“Jayden is the most competitive play-
er that Stayton has produced in the last
decade,” Stayton coach Chris Shields
said. “He is a hardworking, dedicated,
and driven athlete who makes others
around him better.”
Stayton went 13-2 overall this season,
including 9-1 in the conference.
The Eagles were the No. 1 seed in the
state playoffs, but were upset 1-0 by On-
tario in the first round.
“This year we fell short of our team
goals, and no one took that harder than
Jayden,” Shields said. “Replacing him
will be impossible, not only on the field,
but what he brought to the program off
the field.”
JAYDEN ESPARZA
School: Stayton
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Awards: First-team all-Oregon West
Conference; previous three-time Ore-
gon West Conference Player of the Year;
previous two-time Class 4A State Player
of the Year.
Statistics: 17 goals and 11 assists
NATHAN MARTINEZ
School: South Salem
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Awards: First-team all-Mountain
Valley Conference
Statistics: Not provided
JULIAN RIVAS DELGADO
School: South Salem
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Awards: First-team all-Mountain
Valley Conference
Statistics: Not provided
BRIAN HERNANDEZ
School: South Salem
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Awards: First-team all-Mountain
See BOYS, Page 2B
Announcing All-Mid-Valley girls soccer
Pete Martini
Salem Statesman Journal
USA TODAY NETWORK
Nicky Williams has been a role model
for her teammates ever since arriving at
Sprague High School.
Girls soccer coach Kevin Plechl knew
she had the potential to be a special
player for the Olympians from the be-
ginning.
“Nicky is an athlete that works and
has high expectations for herself and
her teammates,” Plechl said. “She fin-
ishes near the top in our fitness activ-
ities, works with great intensity to press
the attackers and win the ball back,
works with urgency when in posses-
sion, and encourages her teammates to
do give 100 percent.”
Williams had 13 goals and nine as-
sists this season and was the Mountain
Valley Conference Player of the Year.
For her effort, she is the Statesman
Journal All-Mid-Valley Girls Soccer
Player of the Year.
“Over the years, Nicky has continued
to improve,” Plechl said. “She has put
work in from a younger age and devel-
oping her skills to ping a ball, pass the
ball, dribble the ball with pace at de-
fenders, and consistently beats defend-
er with her one vs. one attacking
moves.”
Sprague finished third in the confer-
ence this season with a 9-4-2 record
overall, and 4-2-1 mark in the MVC.
The Olympians lost to Lakeridge in
the first round of the OSAA Class 6A
state playoffs.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
NICKY WILLIAMS
School: Sprague
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Honors: Mountain Valley Player of
the Year, first-team all-Mountain Valley
Conference.
Statistics: 13 goals, 9 assists
West Salem’s Rylee Loewen (15) passes around Sprague’s Amity Rogers (12) during the match at Sprague High School in
Salem, Oregon on March 1. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL
All-Mid-Valley girls soccer team
AMITY ROGERS
School: Sprague
Year: Sophomore
Position: Forward
Honors: First-team all-Mountain
Valley Conference.
Statistics: 13 goals, 8 assists
NATALIE CUNNINGHAM
School: West Salem
Year: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Honors: Mountain Valley Confer-
ence Goalkeeper of the Year, first-team
all-Mountain Valley Conference.
Statistics: 7 shutouts
LAUREN DUKE
School: West Salem
Year: Junior
Position: Midfielder/forward
Honors: First-team all-Mountain
Valley Conference.
Statistics: 2 goals, 1 assist
VERONICA OROZCO
School: West Salem
Year: Senior
Position: Midfielder/forward
Honors: First-team all-Mountain
Valley Conference.
Statistics: 5 goals, 3 assists
MYA FRY
School: South Salem
Year: Junior
See GIRLS, Page 2B