Brandon Kelley already has accumulated loads of local honors during his outstanding high school career. Now the senior is garnering statewide buzz.
Kelley, a senior forward on the nationally ranked Snohomish High School boys soccer team, has been named the Gatorade 2006-07 Washington State Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Equipped with a potent combination of speed and power, the prolific standout has scored 21 goals this season and leads a 16-1 Snohomish team that is ranked No. 8 in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas poll.
Kelley, The Herald’s 2006 co-All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year, helped propel the Panthers to the Class 4A state championship last season. They continue their quest for back-to-back titles tonight in a first-round state tourney game against Emerald Ridge of Puyallup.
Kelley, a University of San Diego recruit, scored the first goal Thursday in Snohomish’s 3-0 win over Kamiak in the 4A District title game. Operating in tight quarters, he outmaneuvered a defender, controlled a short pass from Brian Ferrin and kicked the ball inside the right post.
Snohomish players and coaches have gotten used to seeing Kelley pull off such spectacular plays.
“Brandon always does that,” Ferrin said. “I always just hit it over (the defense) and Brandon out-muscles them and always gets the goal.”
Kelley has been a prolific scorer his entire career but he continues to improve, Ferrin said: “He’s gotten a lot better. He always (outworks) everyone and gets the ball. It’s really easy to play with him.”
“He’s just big and he’s strong,” Snohomish coach Dan Pingrey said. “As a freshman and sophomore, when he (faced heavy defensive) pressure, he’d flop and get knocked off the ball. Now he just physically says, ‘Stop me if you can.’”
Boise St. lands Walker
A spectacular senior year that already included a third-place finish at Mat Classic got even better for Snohomish wrestler Troy Walker. Walker, who in February took third in Class 4A in the 135-pound weight division at the state wrestling championships, accepted an offer to compete for Boise State University. Walker, who was 34-5 with 13 pins this past season, signed an NCAA national letter of intent in late April.
“It’s gonna be a fun experience,” said the Snohomish team captain, who picked Boise State over Mesa State and Utah Valley State.
Walker, who started wrestling at age 6, has won the past three freestyle state championships and two straight Greco-Roman state championships in his weight and age division.
Aanstad signs with SPU
Lake Stevens senior Brittany Aanstad, the defending Class 4A javelin champion, signed with Seattle Pacific University earlier this month. Aanstad, known for her ability to excel in a wide range of events, will compete in the javelin and the heptathlon for SPU. The heptathlon is a seven-event, two-day discipline that includes the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 dash, long jump, javelin, and 800. “She’s a natural athlete,” Lake Stevens assistant coach Chris Mattingly said of Aanstad, who chose SPU over schools such as Florida, Purdue, Arizona State, WSU and Washington.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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