A couple of players who wore No. 4 have been judged No. 1 in prep soccer this year, heading the 1989 Deseret News All-State Soccer team.
In 4A, Brighton's high-scoring Travis Oviatt helped lead the school to its first state soccer crown. In 3A, Ben Lomond's Scott Ririe didn't quite lead the Scots to the state crown, but he was outstanding as a defenseman to grab the honor over several other deserving players.More than 35 coaches returned ballots this year in helping select the annual honor squad.
"Travis would do whatever was necessary to win," said Brighton Coach Tom Cushing. "He was the best scoring forward in the state (32 goals, nine assists). But when other teams would mark him, he would just dish the ball off to other people.
"He's a hard-working team player with great speed and quickness. And he was very coachable."
Two other Bengal players joined Oviatt on the first team - halfback Bart Barnard and fullback Stuart Bogan. Junior forward Darin Wickens and goalkeeper Chris Kuhn were second-team selections.
Taylorsville forward Robert Karas is a repeat first-team selection in 4A, while Bountiful's Gary Olsen, Viewmont's Shawn Johnson and Clearfield's Steve Evans all moved up from second team to first team.
In 3A, Ririe got the MVP nod, even though his team was one game from making the finals.
"Scott is using his head all the time out there," said Scot Coach Mike Whitney. "He's started for three years and he's a real team player. He's my defense. I hate to see him leave."
Ririe is an excellent athlete, lettering in football, basketball and track, besides soccer. He was a second-team all-state soccer selection last year.
State champion Judge Memorial was just too balanced to merit an MVP selection. Opposing coaches nominated several Bulldog players for all-state, and even Judge Coach Peter Schenk had a difficult time singling out his top players.
Three Bulldog players ended up on the first team - junior sweeper Chad Mellison, junior halfback Jayson Kelker and senior forward Nat Hildebrand. Two Judge halfbacks, Don Westlund and Nathan Semerad were named to the second team.
Jordan, which beat out Judge for the Region 6 title, but fell to the Bulldogs in the finals, also placed three players on the first team - forward Curt Myrick, midfielder Khamp Inthovang and fullback H.F. Van Horn.
Repeaters in 3A were Myrick, Timpview's Hugh Smith, and Provo's Christian Cabrera, who was MVP last year.
First- and second-team selections will receive Deseret News All-State certificates.
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4A Soccer All-State
MVP - Travis Oviatt, Brighton, Sr.
FW - Robert Karas, Taylorsville, Sr. FW - Dave Simon, Woods Cross, Sr.
FW - Gary Olsen, Bountiful, Jr. FW - Todd Bengtzen, Skyline, Jr.
FW - Ben Cahoon, Mountain View, Jr. FW - James Morris, Cottonwood, Sr.
HB - Thomas Skousen, Orem, Sr. FW - Darin Wickens, Brighton, Jr.
HB - Greg Jolley, Mountain View, Sr. HB - Brigham Redd, Davis, Sr.
HB - Bart Barnard, Brighton, Sr. HB - David Bischoff, Weber, Sr.
FB - Steve Evans, Clearfield, Sr. FB - Kevin Fenstermaker, Alta Sr.
FB - Shawn Johnson, Viewmont, Sr. FB - Lance Olson, Woods Cross, Jr.
FB - Jason Smith, Woods Cross, Sr. FB - John Crooks, Hillcrest, Jr.
FB - Stuart Bogan, Brighton, Sr. FB - Jeff Graves, Viewmont, Sr.
GK - Mark Tureson, Clearfield, Sr. GK - Chris Kuhn, Brighton, Sr.
Honorable Mention
Ben Brooks, Springville Justin Nelson, Spanish Fork,
Ben Cowdell, Jordan Tad Neuenswander, Ben Lomond
Karl Czirr, Springville Sisouk Phothavong, Jordan
Preston Hall, Provo David Platt, Murray
Mike Hanks, Pleasant Grove Alex Rosborough, Timpview
Chris Hill, Mountain Crest Billy Shalz, Jordan
Davin Lundquist, Provo Peter Topaz, Judge
Jedd Morley, Carbon Justin Smith, Sky View
George Murphy, Uintah Jared Waugh, Payson