The selection panel for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State boys soccer team is a steady bunch.
One year ago, the group of voters put just three juniors in the Stellar Eleven to go along with eight seniors.
This year, they did not forget those three juniors, who all are repeat choices for 2020. The trio is led by Punahou forward Dominic Gusman, who is this year’s Player of the Year as a mighty offensive threat in the Buffanblu’s run to the Division I state championship
The two other first-team repeat choices are Mililani team-oriented distrbutor and potent weapon Liam McGehee, a midfielder, and Kapolei hard-charging and fast-striking forward Tommy Mascaro-Keahi.
The voters once again were super stingy in allowing underclassmen to the party. There were nine seniors this time to go along with just one junior — Kalani forward Travis Brubaker — and one sophomore — Punahou goalkeeper Cade Matsumoto. Brubaker and Matsumoto are now tasked next year with doing what Gusman, McGehee and Mascaro-Keahi did this year — get back to the head of the state’s soccer class.
>> To read more about the All-State first- and second-team selections and see a full list of honorees in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, CLICK HERE.
Two players from last season’s All-State second team moved up to first team this year — Mililani attacking midfielder Jvon Cunningham and Punahou midfielder Johnnie Dodge.
Even this year’s second team is senior heavy, with nine of the 11 players just about to graduate. Two juniors on the second team — defenders Kyle Foss of Mililani and Rayden Daijo of Punahou — have one more year to make the move up to first team.
Here are some other facts and figures about the 2020 Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State boys soccer selections:
>> Gusman is the first player of the year from Punahou since Duncan McKenna in 2017. Other Buffanblu to take the top honor include Tyler Ohata, Scott Granger, Chris Walker, Nick Love, Makena Carr, Brett Ho, Patrick Boltz and Kawika Lucas.
>> David Trifonovitch is the coach of the year for the fourth time, more than any other ILH coach and trailing only Mililani’s Jeff Yamamoto‘s five for most all-time.
>> Hawaii Prep did not have a first-teamer for the first time in four years.
>> ‘Iolani was shut out of the first team for the first time in four years.
>> Travis Brubaker is the first Kalani junior to make the first team since Toshihiro Kosins in 2016 and the first junior midfielder so honored for the school. The Falcons had first-teamers for successive years (Brison Kim made it last year) for the first time since 2015 and ’16.
>> Kamehameha has not had a first-teamer since 2010.
>> Mascaro-Keahi is the first Kapolei boy to repeat on the Stellar Eleven since Hall of Honor recipient Shandon Hopeau in 2016. The Hurricanes have had at least one representative for six straight years, a program record.
>> McGehee and Cunningham give Mililani two midfielders on the All-State first team for the first time since 2003, when Justin Kim and Chris Castrell both made the Star-Bulletin’s list.
>> Jacob Moore and Dodge give Punahou two midfielders on the All-State first team for the second straight year after Max Moonier and Gusman (named as a midfielder last year) were selected.
>> Treyden Buder-Nakasone is the only defender on this year’s first team for boys soccer (the first time that has ever happened), and helped the Buffanblu get five players on the first team. That is the most for the school in a single year since 2011, when Mountan Mitchell, Scott Granger, Chandler Teruya, Kaimi Fairbairn and Charlie Yamamoto all made it. The one defender on the first team is counter balanced by six on the second-team. Of the 22 players on the Stellar Eleven and the Second Eleven, there are four forwards, nine midfielders, seven defenders and two goalkeepers.
>> Matsumoto is the first Punahou sophomore named the state’s top goalkeeper and he is the first sophomore ‘keeper named tops in state since Josh Adachi of Iolani in 2012.
>> Kai Biegler and John Grover are Waiakea’s first selections to a newspaper’s All-State first team since Zachary Sharrett in 1999.
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