A record-tying performance and two deep playoff runs headlined this year's Coastal Alabama girls soccer honors, as standout athletes and coaches from across Baldwin County were recognized for their …
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A record-tying performance and two deep playoff runs headlined this year's Coastal Alabama girls soccer honors, as standout athletes and coaches from across Baldwin County were recognized for their achievements in the 2024 season.
Per a news release, Spanish Fort senior Basia Czarkowska earned Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Female Player of the Year for the second straight year after leading the Lady Toros to the Class 6A Final Four. The midfielder racked up 33 goals and 39 assists, finishing her high school career with 115 assists — matching the all-time state record in Alabama.
"A dynamic leader on and off the field, Senior Captain Basia Czarkowska has capped off a remarkable high school career by leading her team to the State Semifinals," Spanish Fort coach Roger Givens said in the release. "Her excellence extends beyond athletics. Basia is a Merit Scholarship winner and a recipient of the prestigious Bryant-Jordan Scholarship, recognizing her academic achievement, leadership, and character. I couldn't be more proud to have been her coach."
St. Michael Catholic's Abigail Smeraglia earned top honors in the Small School (1A-5A) division. The eighth-grade midfielder notched 30 goals and 11 assists, including a hat trick in the Class 5A semifinal and a goal in the state championship match, helping the Lady Cardinals on a standout playoff run.
"Abigail Smeraglia is the kind of player every coach hopes for — talented, driven and committed," St. Michael coach Brian Daughtery said. "Her work ethic and passion for the game help set the standard for our team at St. Michael Catholic."
On the sidelines, Daphne's Abram Chamberlain named Coastal Alabama Large School Coach of the Year after guiding the Lady Trojans to a 17-4-2 finish — their best since 2018. Daphne clinched its first-ever Class 7A Area 2 title and advanced to the Elite Eight.
"This was truly a special group of girls to coach this year," Chamberlain said. "We faced challenges, and to have younger seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders step up when it mattered most is a testament to the incredible leadership our seniors showed throughout the season. Watching this team grow together, both on and off the field, has been a proud and humbling experience. I'm inspired by their resilience, honored to work with this team and their families."
Elberta coach Mickey Havard was honored as Small School Coach of the Year following a season marked by adversity. The Warriors overcame multiple injuries and relied on depth to remain competitive throughout the year.
"This season presented our soccer team with significant hurdles," Havard said. "A wave of injuries tested our depth and required players to step into unfamiliar roles. Despite these setbacks, the team's spirit remained unbroken. I look forward to what we will accomplish next season. Being named Coach of the Year fills me with an incredible sense of humility and immense pride. It's a truly special honor that reflects not just me, but the dedication and hard work of the entire team — the players, the assistant coaches and the unwavering support of our community."
The Coastal Alabama soccer awards are voted on by Alabama High School Athletic Association-affiliated girls soccer coaches across Baldwin County. The voting includes public, private, city and county schools in both large and small school classifications.
Basia Czarkowska – Midfielder, Spanish Fort, senior
Abram Chamberlain – Daphne High School
Shiloh Bishop – Defender, Robertsdale, freshman
Ella Grace Byrd – Goalkeeper, Daphne, senior
Alexia Charqueno – Forward, Daphne, senior
Lacey Daffin – Midfielder, Daphne, junior
Aubrey Ivy – Defender, Fairhope, junior
Hayden Kessler – Defender, Spanish Fort, junior
Ryleigh Overstreet – Defender, Daphne, senior
Lilah Piggot – Midfielder, Fairhope, freshman
Claire Reissiger – Midfielder, Foley, senior
Ambria Snell – Midfielder, Spanish Fort, senior
Beatriz Souza – Forward, Spanish Fort, senior
Sadie Sparks – Midfielder, Fairhope, senior
Addison Blevins – Midfielder, Spanish Fort, senior
Holland Burkhalter – Goalkeeper, Spanish Fort, junior
Whitney Collins – Defender, Daphne, senior
Ellie Gaviria – Defender, Spanish Fort, junior
Claire Havard – Defender, Fairhope, senior
India Hise – Midfielder, Daphne, sophomore
Anna Laraway – Midfielder, Fairhope, senior
Olivia Lethers – Forward, Fairhope, sophomore
Sarah Lynn – Defender, Spanish Fort, junior
Emely Pineda – Forward, Foley, junior
Haile Moorer – Forward, Daphne, junior
Emma Odom – Athlete, Daphne, senior
Abigail Smeraglia – Midfielder, St. Michael, eighth grade
Mickey Havard – Elberta High School
Francheska Arellano – Midfielder, St. Michael, senior
Caroline Callahan – Forward, St. Michael, junior
Kayden Davis – Midfielder, Elberta, senior
Brylee Joulian – Defender, Orange Beach, junior
Abby McDonald – Defender, Bayside, senior
Gracie Kane McTaggart – Defender, Bayshore, freshman
Misty Kate Smith – Goalkeeper, Bayside, senior
Avery Therrell – Defender, Bayside, eighth grade
Virginia Merchant – Midfielder, Bayside, junior
Kinley Webb – Midfielder, Orange Beach, sophomore
Nora Welden Montgomery – Defender, St. Michael, junior
Sara Jane Wheeler – Forward, Bayshore, freshman
Gabi Aufmuth – Forward, Orange Beach, sophomore
Elin Backman – Defender, Bayside, senior
Addie Davis – Midfielder, Orange Beach, freshman
Aubrey Faino – Forward, Elberta, sophomore
Ryleigh Fogos – Defender, Elberta, freshman
Reagan Gregory – Goalkeeper, St. Michael, eighth grade
Adley Howell – Midfielder, Bayshore, freshman
Bella Maurer – Midfielder, St. Michael, eighth grade
Presley Putnam – Midfielder, Bayside, senior
Lanie Smith – Midfielder, Elberta, seventh grade
Victoria Stopa – Defender, St. Michael, sophomore
Libby Tierce – Defender, Orange Beach, senior
Abbye Anderson – Goalkeeper, Robertsdale, freshman
Olivia Brown – Goalkeeper, Elberta, freshman
Kate Cimino – Forward, Gulf Shores, junior
Emma Coffey – Defender, Fairhope, senior
Hinata Childress – Defender, Elberta, eighth grade
Mary Charles Griffith – Midfielder, Bayshore, freshman
Olivia Malozzi – Forward, Spanish Fort, freshman
Bailey Nichols – Defender, Foley, junior
Peyton Planalp – Defender, Gulf Shores, senior
Sloane Scarborough – Midfielder, Orange Beach, senior