Czarkowska, Smeraglia named Players of the Year; Chamberlain, Havard earn top coaching honors on Coastal Alabama Soccer list

GCM Staff Report
Posted 5/22/25

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 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Czarkowska, Smeraglia named Players of the Year; Chamberlain, Havard earn top coaching honors on Coastal Alabama Soccer list

Posted

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.

COASTAL ALABAMA GIRLS SOCCER HONORS

Large School (6A–7A) Player of the Year

Basia Czarkowska – Midfielder, Spanish Fort, senior

Large School Coach of the Year

Abram Chamberlain – Daphne High School

Large School First Team

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

Large School Second Team

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

Small School (1A–5A) Player of the Year

Abigail Smeraglia – Midfielder, St. Michael, eighth grade

Small School Coach of the Year

Mickey Havard – Elberta High School

Small School First Team

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

Small School Second Team

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

Honorable Mentions (All Classifications)

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