BAY MINETTE — Following another banner year for local soccer teams, Baldwin County coaches constructed Coastal Alabama Large and Small School Players and Coaches of the Year and recognized …
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BAY MINETTE — Following another banner year for local soccer teams, Baldwin County coaches constructed Coastal Alabama Large and Small School Players and Coaches of the Year and recognized athletes on first and second teams.
Spanish Fort junior Basia Czarkowska, who matched her perfect ACT score of 36 with 36 assists this season, has been named the Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Female Player of the Year. Czarkowska led the Toro girls’ team to their third consecutive area title and a Class 6A state quarterfinal appearance.
“Basia is an incredible all-around player,” said Spanish Fort head girls’ soccer coach Roger Givens. “Following this season, she now ranks fifth all-time in the state of Alabama (in single-season assists). She is phenomenal both on and off the pitch. Her tactical awareness is unparalleled, and I have never coached anyone like her. I am truly honored to have the privilege of coaching her.”
In his inaugural season with the Toros, Givens was also honored as the Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, Spanish Fort advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals and finished the season with a commendable record of 14-8-1. The Toros won their third straight 6A Area 2 title and secured a season-ending No. 7 ranking in the Alabama 6A Coaches Poll. The team's journey ended with a 2-0 loss to Montgomery Academy.
“This team has grown so much in a short amount of time,” said Givens. “I have a great group of young women who excel on the pitch and in the classroom. A coach cannot ask for anything more. I look forward to getting back to work.”
In her junior year at St. Michael Catholic, Francheska Arellano further solidified her legacy. As a fourth-year starter, she concluded a highly successful season for the Cardinals with 17 goals and 19 assists in a repeat trip to the Class 4A State Championship in Huntsville. Her outstanding performance earned her the title of Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) Player of the Year.
“Francheska is a wonderful young woman, student-athlete, and ambassador for our program at St. Michael,” said Cardinal head girls’ soccer coach Brian Daughtery. “Her selflessness, willingness, and versatility allow her to play multiple positions on the field, which changes the game. She is a coachable player who always arrives with a smile on her face.”
Daughtery was also named the Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) Coach of the Year after guiding St. Michael to its second straight championship appearance, which ended in a 3-1 loss to Westminster Christian. The Cardinals concluded the season with an impressive 19-3 record and their first Class 4A Area 2 title since 2022. St. Michael checked in as the No. 2-ranked team in the final Alabama 4A Coaches Poll.
“I am incredibly blessed and honored to have coached this outstanding group of young women this season,” said Daughtery. “Their mental and physical preparation, along with the hard work they put in both on and off the training ground, were evident in their accomplishments. Reaching the Final Four is extremely challenging, and advancing to the championship game is even harder. Without the senior leadership and selfless play of this team, our journey together would not have been possible.”
The Coastal Alabama Female Players of the Year, Coaches of the Year, and First and Second Team selections were determined through a voting process by AHSAA-affiliated high school girls’ soccer coaches. This includes coaches from public, private, city, and county schools across Baldwin County, Alabama.
Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Player of the Year
Basia Czarkowska, Spanish Fort, Midfielder, Junior
Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Coach of the Year
Roger Givens, Spanish Fort High School
Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) Player of the Year
Francheska Arellano, St. Michael Catholic School, Midfielder, Junior
Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) Coach of the Year
Brian Daughtery, St. Michael Catholic School
Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) First Team
Ella Byrd, Daphne, Goalkeeper, Junior
Aidyn Hagan, Fairhope, Defender, Senior
Emma Coffey, Fairhope, Defender, Junior
Emma Kate Wilson, Spanish Fort, Defender, Senior
Kyleigh Kitchens, Robertsdale, Defender, Senior
Ambria Snell, Spanish Fort, Midfielder, Junior
Claire Reissiger, Foley, Midfielder, Junior
Harper Duffy, Fairhope, Midfielder, Senior
Lacey Daffin, Daphne, Midfielder, Sophomore
Beatriz Souza, Spanish Fort, Forward, Junior
Emma Girard, Daphne, Forward, Senior
Coastal Alabama Large School (6A-7A) Second Team
Holland Burkhalter, Spanish Fort, Goalkeeper, Sophomore
Amy Fabian, Foley, Defender, Senior
Claire Havard, Fairhope, Defender, Junior
Emily Fahy, Spanish Fort, Defender, Senior
Emma Odom, Daphne, Defender, Junior
Addison Blevins, Spanish Fort, Midfielder, Junior
Chloe Burford, Baldwin County, Midfielder, Junior
Emily Smith, Robertsdale, Midfielder, Senior
Hayden Kessler, Spanish Fort, Midfielder, Sophomore
Haile Moorer, Daphne, Forward, Sophomore
Sadie Sparks, Fairhope, Forward, Junior
Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) First Team
Misty Kate Smith, Bayside Academy, Goalkeeper, Junior
Abby McDonald, Bayside Academy, Defender, Junior
Elisa Christensen, St. Michael Catholic, Defender, Senior
Peyton Planalp, Gulf Shores, Defender, Junior
Diamond Murphy, Elberta, Midfielder, Senior
Kinley Webb, Orange Beach, Midfielder, Freshman
Maddie Key, Orange Beach, Midfielder, Senior
Siddah Weihing, Orange Beach, Midfielder, Senior
Ansley Warner, Gulf Shores, Forward, Senior
Fionna Stephens, Elberta, Forward, Sophomore
Sarah Jane Wheeler, Bayshore Christian, Forward, 8th Grade
Coastal Alabama Small School (1A-5A) Second Team
Maggie Wilson, Bayshore Christian, Goalkeeper, Senior
Allie McTaggart, Bayshore Christian, Defender, Sophomore
Mary Burton Merchant, Bayside Academy, Defender, Sophomore
Lillie Law, Orange Beach, Defender, Senior
Elizabeth Hope, Bayshore Christian, Midfielder, Senior
Hannah Gunderson, Elberta, Midfielder, Senior
Jessica Clark, Elberta, Midfielder, Senior
Madison Marshall, Gulf Shores, Midfielder, Senior
Mariana Cervantes, Gulf Shores, Midfielder, Senior
Presley Putnam, Bayside Academy, Midfielder, Junior
Kakki Law, Orange Beach, Forward, Junior
Sabrina Pulido, St. Michael Catholic, Forward, Junior