All-star game returns here tonight

Many of the state’s top high school soccer players will be in Jamestown tonight to play in the second annual Rotary East-West All-Star Classic.

The majority of players named to this year’s all-state teams will participate in the doubleheader, which kicks off at 5 p.m. at Rotary Field with the boys game. The girls follow at 7.

It’s once last chance to play for many of the athletes, but for others it’s the beginning of training for their collegiate careers.

“One of the big things we heard last year is the kids enjoyed playing with players they’d normally be playing against,” said game organizer Tom Boerger. “They’re used to being rivals, but many of them became friends.”

Virtually every played invited to participate in the game accepted. There were a handful of exceptions due to the state golf meet or the occasional injury scratch, but the game appears to be growing in popularity with both the players and coaches.

Four players from the recently crowned Fargo Shanley girls team will be playing as will a pair from Bismarck St. Mary’s, the team the undefeated Deacons beat in a shootout Saturday to win the title.

Five Jamestown High School players, including Sterling Hubbard and Tanner Huebschwerlen from the boys team and Megan Kapp, Carly Nelson and Molly Witthauer will be on West rosters.

Both Jamestown High School coachs Colin Rose (boys) and Ryan Kleinknecht (girls) will also be on the bench.

“There wasn’t an all-star soccer game up until last year. They (coaches) asked if Rotary would be willing to do it and we said we would,” Boerger said. “The indications I got is that (last year’s game) exceeded their expectations.

The new facility is a feather in the cap of Jamestown to hosting the game. Being centrally located also helps. The players also receive a sharp looking game jersey with a sponsor across the front to give it a professional feel.

Boerger said improvements to the field are still in the works including covered benches, a press box, scoreboard and continually improving the playing surface.

But before any of that happens, they’ll have one more busy night of soccer.

“For most of them it’s their last real game, so we want to make sure they have fun and enjoy the experience,” Boerger said. “It should be a fun night.”

Rotary East-West All-Star Classic

At Rotary Field, Tonight

Boys, 5 p.m.; Girls 7 p.m.

Rosters

Boys

West

Matt Cleary, Bismarck St. Mary’s; Kyle Butterfield, Mandan; Justin Roberson, Bismarck; Patrick Fernandez, Bismarck; Randy Tardif, Bismarck; Seth Gehring, Minot; Parker Weisbeck, Bismarck; Brandon Oliver, Bismarck St. Mary’s; Andrew Thorson, Bismarck St. Mary’s; David Neff, Bismarck St. Mary’s; Talyn McEvers, Bismarck; Sterling Hubbard, Jamestown; Scotty Dohm, Bismarck St. Mary’s; T.J. Gunsch, Bismarck Century; Justin Crabtree, Minot; Trevor Huebschwerlen, Jamestown.

Coaches: Randy Baumgartner, Mandan; Colin Rose, Jamestown.

East

Ryder Neva, West Fargo; Matt Hockert, Fargo South; Matt Simmer, Fargo North; Sam Saville, West Fargo; Brandon Beyer, West Fargo; Jake Purpur, Grand Forks Central; Kyle Sorby, Fargo Davies; Paul Lanctot, West Fargo; Matt Prochniak, West Fargo; Ryan Christianson, Fargo Davies; Cody Jennewein, Grand Forks Red River; Derek Schleicher, Grand Forks Red River; Aaron Podoll, Fargo North; Jack Nuveen, Grand Forks Red River; Blake Gierszewski, Grand Forks Central; Alvin Ekic, Fargo Davies.

Coaches: Nick Christianson (Fargo Davies), Doug Millar (West Fargo), Jonathon Melendez, Fargo North.

Girls

West

Megan Kapp, Jamestown; Ashley Leintz, Bismarck Century; Molly Bina, Bismarck Century; Emily Christenson, Minot; Madison Klatt, Mandan; Keela Burt, Mandan; Destiny Glaser, Bismarck Century; Darby Schmidt, Bismarck; MiKayla Schuette, Bismarck; Carly Jo Nelson, Jamestown; Elizabeth Sukut, Bismarck; Ayah Koleilat, Bismarck; Allie Greff, Bismarck St. Mary’s; Sabra Bertsch, Bismarck Century; Kelsey Glatt, Bismarck Century; Taylor Erhardt, Bismarck St. Mary’s; Molly Witthauer, Jamestown; Bailey Bachman-Williams, Minot.

Coaches: Brandi Harty, Bismarck; Jennifer Kessler, Mandan; Ryan Kleinknecht, Jamestown.

East

Elizabeth Bitzan, Fargo Shanley; Maranda Thomason, West Fargo; Lauren Johnson, West Fargo; Amy Stompro, Fargo Davies; Kayla Bancroft, Grand Forks Red River; Ally Krogh, West Fargo; Erin Krogh, West Fargo; Lauren Tupa, Fargo South; Haley Greving, Fargo Shanley; Katie Zeltinger, Fargo South; Anna Foss, Fargo South; Olivia Shockman, Fargo North; McKinsey Heiser, Fargo North; Lexi Maucourt, Fargo South; Taylor Bertsch, Fargo Davies; Sara Elgin, Grand Forks Red River; Kelsey Kanwischer, Fargo Shanley; Hannah Saville, Fargo Shanley; Sadie Hayes, Fargo Davies; Mikelle Fetsch, Grand Forks Red River; Mariah Snustad, Grand Forks Red River.

Coaches: Cordell Sinding, Fargo North; Michael Breker, Fargo South; Kevin Roos, Fargo Shanley.

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: high school, sports, soccer