Hibriten’s Jim Blanton guiding the West boys’ team
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
GREENSBORO – The players and coaches on the West All-Star soccer teams who are from Greater Hickory area conferences are expected to play key roles in Tuesday night’s matches.
WOGLEMUTH
The annual battles against the best seniors from the East are scheduled from starts of 6:30 p.m. (girls) and 8:30 p.m. (boys) at Macpherson Stadium.
The West girls feature four stars from the Western Foothills 3A – Fred T. Foard’s Alexis Woglemuth, Hickory’s Madeline Mosteller and Cambell Vander Haar and Deana Poteat, both of East Lincoln.
West head coach Josh Martin had five players drop from the original roster and found replacements for only two.
The West boys’ head coach is Jim Blanton of Hibriten, and he has two of his Panthers with him – Kevin Rivera Rios and David Fanquiz – plus Irvin Martinez-Villa of Fred T. Foard.
Watauga’s Matthew Taubman was among two drops for the West. He was replaced by Matthew Lazur of Hopewell.
AREA PLAYERS IN EAST-WEST ALL-STAR MATCHES
Madeline Mosteller, M, Hickory
Coached by Brian Jillings… as senior, named all-state, team captain… scored 22 goals, 13 assists… as junior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, conference Player of the Year, team Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year…also competed in track and field…founder of Hickory’s Science Olympiad Team… AP Capstone Program candidate… soccer and track scholarship to Lincoln Memorial University where she will major in biology… wants to pursue a career in the medical research field… her father is her role model… favorite pro athlete is Armando Bacot… favorite pro athlete is Trent Alexander Arnold… says “I feel honored to be able to play in the all-star game. It will be a good time to gain experience with upper-level players, ultimately preparing me for my college soccer season in the fall.”
Deana Poteat, D, East Lincoln
Coached by Jason Dragoon… as senior, named all-state, team captain… scored 18 goals, 3 assists… as junior, named all-region …East Lincoln Female Sportsmanship Award recipient… scored 9 goals, 2 assists… also competed in track and field and cross country (2018 state championship participant) and swimming, where she was named team captain and was 3 times named all-conference (2022 state 
championship participant)… member of National Honor Society (Pres.), Science National Honor Society (Pres.), Mu Alpha Theta (Sec.), Student Government Association, Rho Kappa…N.C. Beta Convention Biology Champion, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Scholar Commended… plans to attend N.C. State and will major in animal science… wants to pursue a career as a veterinarian specializing in equine care and wants to open her own practice… her mother is her role model… favorite college athlete is Paige Bueckers… favorite pro athlete is Tobin Heath… says “I am more than honored to be chosen for the all-star game. I’m expecting to gain new relationships and friendships from participating and hope to make memories that will stay with me after the game.”
Cambell Vander Haar, D, East Lincoln
Coached by Jason Dragoon… as junior, named all-region, all-conference, team MVP… scored 3 goals… also competed in track and field and CrossFit, where she ranked 22nd in the world in the 2019 CrossFit Open (16-17 years old)… plans to attend Charlotte where she will major in kinesiology… wants to pursue a career as a physical therapist… favorite college athlete is Sedonia Prince… favorite pro athlete is Tobin Heath… says “I am very excited to be selected to play in this all-star game! Soccer has been a part of my life for a very long time, and getting the chance to play with some of the best players in the state will be an amazing experience. I hope to gain more confidence in my playing skills and knowing I have what it takes to play with the best of the best.”
Alexis Wolgemuth, GK, Fred T. Foard
Coached by Stan Elliott… career stats: 42 shutouts and 0.35 GAA…as senior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference Player of the Year… N.C.-S.C Clash of the Carolinas All-Star game selection… 0.45 GAA…14 shutouts… 6 goals scored… as junior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference… 0.2 
GAA… 12 shutouts… only allowed 3 goals this season… four times named conference Player of the Year and 4 times state champion (2 singles & 2 doubles) in tennis and all-conference in basketball four times… member of Beta Club, Student Council, Mock Trial/Model UN, Speech and Debate Team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes… Junior Marshal… scholarship to Marshall University where she will double major in criminal justice and political science… wants to pursue a career working for a federal agency or having a job within the courts system as an attorney… her father is her role model… favorite college athlete is Saquon Barkley… favorite pro athlete is Lionel Messi… says “I am very excited about participating in the all-star game. It is an honor to be selected, and I hope to perform well in the event. I look forward to playing on the same team as some of my high school competitors and connecting with others in the soccer community.”
GIRLS ROSTERS: final east-west girls soccer 2022 rosters
BOYS
David Franquiz, M/F, Hibriten
Coached by Jim Blanton… as senior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference Player of the Year… scored 24 goals, 21 assists… as junior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference MVP, team MVP… scored 30 goals, 33 assists… as sophomore, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference Offensive Player of the Year, team MVP… scored 26 goals, 21 assists… member of National Technical Honor Society, Beta Club, A/B Honor Roll.. three-time Academic Excellence Award recipient… undecided about college choice… plans to major in international business… wants to pursue a career working for an international business firm…his dad, David Franquiz, is his role model… favorite college athlete is Isaiah Reid… favorite pro athlete is Lionel Messi… says “I am excited because all the work I have put in finally pays off. I am expecting a new experience of meeting new people and teammates.”
Irvin Martinez-Villa, M/F, Fred T. Foard
Coached by Joseph Goforth… as senior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Co-Player of the Year… scored 15 goals, 7 assists… as junior, named all-State, all-region, all-conference… scored 6 goals, 3 assists… as sophomore, named all-region, all-conference… scored 21 goals, 6 assists… plans to walk on at Lenoir-Rhyne University where he will major in criminal justice… wants to pursue a career as a police officer… his dad is his role model… favorite college athlete is Andre Tamas…favorite pro athlete is Messi… says “I’m excited to be a part of this year’s all-star game. I am hoping to have a great experience and meet some new people.”
Kevin Rivera Rios, F, Hibriten
Coached by Jim Blanton… as senior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference Offensive Player of the Year… scored 22 goals, 17 assists… as junior, named all-state, all-region, all-conference, Conference Offensive Player of the Year… scored 13 goals, 21 assists… as sophomore, named all-region, all-conference… scored 20 goals, 18 assists… also competed in track and field… member of National Technical Honor Society…Three-time recipient of the Academic Excellence Award… scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne University where he plans to major in finance… wants to pursue a career as a Chief Financial Officer in the banking industry… his parents are his role models… favorite college athlete is Isaiah Reid…favorite pro athlete is Erling Haaland… says “I was honored to be invited to the all-star game. I am expecting to gain experience on how it feels to play with some of the top players from N.C.”
Jim Blanton, head coach, Hibriten
Entering his 17th season as coach at Hibriten, he has compiled a career record of 242-114-23 and his teams have won four conference regular season titles and made 13 state playoff appearances… named Conference Coach of the Year three times and Regional Coach of the Year five times… has previously served as the JV head men’s soccer coach (three years), and as the JV baseball coach (one) at Hibriten… also served as girls; varsity softball coach ( 213-165), and his teams won four conference titles, made 13 state playoff appearances, and he was twice named Conference Coach of the Year… born in Spartanburg, S.C….1995 graduate of Hibriten, where played baseball and soccer – named all-conference in soccer and won three conference titles and played in the regional final as a senior… 2003 graduate of Appalachian State… says “Being able to coach in the all-star game is one of the greatest honors of my career.
“I am grateful to all of my peers that nominated me for this honor. I am humbled by their recognition.
“I am thankful and lucky to have spent my entire career coaching and teaching at one school. My assistant coaches are some of the greatest men I have ever known, and I owe them a debt of huge gratitude. They have been there with me every step of the way and are the reason I am the coach I am today.
“I also am blessed beyond measure to have the greatest coach’s wife ever, who has played the role of mom and dad many times when I was out coaching.
“My two sons and wonderful wife have been my greatest supporters, and I love and appreciate them greatly.”
BOYS ROSTERS: final 2022 east-west boys soccer rosters
