Lady Tigers' soccer team honored

Those honored at last week's soccer awards banquet included Elizabeth Ryan as the team's top defender, Christa Lewis as the team's most valuable player, Jacey Carr as the Lady Tigers' top forward, Hannah Bidaganeta top midfielder and Anna Pedroza who won the coaches award.

Mountain Home High School's Lady Tigers varsity soccer team earned a number of honors, including two conference titles, during an awards banquet held last week.

Christa Lewis was named the 4A SIC All Conference Co-Player of the Year while Lady Tigers' Coach Curtis Viall earned the 4A SIC All Conference Coach of the Year award.

These awards represent the two highest awards available to players and coaches in the division.

"I'm very grateful for having the opportunities and supportive coaches that I've had throughout my young soccer career," Lewis said. "It was one of my goals to win this award, and by working hard and staying focused, I succeeded."

Lewis hopes that she set a positive example for others to follow during her time with the Lady Tigers.

Members of the team praised the work their coach invested to make the team so successful this year.

"(He) put hours and hours of work into this program and he definitely deserved the 4A SIC Coach of the Year award," said Hannah Bideganeta, a midfielder who also serves as the team's senior captain. "To be able to be a part of his team and this season was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, and I'm sure that the whole team feels the same way."

In addition to the two conference awards, Bidaganeta, midfielder Violet Martinez and defender Elizabeth Ryan were selected to Second Team All Conference. Meanwhile, forward Jacey Carr, midfielder Anna Pedroza and defenders Clarissa Lucas and Vicki Vega received all-conference honorable mentions.

Following this year's season, several players were selected to all conference teams led by Lewis.

"To be selected as the Conference Player of the Year by the opposing team's coaches is the highest honor," Viall said. "Christa is a dynamic player who raised the intensity level of all of our players. I have know doubt she will succeed at the next level."

Along with the conference awards, several Lady Tigers received additional team accolades. Lewis was selected as the team's most valuable player while Carr, Bidaganeta and Ryan were selected as the team's top forward, midfielder and defender, respectively. Meanwhile, Pedroza received this year's coaches award.

"What's neat about winning the team awards is your teammates voted on these awards, which I think is one of the highest honors," said Viall, who presented the coach's award to Pedroza during the banquet. "Anna really stood out as one hardest working players and consistently strived to improve her game and motivate her teammates."

The team finished the regular season with seven wins, six losses and two draws.

"It was our first winning season in many years, and all the credit goes to the players," Viall said. "They have really worked hard individually and as a team to turn our program around."

The Lady Tigers won their first district game but finished with two tough losses, 2-1 and 1-0, and were eliminated from the tournament.

However, they have a lot to look forward to next season with eight returning starters, including Martinez, Ryan, Carr, Pedroza and Lucas, the coach said. In addition, the Lady Tigers expect to see a strong group of junior varsity players coming up through the ranks.

"The returning group of players have a special bond with each other and understand the hard work it is going to take to keep building a winning program at Mountain Home High School," Viall said.