FC Green Bay

All-area boys soccer: Starnes scores again

Tritons star adds another chapter to season

By Scott Venci
svenci@greenbaypressgazette.com

Tony Starnes was surprised when told minutes after leading the Green Bay Notre Dame boys soccer team to a WIAA Division 2 state title that he had rewritten the state record book.

His 11 points in two matches were the most at the Division 2 state tournament and tied for the most in any division. His three assists broke the Division 2 record.

In scoring four goals over two days — including two in a 5-3 win over Waukesha Catholic Memorial in the championship game — Starnes was instrumental in delivering Notre Dame its second state title and first since 2001.

More than three weeks later, Starnes' memorable state performance and the state championship are just starting to sink in.

"Kind of," he said. "It's a weird feeling. When people tell me, 'Congratulations on state, you did really well,' then I think about it. Outside of that, it doesn't really feel like it has set in yet.

"At the start of the season, I thought we would be good, but I never thought we would win state. As the season went on, it kind of became more real once we started playing well together."

Starnes was a big reason for that. He scored 14 goals and had nine assists entering sectionals, then raised his game in crunch time.

It didn't go unnoticed.

He was the only unanimous pick to the Fox River Classic Conference first team and was a second-team all-state selection by the Wisconsin Coaches Association.

"When Tony is out on the field, the other players around him look at him as a leader," Green Bay Preble coach Chris Becker said. "You can sense that even on the other sideline. Players look to Tony to get things going."

For his accomplishments, Starnes is the Press-Gazette's boys soccer player of the year.

Starnes was a first-team pick in the Fox River Valley Conference as a junior, but he felt his game was vastly improved this season.

"Especially over the summer," Starnes said. "Just having better field awareness. Knowing what to do when, and being able to help out teammates a little more."

Forward

Nick Gerrits, jr., Wrightstown: The junior scored 24 goals and had 16 assists, leading the Tigers to the Division 3 state championship match.

German Ramirez, sr., Kewaunee: A first-team pick in the Packerland and the league's most valuable player was the leader of the Indians' offense.

Tony Starnes, sr., Green Bay Notre Dame: A second-team all-state pick by the Wisconsin Coaches Association. Led the Tritons to the Division 2 state title.

Midfield

Anthony Buss, jr., Shawano: Fought through constant double-teams to score 18 goals. A first-team pick in the Bay.

Andrew Ribiero, sr., Green Bay Notre Dame: Led the Tritons with 18 goals during the regular season. A first-team FRCC pick.

Travis Westcott, sr., De Pere: A first-team pick in the FRCC. Led the Redbirds in goals and points, and was instrumental in leading the team to the Division 1 state tournament.

Nick Zellner, sr., Bay Port: A first-team pick in the FRCC and one of the best players on the Pirates the last three seasons.

Defense

A.J. Fameree, sr., De Pere: Perhaps the best defender in the area. A first-team FRCC pick who led the Redbirds to the Division 1 state tournament.

Brian Heim, jr., Luxemburg-Casco: The Bay Conference player of the year and one of the Spartans' leaders.

Phillip Willems, sr., Green Bay Preble: A first-team pick in the FRCC and a big reason why the Hornets won the league's first championship. A team captain and one of the smartest players in the area.

Goalie

Eric Cotter, jr., De Pere: Oversaw a Redbirds defense that allowed the fewest goals in the FRCC. De Pere allowed two or fewer goals in 27 of 28 matches.

Coach of the year

Bob Rickards, Green Bay Notre Dame: Led the Tritons to the Division 2 state title, which included a win over state powerhouse Appleton Xavier in a sectional championship. The Tritons bought into Rickards' system, and were rewarded with a title.

Honorable mention

Aaron Birdsall, sr., Ashwaubenon; Matt Casey, sr., Pulaski; Sam Cayemberg, sr., Green Bay Southwest; Tanner Dvorak, so., Sturgeon Bay; Joey Grzelak, jr., Notre Dame; Lucas Leahy, sr., West De Pere; Aaron Longmire, jr., NEW Lutheran; Ian Martin, sr., Preble; Brock Messner, sr., Seymour; Alejandro Neri, sr., Gibraltar; Tyler Nellis, jr., Southern Door; Erick Olson, sr., West; Dylan Osadjan, jr., De Pere; Harry Porter, jr., East; Steve Quella, so., Gibraltar; German Ramirez, sr., Kewaunee; Julio Ramirez, so., Kewaunee; Stephen Robertson, sr., West De Pere; Andrew Ribiero, sr., Notre Dame; Miguel Sanchez, sr., Green Bay East; Travis Seiltz, sr., Wrightstown; Dylan Senechal, sr., Green Bay West; Devon Storlie, jr., Sturgeon Bay; Andrew Stone, jr., Preble; Kyle Thyrion, soph., Pulaski; Ben Treml, sr., Luxemburg-Casco; Derek VandenPlas, fr., Luxemburg-Casco; Alex VanDeLaarSchot, sr., De Pere; Ben Vincent, sr., Luxemburg-Casco; Arthur Weborg, sr., Gibraltar; Adam Willems, jr., Southwest; Houawah Xiong, sr., Ashwaubenon.