Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer standout Courtney Kovacs has joined an exclusive club.
The senior defender has been named a 2022 United Soccer Coaches High School Girls Winter-Spring All-American. She becomes only the third player under Centennial coach Chris Allen to earn All-American honors, joining Meg Brandt (2016) and Olivia Brown (2018).
“Courtney is incredibly deserving of the All-American honor,” said Allen. “She has never played for recognition, but is the type of player that invests in the team and as a result, her teammates return the investment. This recognition is the result of Courtney approaching soccer with a ‘we over me’ attitude, which can be seen in how hard she plays for the team.”
Kovacs said she was shocked when she heard about the award.
“I was very excited,” said Kovacs, who was also selected Iowa’s player of the year. “When I got the email and text from my coach, I was very surprised. I didn’t even know that I was up for this kind of honor.”
Kovacs led the Jaguars to the Class 3A state championship, the school’s third title, and was named the captain of the all-tournament team. She was a repeat pick to the Class 3A all-state first team by the Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association and the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Kovacs helped Centennial to a 19-3 record. The team posted 16 shutouts, including a 2-0 victory over Council Bluffs Lincoln in the championship game at Cownie Park.
“I have never known Courtney to chase awards, but I have known her to give everything she has to a game,” Allen said. “The accolades she has received at the end of this season are a result of being committed to the process of being a team player.”
Kovacs will receive an All-America certificate and a medal emblematic of her selection later this summer. Another All-America certificate will be provided to Centennial for the school to display.
Kovacs, a Minnesota State-Mankato recruit, will be invited to attend the annual United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony on Jan. 14, 2023, honoring All-Americans for youth, high school and college soccer in 2022. The event will take place in conjunction with the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.