Balashaitis, Lewis earn academic all-state honors; 6 boys’ players also recognized

Ankeny Centennial’s Avery Lewis (right) celebrates after teammate Maddison Balashaitis (No. 3) scored a goal during the Jaguars’ 3-2 loss to Waukee Northwest in the Class 3A quarterfinals on May 28 at Cownie Park. Both Balashaitis and Lewis have been named to the Class 3A academic all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. (Photo by Drue Wolfe)

Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer players Maddison Balashaitis and Avery Lewis have been named to the Class 3A academic all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association, while Centennial’s Tyson Woerdehoff earned first-team honors in Class 4A on the boys’ side.

Balashaitis, a junior defender, and Lewis, a senior midfielder, helped their team to a 13-7 record. The Jaguars qualified for the state tournament.

Ankeny Centennial’s Tyson Woerdehoff passes the ball during the Jaguars’ 4-3 loss at Urbandale on March 28. Woerdehoff has been named to the Class 4A academic all-state first team by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association. (Photo courtesy of Jerrad Downer)

Woerdehoff, a junior defender, helped Centennial to a 5-12 mark.

Five other boys’ players were also honored, including senior midfielder Gannon Ripley of Ankeny, who helped the Hawks to an 11-9 record and a state tournament appearance. Ripley was named to the second team along with senior forward Logan Page of Centennial.

Senior defender Beau Brazeau of Centennial earned honorable mention along with a pair of senior defenders from Ankeny, Jackson Roberts and Tyler Woods.