Centennial standouts Balashaitis, Martin named to Class 3A all-tournament team

Ankeny Centennial’s Maddison Balashaitis scores on a penalty kick during the Jaguars’ 3-2 victory over Johnston in a shootout in the Class 3A quarterfinals on Tuesday at the Lied Recreation Fields in Ames. Balashaitis was named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday for the second straight year. (Photo by Evan Reiter)

Seniors Maddison Balashaitis and Ava Martin of the Ankeny Centennial girls’ soccer team were both named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames.

Balashaitis, a defender, was selected to the squad for the second straight year. She scored a goal and also converted a penalty kick in the shootout in the Jaguars’ 3-2 win over Johnston in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Martin, a forward, scored Centennial’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Linn-Mar (Marion) in the semifinals on Thursday. It was her 16th goal of the season and the 48th of her career.

Ankeny Centennial’s Ava Martin possesses the ball during the Jaguars’ 2-1 loss to Linn-Mar (Marion) in the Class 3A semifinals on Thursday at Ames. Martin scored the Jaguars’ lone goal and was named to the Class 3A all-tournament team on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Travis Squires)

The two standouts helped the Jaguars to a 15-4-2 record. They played in four state tournaments in their career, reached the semifinals twice and were members of the championship team in 2022.

Waukee Northwest captured the Class 3A crown with a 3-2 triumph over Linn-Mar in Saturday’s title game. The Wolves placed five players on the all-tournament team, led by captain Josie Jones.