Ryan Squared Equals All-State

Maryville’s Jorgenson, Reilly named to TACA soccer team

Rebel senior Ryan Reilly hurdles a Farragut player during a match this season. Photos by Jolanda Jansma

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Ryan Reilly delivered the goal that put Maryville in the region tournament.

Ryan Jorgenson gets up for a save this past season.

Ryan Jorgenson gave a performance in that region tournament they’ll be talking about for a long, long time.

The result was an historic season for Rebels soccer, Reilly and Jorgenson continuing the theme this week with both named to the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-State Team, the first time two Maryville players have been so honored in the same season.

Reilly, a senior and Milligan signee, led Maryville in scoring with 59 points (17 goals, 8 assists) as the Rebels advanced to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state tournament for the first time in school history.

“The thing about Ryan is he’s so versatile,” Rebel coach Steve Feather said.

He’s also super tough, the goal-scoring wizard playing the second half of the season, 12 games in all, after tearing the meniscus in his knee in practice.

Reilly’s winning goal against William Blount clinched Maryville’s first District 4AAA regular-season championship, with it an automatic berth in the region tournament. The title came with a first-ever Rebel season sweep of state powers Bearden and Farragut.

“He improved more than anyone I’ve ever coached,” Feather said, “and that’s the truth. I looked at him as a freshmen, and I said, ‘That kid will never step on the field,’ but he always had tricky feet. Three years later, he’s our fastest player.”

The Rebels (15-6-3, 6-0-1) needed a region semifinal win at Hardin Valley Academy to keep the season alive and earn a first-ever sectional bid. Jorgenson, a junior, responded with three saves in a penalty-kick shootout, highlighting a season where the major college prospect was named district and region player of the year.

All-South and All-American votes are still being tallied.

“I’ve never seen three out of four PKs stopped,” Feather said, “and it’s not like they (the Hawks) just blew it. He’s a phenomenal athlete, one of the most athletic players I’ve ever coached. It makes all the difference in the world having a keeper like that back there.”

Jorgenson recorded a school-record 11 shutouts in 2013, along the way compiling a truly head-spinning 0.68 goals against average.

The Hardin Valley shootout was epic. (Please see video on BPR home page.) A better demonstration of Jorgenson’s athleticism took place in practice one afternoon, Feather said.

The Rebels hold practices and home games at nearby Maryville College, the longer, wider playing field better for soccer. The field is ringed on all sides by a 4-foot high, chain-link fence.

“He leaped it flatfooted!” Feather said, “and it wasn’t like he was trying to show off.”

2013 TACA Boys Soccer AAA All-State Team
Forwards
Blake Chidester, Brentwood; Jorge De Gyves, Dobyns-Bennett; Yaseen Dheyauldeen, Overton; Elliot Jones, Karns; Derek Knotts, Smyrna; Mitch Mersman, Dickson County; Eli Price, Houston; Ricky Ramirez, Coffee County; Evan Reiley, Cookeville; Christian Rivera, LaVergne; Brad Ross, Franklin; Brent Seltzer, Bearden; Gary Thomas, Wilson Central; Trey Tucker, Ooltewah.

Midfielders
Warren Austin, Dobyns-Bennett; Fredrick Bergman, Seymour; Charles Blankenship, Houston; Johnny Bracewell, Science Hill; Aldair Cruz, Antioch; Joseph Earl, Hendersonville; Luedy Franco, Ooltewah; Christian Gonzalez, McGavock; Carlos Hernandez, Blackman; Cameron Kerper, Smyrna; Logan Kington, Hardin Valley; Tyler Long, Rossview; Emilio Moore, Farragut; Sean Murphy, Columbia Central; Brad Newman, Germantown; Ryan Reilly Maryville; Chris Reynolds, Tullahoma; Michael Roberts, Collierville; Victor Shem, Oak Ridge; James Togbah, Beech.

Defenders
Allister Berger, Franklin; Cade Brasher, Station Camp; Alex Crowe, Ooltewah; Zach Keller, Centennial; Tyler Klarner, Farragut; Billy Latimer, LaVergne; Justin Lomax, Farragut; Austin Pate, Dobyns Bennett; Chad Reisenbeck, Houston.

Goalkeepers
Drew Egan, Hendersonville; Ryan Jorgensen, Maryville; Paxton Mitchell, Blackman; Pablo Portillo, Glencliff; Brady Thornberry, Collierville; Bobby Williams, Rossview.