Lyons Township High School junior forward Caroline Mortonson was honored to be all-state again in girls soccer. But she was more excited about sharing various postseason honors with her teammates.
“[All-State] meant a lot. I felt like our team could have gone farther and it’s exciting to see the awards and everyone appreciated for our season because everyone worked so hard,” she said.
Mortonson and Nazareth Academy senior Olivia Austin were named all-state for Section 2 by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA).
Mortonson, who has verbally committed to play at Miami (Ohio), also was all-state as a sophomore.
This was the first all-state soccer honors for Austin, a standout on the Roadrunners’ 2023 Class 3A state championship girls basketball team, who will play basketball at Dartmouth College (Hanover, N.H.). Austin had been all-sectional in soccer the past two seasons and honorable mention all-sectional as a freshman.
“Receiving all-state was truly an honor. I am so lucky to have a coach [Roberto Cianci] and teammates who support me, and it wouldn’t have been possible without them,” Austin said. “I loved getting closer with each one of my teammates and developing trust with them both on and off the field.”
Riverside Brookfield senior midfielders Hazel Hall, Niamh Larson and Maddie Bisiules, LTHS senior midfielders Josie Pochocki and Izzi Wirtz and Nazareth senior midfielder Samantha Rozmus were all-sectional. Nazareth junior defender Izzy Stmic was honorable mention all-sectional.
Mortonson again was a key contributor for the Lions, who lost to 3A state champion New Trier in the super-sectional after reaching the sectional finals the previous two seasons. She was second for LTHS with 11 goals and had a team-high nine assists. She had 11 goals and eight assists in 2023.
“It was nice to get [all-state] again so it feels like I’ve not decreased and I’m still helping the team,” Mortonson said. “I’ve never played on a team that was this connected. It was fun to go to every practice and game and play for each other and not just individually stand out and play for each other.”
Knowing it was her last competitive soccer season, Austin noted that “added a spark and motivation to my game. I was pushed to give my all no matter what and encourage others to do the same. That added a bit of emotion, but keeping my mind clear was something I focused on.”
All-sectional, all-academic honors went to:
RBHS senior Cassidy Erb, LTHS senior Leahla Frazier and Nazareth senior Samantha Rozmus.
All-sectional sportsmanship honors went to RBHS senior Kate Newberry, LTHS senior Peyton Israel and Nazareth senior Audrey Moster.
For Section 2, the Lions’ Andy Newcomb was named sectional Assistant Coach of the Year. LTHS also received its section’s Sportsmanship Cup.
Mortonson, seniors Caroline McKenna, Brennan Israel and Jillian Herchenroether and sophomore Zibby Michaelson were the Lions on the All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division Team.
The Bulldogs, who shared the Metro Suburban Conference title, had Bisiules, Hall, Larson, juniors Ella Caputo and Lucy Drenth and sophomore Michelle Panduro on the All-MSC Team.
Austin, Rozmus and seniors Layden Aimer and Nikolette Weiss were the Roadrunners’ selections to the All-East Suburban Catholic Conference Team.
Boys lacrosse
RBHS sophomore Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus and LTHS junior Sean Kultgen were all-sectional and LTHS junior Colin Kultgen was honorable mention all-sectional, according to the Illinois Lacrosse Coaches Association.
LTHS senior Charlie McKerr was all-sectional academic and LTHS senior Sean Cherry received all-sectional sportsmanship honors.
The Lions’ All-WSC players were Cherry, Sean Kultgen, Colin Kultgen, senior Luke Martin and junior Ryan Gertsmeier.
Colin Kultgen (team-high 32 goals, 14 assists), Cherry (22 goals, 12 assists) and Martin (19 goals, 2 assists) were offensive leaders for the Lions (10-8, 1-4 in WSC). Sean Kultgen (64 ground balls, 24 caused takeaways) and Gertsmeier (47 ground balls, 20 takeaways) were defensive standouts.
Girls lacrosse
RBHS senior Maggie Durkin and LTHS senior Caitlyn Curtin and juniors Ashley Culin and Emma Dwyer earned all-sectional honors.
Curtin, Culin, Dwyer and freshman Peyton Johnson were All-WSC selections. The Lions (11-10, 2-4 in WSC) improved upon their 7-11 record from 2023 and finished fifth in the conference behind four top-16 ranked teams.
Boys volleyball
LTHS senior Luka Kostic was named first-team all-state by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association.
Senior Tommy Culver was second-team all-state. Senior Zaccary Ruiz was third-team all-state.
The trio also were the All-WSC Silver recipients for the Lions, who reached the state quarterfinals.
RBHS seniors Liam Reilley and Sam Shelven and junior Alec Oltrogge was named to the All-MSC Team. The Bulldogs repeated as conference champions with a 3-1 record.
Nazareth senior David Brunke was on the All-ESCC Team.