High school soccer: Deseret News MVPs share common trait
Two of four coaches used the word "dream" to describe their respective MVPs, while the other two coaches called their respective guys "the complete package."
In their own ways, Travis Barton of Brighton, Judd Wray of Bountiful, Austen Stevens of Park City and Ben Cilwick of St. Joseph were all a dream to coach — and a dream to watch — and as a result have been selected as the 2008 Deseret News MVPs.
TRAVIS BARTON, Brighton: There are flashier players in Class 5A, but there was arguably nobody more valuable in the classification than this senior forward.
Whatever coach Russ Boyer asked him to do — whether it was playing up top, in the middle or even in the back — Barton just nodded and quietly got the job done better than anybody else could've.
Along with teammate Mike Nielsen, Barton helped the Bengals break through with their first boys soccer state title since 2000. His fantastic play sometimes escaped the untrained eyes of some who watched him, but rest assured that his coach never lost sight of his value.
Barton shined despite dealing with a hamstring problem that lasted for most of the season, as well as a slight concussion he sustained late in the season.
Such was his desire to remain on the field, Boyer sometimes had to do everything but literally drag Barton off the field to convince him to take a few minutes off to rest his injuries.
But once he was finally allowed back on, Barton demonstrated his value time and again.
Barton started the season in the middle, where he played last season, but was moved up top simply because Boyer needed somebody who was good enough to fill that role. Barton played up there for most of the year, though he moved around as needed.
And wherever he was, he used his soccer IQ and ability to do well.
"He does more with fewer touches than anybody I've seen," said Boyer.
Of all the examples to illustrate Barton's immense worth, perhaps his performance against Jordan on the final day of the regular season will suffice.
With the Region 2 championship on the line, Barton sustained a minor concussion early and —as you'd expect — was forced to sit out while a trainer evaluated whether he could continue.
After agonizingly sitting on the sidelines for 20 minutes, he was allowed back on the field and gave everything — like he always did — to his teammates. He played well to help Brighton jump out to a 1-0 lead, and with his team clinging to that advantage in the final minutes, Boyer — without hesitation — called on him to play at sweeper when starter Spencer Burnside received a yellow card.
Recent comments
Nice work Judd, now he is on his way to the New Jersey Morristown...
nostradomis | July 29, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
On Cook's club team, Rush, he has both Nielson and Wray in the...
Re-Anonymous | June 5, 2008 at 9:19 a.m.
that cook is good, just think if he had another threatening mid-fielder...
Anonymous | June 4, 2008 at 1:43 p.m.
