The district-champion Sealy Lady Tiger soccer squad earned a host of all-district honors following its 5-1 loss to Burnet in the Area Championship last Tuesday.

Sophomore Rebeca Garza was named the District 24-4A co-offensive player of the year, freshman Elizabeth Reichardt was tabbed as the newcomer of the year and head coach Sydney Jones was honored as the coach of the year. In addition, seven more Sealy players were named to all-district teams, three were honorable mentions and 18 garnered academic all-district distinction.

“I think it says a lot,” Jones said of the Sealy contingency earning alldistrict honors. “Everybody seemed to be extremely impressed with what we were able to do with such a young group and I think that only drives them a little bit more.”

Senior Kenna Killough and freshman Avery Schalla landed on the first-team all-district, seniors Rosa Alvarez, Jenna Forrester and Hattie Schalla, as well as sophomore Julieta Villagomez and freshman Lani Krenek, all earned second-team alldistrict bids. Junior Anya Cano and freshmen Jessica DeBerry and Alana Lindsey all earned all-district honorable mentions.

“With Kenna and Avery being first team, they were key,” Jones said. “Kenna’s coming off of being defensive player of the year last year, and I think she was really key in helping Lani and Alana figure out exactly what it is we need to be doing on that back row.”

On top of that, 18 Lady Tigers earned academic all-district honors, including Rosa Alvarez, Hailey Arteaga, Anya Cano, Dominique Castillo, Felisity Chavarria, Jessica DeBerry, Lexa Eschenburg, Jenna Forrester, Allyson Guerrero, Kenna Killough, Lani Krenek, Alana Lindsey, Diana Munoz, Alexia Murillo, Elizabeth Reichardt, Camarie Santos and Avery and Hattie Schalla.

“They all work really, really hard. A lot of them have a lot of other extracurriculars going on and some (seniors) are in my class so I know what kind of work ethic they have so I’m hoping that also sets the example for that younger group,” Jones said.

Although it was her team that went out and claimed the regular-season district title, Jones was honored by the other District 24 leaders as the coach of the year in her first season on the soccer sidelines.

“It feels really cool. It almost, in a way, feels undeserved,” Jones said. “All in all, it’s a reflection of the kids and what hard work will get you and just showing them that if you really do care about them then they will play for you, 100%. I think that’s what it is, just building the relationship the right way and it worked out.”

While a group of Sealy seniors will leave holes on the roster, there are plenty of underclassmen who got experience this year and will return to lead next year’s squad.

“It’s going to be up to the younger ones to really step up and help the incoming freshmen but I think they’ll rise to the challenge. I think that’ll be great,” Jones said. “We will really, really miss the seniors but that’s also the other thing, I think the freshmen and sophomores know, ‘We still have time, we have three starters we’ve got to replace so there’s room for those of us that were sitting on the bench.’”