Mountain Brook’s Haynes is girls soccer’s state Gatorade Player of the Year
Mountain Brook girls soccer standout Leigh Haynes has been selected as the state’s girls Gatorade Player of the Year.
The winners from each state were selected based on athletic production and impact in the past season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
The 5-foot-6 senior midfielder helped coach Scott Flowers’ Spartans to a 13-6-2 record and a trip to the Class 7A state tournament.
“I was very excited and humbled to have received the Gatorade award,” Haynes said. “In my opinion, there are many players worthy of this award in the state of Alabama.”
She scored 14 goals and passed for eight assists this past season, while maintaining a 3.65 grade-point average. She concluded her prep soccer career with 27 goals and 16 assists.
A member of the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, she has volunteered locally with Habitat for Humanity and as part of fundraising campaigns to benefit cancer and multiple sclerosis research.
Haynes is also a member of the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Olympic Development Program team.
She signed with Wake Forest.
“I really like the size of Wake Forest, the education level and the soccer. The main thing that I need to work on to be successful in the ACC is my speed of play.”
Her future college coach, Tony Da Luz, said, “Leigh can play anywhere on the field and holds the ball well under pressure. One of her most valuable traits is that she possesses a good soccer brain.”
Haynes said she is constantly working to become a better player. “I feel that one of my strengths is that I always work very hard to improve my game.”
She played club soccer for Birmingham United Soccer Association. Her coach there, Andrew Brower, praised her work ethic.
“Leigh personifies all that is good about coaching high level youth players as she puts so much time into becoming a better player on her own,” Brower said. “Her commitment to excellence on and off the field, and more importantly the consistency to do things the right way all the time, will allow for her to be a great addition to the Wake Forest program.”
She also drew praise of opposing coaches.
“Leigh Haynes is a blue-collar type player,” said Hewitt-Trussville coach Justin Pino. “She not only has the size and strength but also the work ethic to go along with her ability. She’s very composed on the ball and can attack in multiple ways.”
She also received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America state Class 7A Player of the Year honors and first-team honors. Maggie Clemmons was also named to the state first team and Nicole Strahl was a second-team pick.
Several Mountain Brook players were recognized for All-Metro Awards. Haynes was named Super All-State, Metro Player of the Year and named to the All-Metro first team as a midfielder. Clemmons was also named to the first team. Receiving honorable mention honors were Strahl, Anna Catherine Gillespy, Elizabeth Gillespy and Laney Smith.
Clemmons has committed to play at Vanderbilt, and Lowry Neil will be attending Virginia with several scholarships.
Team awards were also announced. Haynes and Anna Catherine Gillespy were selected as team captains. They were: Most Valuable Player: Haynes; Offensive Player: Haynes; Defensive Player: Strahl; Coaches Award: Julia Garrison; Spirit Award: Kat Bryan; 12th Man Award: Elizabeth Gillespy; Newcomer of the Year: Walker Poe.