For the second consecutive year, the McMinnville High School boys soccer team saw its season come to an end on the Wortman Stadium turf. Two years ago it was in the first round of the playoffs, and this year the Grizz were bounced in the second round after battling their way to a Pacific Conference championship.

It was a disappointing loss to be sure, but coach Chuck Bechtol hopes the strides made over the past few seasons are merely a sign of things to come for the Grizzlies, fighting to return to the state championship game. Leading the way for Mac has been Jonathan Flores, Oregon’s reining Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year. So it came as no surprise when the senior midfielder was once again named the Pacific Conference Player of the Year.

“I think that just shows the respect people from throughout the league and the state have for Jonathan,” Bechtol said. “They see the caliber of player and the kind of competitor he is, so it was neat to see that.”

Also earning himself a superlative nod was Bechtol, along with Tualatin’s Eric McClellan named co-Coach of the Year. Asked about the honor, Bechtol’s first reaction is a hearty laugh. It’s an honor, he said, but much of the credit he immediately and deftly deflects to those around him.

“From my perspective, it means more to the kids than it does to me,” he said. “It’s a lot of people putting in a lot of time with those guys — Oscar (Partida) and Joe Crabtree and guys like that — that work with them from when they were younger that gives me the opportunity for that spot.

“The thing that makes a good coach is great players, and I was very fortunate to have some great players.”

Joining Flores on the first team were senior forward Jake Baker and sophomore midfielder Dustin Munger. Miguel Angeles, a sophomore midfielder, was a second team selection along with senior midfielder Edgar Manriquez. Recognized, too, for his play was sophomore goalkeeper Ryan Aker.

While Bechtol thought several of those picks were a little low, he was proud of his players and happy for the recognition they received.

“I would have hoped that Miguel would have gotten into that first team also,” he said. “I thought he had a very good year. And I think Ryan kind of got slighted based on the fact that we had a very good back four. Because I thought Ryan was probably the best keeper in the league. That all being said, it all kind of comes out in the wash. He’s a sophomore and has two more years. In the next couple of years we expect some big things from him.”

Aker will need to be a team leader after the graduation of so many senior players this season. Bechtol expects him to carry that responsibility well, and said there are several others that will need to take on more significant roles. Among that group are Munger, Jacinto Sanchez and Caleb Singharath.

“We graduate a lot of strength, but hopefully the underclassmen will be ready to pick it back up when they come back in.
“It was kind of disappointing the way it ended, but we had a good year. It’s been a long time since we’ve been a league champion around there, and hopefully we’ll keep building on that.”