Iowa all-state boys’ soccer 2023: Marion record-setter Jackson Kirsch named Mr. Soccer

An unprecedented goal-scoring campaign resulted in Iowa high school soccer’s top individual honor.

Marion senior Jackson Kirsch became the first Iowa high school boys’ soccer player to score 70 goals in a season and was named 2023 Mr. Iowa Soccer by the Iowa High School Soccer Coaches Association on Monday.

Kirsch captained a Wolves team that went 19-1 and reached the Class 3A state semifinals. He did a lot more than score goals from his preferred position in the center of the field.

“It’s definitely a lot more defensive, obviously (than playing up top as the striker), but I really like it. I like to play both sides of the ball,” Kirsch said after Marion’s 3-1 win over Denison-Schleswig in the state quarterfinals. “When I play up top, I’m usually more of a shadow defender. I force the ball one way. But I really like to be more of an enforcer and win the ball in the middle, where I can play more defensively.”

Kirsch was joined on the Class 3A all-state first team by Marion senior goalkeeper Calen Claypool. The Wolves allowed only three goals all season, two of which came against eventual state champion Iowa City Liberty in the 3A semifinals.

Kirsch, who will continue his career at Drake University, totaled 128 goals in basically only two high school seasons. His freshman year was wiped out by the pandemic and he was injured for much of 2021. Marion advanced to state all three seasons.

“Being able to utilize (Kirsch) anywhere in games that really matter, that pushes this team to the next level,” Marion Coach Kory Boebel said after the team’s state quarterfinal win.

Liberty defender Haider Nasr and midfielder Hayden Saul were also first-team all-state honorees in 3A after leading the Lightning to their first state championship. Both scored in the team’s 5-0 win over Norwalk in the title game. Goalkeeper Conley Sunblad and forward Flori Gembo were named to the second team, while midfielder Roman Riggs received honorable mention.

Michael Nelson scored five state tournament goals during Iowa City West’s run to the Class 4A title game and received first-team all-state honors. The start of his senior season was slowed by injury, but he finished with a team-high 17 goals for the 4A runner-up. Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Lwings Kabula and Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Gavin Lewis also received first-team honors.

Juan Mateo of West Liberty was named to the Class 1A first team. He led the class in goals and was fourth overall with 40 for a state-qualifying team.

Midfielders Braeden Brown of Williamsburg and Jake Magner of Decorah were first-team honorees in Class 2A.

Jimmy Frizzell was named Coach of the Year after leading Johnston to its first state championship.

Class 4A all-state first team

Goalkeeper

Jack Kilstrom, sr., Pleasant Valley

Defense

Chase Oetker, sr., Ames

Grant Strickler, sr., Johnston

Brandon Orellana-Lemus, sr., West Des Moines Valley

Midfield

Lwings Kabula, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

Gavin Lewis, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Mateo Munguia, jr., Johnston

Issac Kelgbeh, jr., Waterloo West

Forwards

Cole Shrage, sr., Waukee Northwest

Michael Avery, sr., Sioux City North

Preston Kipnusu, jr., West Des Moines Valley

Andrew Heckenliable, jr., Ankeny Centennial

Michael Nelson, sr., Iowa City West

Jonathan Mendez, soph., West Des Moines Dowling

Jose Balderas, sr., Des Moines East

Class 4A all-state second team

Goalkeeper

Aidan Neumann, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Defense

Logan Vargas, jr., Council Bluffs Lincoln

Jeffrey Rinker, sr., Pleasant Valley

Midfield

Ty Duax, jr., Ankeny Centennial

Eric Moncada, sr., Waukee Northwest

Alima Mmunga, sr., Iowa City High

Ian Campbell, jr., West Des Moines Valley

Henrry Abarca, jr., West Des Moines Dowling

Forwards

Zach Cuva, soph., Ames

Kyron Pope, soph., Johnston

Junior Jose Pineda Fernandez, sr., Ottumwa

Kaleab Wendy, jr., Iowa City West

Class 4A all-state honorable mention

(Area only)

Devin Bormann, jr., Linn-Mar

Class 3A all-state first team

Goalkeeper

Calen Claypool, sr., Marion

Defense

Caden Endres, jr., Norwalk

Haider Nasr, jr., Iowa City Liberty

Majaliwa Irene, jr., Des Moines Hoover

Midfield

Ben Musengo, jr., Des Moines Hoover

Hayden Saul, sr., Iowa City Liberty

Jack Brown, sr., Norwalk

Peyton Meier, jr., Adel ADM

Tate McDermott, jr., Dallas Center-Grimes

Forwards

Ben Jackson, jr., Dallas Center-Grimes

Brayden Shepard, jr., Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Jackson Kirsch, sr., Marion

Logan Soloman, sr., Pella

Max Lauman, jr., Pella

Class 3A all-state second team

Goalkeeper

Conley Sunblad, sr., Iowa City Liberty

Midfield

Adriene Robles, sr., Council Bluffs Lewis Central

Austin Kruse, jr., Bondurant-Farrar

Brady Birkenholtz, jr., Carlisle

Carson Kay, sr., Adel ADM

Ian MacRae, soph., Spencer

Nate Lampe, jr., Newton

Forwards

Christhian Ramirez, sr., Humboldt

Flori Gembo, sr., Iowa City Liberty

Gavin Pienkowski, soph., Carlisle

Owen Olsen, sr., Spencer

Xander Wellman, sr., Fort Madison

Class 3A all-state honorable mention

(Area only)

Emanuel Raymundo, jr., Washington

Jacob Klein, jr., Cedar Rapids Washington

Mwena Tambwe, jr., Cedar Rapids Washington

Roman Riggs, soph., Iowa City Liberty

Wyatt Herting, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Class 2A all-state first team

Goalkeeper

Carson Cecil, soph., Knoxville

Defense

Owen Kautman, sr., Gilbert

Luke Klostermann, sr., Davenport Assumption

Midfield

Caden Johnson, sr., Glenwood

Braeden Brown, sr., Williamsburg

Jake Magner, sr., Decorah

Forwards

Sergio Mijangos, soph., Sioux City Heelan

Drew Robinson, sr., Nevada

Mason Smith, jr., Chariton

Anthony Chavez, sr., Perry

Eduardo Perez, jr., Webster City

Gesser Gutierres, jr., Greene County

Travaughn Luyobya, sr., Clear Lake

Class 2A all-state second team

Goalkeeper

Casey Godbout, jr., Glenwood

Defense

George Tsiabanos, jr., Sioux City Heelan

Alejandro Banuelo, sr., Perry

Midfield

Edgar Cabrera, sr., Nevada

Hunter Lillie, sr., Burlington Notre Dame

Eddie Fuentes, soph., Webster City

Jackson Johnson, jr., Gilbert

Jose Velazco, sr., Greene County

Owen Trimpe, sr., Mid-Prairie

Keegan Conway, soph., Solon

Forwards

Roberto Madrano, sr., Davenport Assumption

Alex Eisbach, sr., Dubuque Wahlert

Mason Eggelston, soph., Williamsburg

Class 2A all-state honorable mention

(Area only)

Ryan Keller, sr., Center Point-Urbana

Class 1A all-state first team

Goalkeeper

Nate Gerling, jr., West Central Valley

Defense

Ryder Davidson, jr., Treynor

Kyler White, soph., North Fayette Valley

Austin Betts, sr., Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Bronson Buitenwerf, sr., Garner GHV

Graham Jensen, jr., Underwood

Midfield

Kaden Ogie, jr., Underwood

Isaac Clark, jr., Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Tyler Nolder, sr., Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Andre Fuentes, jr., North Fayette Valley

Danny Kinsella, jr., Treynor

Forwards

Juan Mateo, sr., West Liberty

Sam Burmeister, sr., Treynor

Class 1A all-state second team

Goalkeeper

Max Anderson, jr., Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Defense

Aidan Ouwinga, jr., Western Christian

Carter Slenk, sr., Unity Christian

Will Lipsius, sr., Iowa City Regina

Blake Carolan, sr. Hudson

Caleb Holthaus, sr., Waterloo Columbus

Midfield

Dyson Rasmussen, jr., Underwood

Jack Hoover, jr., Iowa City Regina

Kyle Irwin, fr., Council Bluffs St. Albert

Aiden Hunemuller, sr., Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Eddie Petersen, jr., Iowa City Regina

Forwards

Grant Dunn, soph., Des Moines Christian

Marcus Blount, sr., Clinton Prince of Peace

Class 1A all-state honorable mention

(Area only)

Joe Hamann, jr., West Branch

Trenton Schutte, jr., West Branch

Quinn Warren, jr., Iowa City Regina

Comments: nathan.ford@thegazette.com