With the 2023 season at its end, the Chronicle has compiled a list of the top 11 players in Lexington County for the All-County team. 

Nominations were sent in by coaches from around the area. This list includes one striker, three forwards, three midfielders, one player with midfield and forward eligibility, two defensemen and one goalkeeper.

It was a very balanced list this season. The All-County team includes players from six teams with five of those teams each having two representatives on the list. 

Jalen Tucker - Striker - Chapin

Chapin’s Tucker was the leading goal scorer (14) on a team that went 17-4 and finished in a three-way tie at the top of the Region IV-5A standings. 

Tucker was also able to record nine assists from the striker position. His accolades include being named to the All-Region IV-5A team as well as 5A All-State.

As a freshman, Tucker will have ample opportunity to continue adding to his list of career accolades.

Gavin Hardwick - Forward - Gilbert

Gilbert forward Hardwick was as good of a goal scorer as you could find in Lexington County this year. Hardwick’s 31 goals were the second most of anyone on this list and was undoubtedly the leading scorer on a successful Gilbert team that finished 15-6 in the regular season.

Hardwick’s season finished strong with a two-goal performance in Gilbert’s season ending 4-2 loss to Phillip Simmons. 

Hardwick chipped in seven assists to go along with his 31 goals. His efforts this season not only gave him All-County honors, but earned him recognition on the All-Region and All-State teams at the 3A level. 

Connor Banchero - Forward - River Bluff

River Bluff’s Banchero appears on the All-County team after a stellar season with the Gators. Banchero recorded 18 goals and out of that total, 10 of them were considered game winning goals. He scored two of those in big playoff games against both Socastee and Wando.

Banchero was named to the Region IV-5A All-Region team as well as the North-South All-Star Game. He also earned the team’s most outstanding player award. 

His efforts were enough to push River Bluff all the way to the 5A Quarterfinals. 

Kenny Kwizera - Forward - Lexington High

Kwizera was one of the best all-around forwards in Lexington County this past season. Not only was he able to record an impressive 21-goal season, but he tallied 18 assists as well. Those 18 assists are tied for the most of anyone on this All-County list. 

Kwizera was named to the 5A All-State team for the second season in a row and was the Region IV-5A Player of the Year last season. The senior forward was also named to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star Game. 

His impressive career at Lexington High not only led the Wildcats to a tremendous amount of success (including a 19-4-2 record this season and a region championship) but earned him an opportunity to continue his career at the division one college level. Kwizera will suit up for Tulsa next season.

Franklin Spires - Midfield - Lexington High

Lexington High’s Spires arguably had the most productive season in Lexington County. He scored the most goals of anyone on this list with 32 and is tied with teammate Kwizera for assists with 18. 

Spires added the Region IV-5A Player of the Year award this season to an already impressive set of career accolades. He was named to the 5A All-State team this year for the third straight year as well as being invited to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star Game. 

Spires’ efforts this season helped lead Lexington to a region title and his two-goal, one-assist performance against Woodmont helped move them into the second round of the playoffs. Like Kwizera, Spires will also play division one college soccer next year. He’s committed to play at Georgia Southern. 

Zach Hart - Midfield/Forward - Gray Collegiate 

Hart gave Gray Collegiate a well-rounded offensive boost from both the midfield and forward positions this season. He was a reliable goal scorer (21 goals) and was able to facilitate offense that directly translated into goals for his teammates (12 assists).

Along with being named to the All-County team, he was also named All-Region and All-State at the 2A level this season. 

Hart was a vital part to Gray Collegiate’s run to the 2A State Championship. In the three games leading up to the final, he scored two goals and recorded four assists during that playoff run including a goal and a n assist in the dominant 6-0 win over Greer Middle College in the 2A semifinal.

Ben Richards - Midfield - Gray Collegiate 

Richards is the second War Eagle on this list. He had an exceptional season with 10 goals and 13 assists and was crucial to helping Gray Collegiate dominate possession on a game to game basis. 

In his junior season, Richards was named Region IV-2A Player of the Year as well as being named to the 2A All-State team. 

In Gray Collegiate’s run to a state championship game appearance, Richards scored goals against both Columbia High in the second round and Saluda in the quarterfinal. 

Alex Rivera - Center Midfield - Brookland-Cayce

As a center midfielder, Rivera was the leading goal scorer (17) on a Brookland-Cayce squad that went 14-8 on the season and finished just one game shy of a Region V-3A title. In their 2-1 first round playoff loss to Hanahan, he was the only goal scorer for the Bearcats. 

Rivera also displayed an ability to distribute as he recorded five assists on the season. He was named to the Region V-3A All-Region team and the 3A All-State team in addition to his All-County selection. 

Next year, Rivera will be beginning his college soccer career at Francis Marion University. 

Thomas Holstein - Defender - Chapin

Holstein was the defensive anchor on one of the best defensive teams in the state at the 5A level. The Chapin Eagles went 17-4 on the season in large part because they only gave up 19 goals all season long. Much of that credit can be attributed to Holstein.

Holstein contributed to some of the scoring as well with six goals and three assists but his defensive impact earned him All-Region and All-State honors this season. He’ll also be appearing in the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star Game. 

John Allen Mower - Defender - Brookland-Cayce

Mower was a crucial part of the 2023 Brookland-Cayce Bearcats. As team captain, he led the team in minutes played this year and was the defensive anchor along with goaltending standout Iker Alonzo Cruz.

While, as a defender, Mower wasn’t tasked with doing the scoring, he still netted four goals with two of them being game winning goals. 

Mower was named to Region V-3A’s All-Region team and the 3A All-State squad this season for his efforts at Brookland-Cayce. 

Charlie Godwin - Goaltender - River Bluff

In a county loaded with great goaltenders, Godwin stood out the most. At River Bluff, he only surrendered 12 goals all season and recorded 11 shutouts with an eye-popping goals against average of 0.81.

Godwin also came up big in some of River Bluff’s biggest games, including back to back road playoff shutouts against Socastee and Wando to propel the Gators into the state quarterfinals. 

Godwin was named to the Region IV-5A All-Region team and selected to the North-South Senior All-Star Game. 

Honorable Mentions

Daniel Augustin (Gilbert), Alejandro Gonzales (Gilbert), Jesse Watson (Gilbert), Junior Gonzalez (Gray Collegiate), Joey Sullivan (Gray Collegiate), Jon Coonce (Gray Collegiate), Owen Deer (River Bluff), Logan Watchinski (River Bluff), Jackson Lohr (River Bluff), Carson Graves (Chapin), Luke Hilton (Chapin), Tillman McClure (Chapin), Kei Blu Soe (Irmo), Josue Reyes (Irmo), Gaines Roberts (Irmo), Jacob Sawyer (Irmo), Barrett Wilson (Lexington), Joseph Gherardi (Lexington), Iker Alonzo Cruz (Brookland-Cayce)