Colony senior named Railbelt’s top boys’ soccer player

PALMER — Colony head coach Jeremy Johnson had the highest praise for senior Cade Johnstone.

“We don’t have a Colony Hall of Fame yet, but when we do, he’ll be in it,” Johnson said of Johnstone, who has been named the Railbelt Conference Player of the Year for boys’ soccer.

Johnstone, a center midfielder, is a four-year starter and four-year first-team all- conference selection for the Knights.

“His skill set is pretty much unmatched,” Johnson said.

Johnson, who has led Colony to a pair of state titles since taking the reins of the Knights boys’ program in 1995, said Johnstone is among the best he’s ever coached at CHS.

“Just amazing,” Johnson said of Johnstone’s abilities.

Johnson said Johnstone has the versatility to play any position.

“He’s truly a utility player. He can play for us anywhere,” Johnson said.

Johnstone even backed into the net and played goalkeeper last season for the Knights when both of their goalies were injured.

“He’s an all-around player for us,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Johnstone has taken on more of a defensive role this year to help the team.

Johnstone is not the first member of his family to be named conference player of the year honors. His older sister Peyton was named her conference’s top player during her freshman and senior seasons.

Johnstone is one of five Knights to be named first-team all-conference. Martin Jones, Noah Krozel, Kyle Dearborn and Mikey Shower were also named first-team. Eric Kolosau represented Wasilla on the first team.

Johnson was named the boys’ coach of the year for the Railbelt.

Colony’s Caleb Covington and Danny Vallejo, and Wasilla’s Gavin Barnes was named second team. Wasilla’s Dennis Gerasmisyak was named an honorable mention.

Railbelt girls champion Wasilla landed four players on the first-team list, with Alexis Friesen, Abby Crawford, Shayla Donley and Aleks Kvalheim earning honors. Colony’s Madison Zmuda, Stirling Elliott and Madison Elliott were also named first-team.

Wasilla’s Kamryn Broach, Reese Sande, Nicole Catlett, and Colony’s Mykaela McMullen, Madison Wakaliuk and Kira Fagerstrom were named second-team. Colony’s Myah Hoover was listed as an honorable mention.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.