Houston High girls’ soccer standout excels on the boys team, named all-conference

HOUSTON — The 2018 girls soccer season was over before it even began for the Houston Hawks.

But that led to an unexpected opportunity for about 10 Houston girls, and an achievement for one player that’s typically unheard of.

Houston sophomore standout Denali Whitted and about nine of her teammates were invited to join the Houston boys’ squad for the season, and Whitted was named first-team All-Northern Lights Conference.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Houston coach Steve Day said of Whitted being named first-team all-conference on the boys’ team. “I saw most of the teams in the region, and really in my mind, there wasn’t really anybody out there better than her as far as soccer goes.”

After leading the Houston girls to the NLC region tournament for the first time in school history last season, Day was forced to help make a tough decision early this spring. After having only about 10 players on the practice field, Houston was forced to cancel its girls’ soccer season. Day said he wanted to keep the group intact and practicing. Redington offered the Hawks girls a chance to play for its girls team. But the Houston boys and girls coaches opted to merge the two Houston squads, and everyone would suit up for the Houston boys.

“I was pretty excited,” Whitted said about the chance to play with the boys.

Whitted said she was also excited to be part of the boys’ all-conference team.

“I was really surprised, really excited about it,” Whitted said.

Whitted, a center midfielder, said the transition from girls to boys soccer was fairly easy for her.

“The guys are a lot tougher, but that’s just something you have to pick up,” Whitted said.

Day said he didn’t see much of a transition for Whitted at all.

“It was seamless,” Day said. “With her all-around soccer play, knowledge, maturity, she’s the best player in the program.”

Day said playing with and against boys is good for an aspiring college soccer player like Whitted.

“I think it was a really good decision for her,” Day said. “It helps with speed of play, physical ability.”

Whitted, who has been playing soccer since she was about 4 years old, said she wants to play at the next level.

“I’m shooting for Division II or at least Division III,” Whitted said.

Whitted, who also plays competitive club soccer, has been invited to compete on a team coached by Day in the USA Cup tournament in Minnesota in July. Day said it’s a great chance for Whitted to be seen by college coaches. Day said he believes Whitted will play college soccer.

“No-brainer,” Day said.

Whitted is a multi-sport athlete at Houston High. She also plays basketball and volleyball, and is the kicker on the football team. Whitted also does well in the classroom, and was one of 10 Mat-Su Borough School District students selected to travel to Washington D.C., next week as part of the Close Up program.

Valley players named All-NLC

Whitted was one of eight Valley players to be named first-team All-NLC.

Houston’s Robert Ritter, Redington’s AJ Smith, and Palmer’s Isaiah Montoya and Manveer Singh were also included on the boys’ first-team list. Palmer’s Kiley Fish, Catherine Uschmann and Delaney Shults were named first-team for the girls.

Palmer’s Kyle Berberich, Jeremy Houston and Duston Corbin; Redington’s Tolupo Falaniko and Jaiden Straughn; and Houston’s Izaak Goodman were named to the boys’ second team. Palmer’s Shaleen Tolbert and Dory Schneider, and Redington’s Ecem Collins, Johanne Schumann and Abigaile Fuller were named to the girls’ second team.

Palmer girls’ mentor Harmony Chadwick was named an NLC Coach of the Year. Redington’s David Adams was named the NLC Coach of the Year for the boys.

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