Mendez named league MVP, Wilkerson coach of year

Bonners Ferry senior soccer player Miguel Mendez was voted Most Valuable Player for the Intermountain League during last weekend’s District 1 playoffs in Post Falls.

In a related matter, Wayne Wilkerson was recognized as Coach of the Year after his Badgers won the league this year. Wilkerson in 2007 won Coach of the Year for Idaho’s 3A schools.

“It is well deserved,” athletic director Ted Reynolds said about Wilkerson. “When I look what he has done over the course of the year, there is a ton of improvement. I see a team that respects their coach and a coach that respects his players.”

Five Badgers were named to the All-League, 11-man all-star team. Seniors Miguel Mendez, Mike Strappelli, John Wakkinen and Jody Wilkerson along with sophomore defender Alex Mendez earned first-team honors.

The boys, who are 11-4-3 for the season, will return to Post Falls at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, in hopes of defeating St. Maries and advancing to the state tournament. It runs from Thursday, Oct. 23, to Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Boise Capital Soccer Complex in Meridian.

St. Maries qualified for the final round by defeating Orofino 3–2 last week. Bonners has defeated the Lum-berjacks in both meetings this year.

The Badgers thrashed Priest River 9–0 in the first round of the District 1 playoffs to go against St. Maries.

Against Priest River, the Badgers received first-half goals from Wilkerson and Miguel Mendez to take a 2–0 lead at the half. Mendez tallying his second score in the 44th minute off a Wilkerson assist, and senior Strappelli scoring in the 51st minute with an assist to Mendez.

Freshmen Sergei Dawson and Daniel Palacios scored the next three goals, with sophomore midfielder Aaron Moe credited for three assists. Seniors Chris Gerhardt and Vince Skjeveland tallied the final goals for Bonners.