For the second year in a row, the top boys’ soccer player in the Northwest Conference is from Meridian High School.

Meridian senior Alex Couweleers was named comost valuable player of the NWC on Thursday after leading the conference in scoring and helping the Trojans to the Class 1A state tournament. Joining him as co-MVP was Mount Vernon’s Oscar Jimenez.

Couweleers was one of several players from Whatcom County to receive recognition. Selected to the All-NWC first team last season, Couweleers joins former teammate Jake Jorgensen as an NWC MVP who has played for Meridian.

Two Whatcom County players also received all- NWC first-team honors for a second year in a row. Ferndale’s Ben Sowers was selected to the first-team at forward after being picked as a defender last season and Squalicum’s Connor Shipman was picked at forward for the second straight time. Mount Vernon’s Tony Dabbs was named coach of the year.

Other local first-team selections included Lynden goalie Eric Kodama, defenders Justin Rubright and Anthony Zanin from Ferndale and Bellingham’s Kenny Schaumberg, and midfielders Matt Sanchez and Ryan Flood from Bellingham, Ferndale’s Caden Sowers, and Sehome’s Tony Mihovilovich. First-team forwards from Whatcom County were Sowers and Shipman, and Bellingham’s Jimmy Lee and Nolan Shepherd.

For a complete list of teams as selected by NWC coaches see Prep Scoreboard on C5.

SPRING SPORTS SEE SEVERAL EJECTIONS

The number of players and coaches ejected from WIAA competitions around the state during the spring sports season has reached a level of concern.

Nearly 50 athletes or coaches have been ejected from WIAA competitions this spring as of May 5 according to numbers released at the monthly Northwest Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board Meeting. Of particular concern to the WIAA was the high number of coaches that have been kicked out of games this spring.

MOUNT BAKER LOOKING FOR COACH

Mount Baker High School is looking to fill an assistant volleyball coach position for the fall season. The school is looking for a candidate to assist on either the high school junior varsity or ‘C’ team.

Those interested can reach Mount Baker athletic director Brenda Terpstra at 383-2015 ext. 4512.