The Bainbridge High School Bearcat and Lady Cat soccer teams had a number of players recognized within the region this season, including senior midfielder Luis Mejia, who earned the honor of Region 1-AAAAA Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The Bearcats also had four players placed on First Team All-Region, three players on Second Team All-Region and one Honorable Mention.

Bearcat coach Mike Lewis said as a new coach, he expected the team’s culture to change.

However, he was impressed with the maturity of the players and how quickly they adjusted to win soccer games.

“For that many young men off of one team to make All-Region and one honorable mention – It ends up being eight players off one team,” Lewis said in praise of the hard work his players put in.

Mejia was recognized on the First Team list as BHS’s all-time score and assist leader with 62 goals and 49 assists. This season, he shot 18 goals and had 15 assists.

Junior forward and striker Emilio Hernandez, who had 20 goals and nine assists this season, was named to First Team All-Region. Senior midfielder Daniel Provence, who had seven goals and six assists, and senior goalkeeper Dominic Douglas, a three time All-Region honoree, also made the First Team list.

The three players on the Second Team list were freshman forward Leroy Rivera with 14 goals and one assist, Sophomore defender Jay Castro with four goals and two assists and junior sweeper Alex Ward with one goal.

Senior midfielder Emiliano Rivera received Honorable Mention. He had five goals and eight assists this season.

The Bearcats ended their season with a 13-2-1 record and made school history when they won the 20-year program’s first state playoff win.

The Lady Cats were also honored on the All-Region list, with one player making First Team, two making second team and one landing on the Honorable Mention list.

Sophomore defender Tianna Miller made the First Team list.

“She came onto the scene this year as one of our strongest marking backs and did a great job and usually had to take on the best player of the other team,” Lady Cats coach Chip Ariail said.

On Second Team, junior midfielder Jennifer Becerra was recognized for her three goals and two assists this season.

Senior midfielder and captain Paige Braswell also landed on Second Team. Braswell is a four-year varsity player and was named BHS’s Athlete of the Year. She is attending West Georgia this fall on a cross-country scholarship.

Making Honorable Mention was sophomore defender and midfielder Derrical Williams, who was a fast and relentless player on the field.