by joanna

Northwest’s Austin Clifton, who led the Grizzlies to an undefeated season and the Class 6A title, was named Kansas’ Gatorade Player of the Year.

Below is a portion of the press release that was sent out.

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound senior forward led the Grizzlies to a 21-0 record and the Class 6A state championship this past season. Clifton scored 28 goals and passed for eight assists, including a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Blue Valley Northwest High in the state semifinals. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Clifton is a two-time First Team All-State honoree. Clifton, who transferred to Northwest from Wichita South High after his sophomore year, concluded his two seasons as a Grizzly with 51 goals and 18 assists.

Clifton has maintained a 3.55 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally with the Meals on Wheels Association of America, the Northwest Booster Club and as a mentor and coach for special-needs children.

“Austin went to high school and played up front and he’s been banging goals in the last two years,” said Sammy Lane, Clifton’s club coach with Evolution FC. “Once he got the confidence of scoring goals in high school, it changed his belief that he could be a good player. He really flourished into being the best player around here.”

Clifton has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Fort Hays State University this fall.