Jones, Warren, Wheeler and Litteken receive State/Sectional accolades

By Fred Kroner

Four members of the Mahomet-Seymour soccer team have received recognition as either all-sectional or all-state players, based on their regular-season play.

Senior Kai Jones (who has a school season record 30 assists in 2023) is the Bulldogs’ third-ever all-state selection.

For his varsity career, Jones has 18 goals and 55 assists (a school career record) and Davis said, “all the while acting as the glue to connect the Bulldogs’ different levels.”

Senior Isaac Warren is a repeat choice as an all-sectional player in voting done by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA). He is second in career points at M-S (for combined goals and assists) with 96. He trails only teammate Wheeler, and earlier this season supplanted former school-record holder Eli Warren (his brother), who compiled 85 career points between 2018-21. Eli Warren is now third on the school’s career scoring list.

Senior Nolan Wheeler also earned all-sectional accolades. His 36 goals this season rank second on M-S’ all-time season list (behind Grant Brewer, who had 43 in 2004). Wheeler’s career point total of 97 is the all-time school record and he also holds the program’s record for career goals with 70.

The fourth M-S honoree is junior goalkeeper Hayden Litteken. He has nine shutouts this season and is allowing an average of less than one goal per match. He was also an all-sectional choice.

In 23 matches, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents, 107-22 while registering 13 shutouts. The 2022 M-S team recorded a school-record 14 shutouts.

Bulldog fifth-year assistant coach Tim Payne, who is in charge of the school’s successful junior varsity program, was picked as the IHSSCA Assistant Coach of the Year for the Central Illinois region.

The M-S junior varsity squad was 12-5-2 this season and is 63-15-6 during Payne’s tenure.