With midfielder Brooks Hilger helping lead the way for McCallie, the Blue Tornado have been one of the top boys’ high school soccer programs in the country the past two seasons.
So it was no surprise when Hilger, a sophomore this past spring, was selected for the second straight year when the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its all-state boys’ soccer teams late Tuesday night. He was among three players from McCallie and seven from the Chattanooga area on the list of honorees across multiple TSSAA classifications.
Hilger excelled in the Division II-AA state final at last month’s Spring Fling in Murfreesboro, scoring two goals and converting a penalty kick in a shootout as the Blue Tornado, seeking to repeat as state champions, lost to Montgomery Bell Academy. The match was tied at 2 after regulation and overtime, and MBA prevailed 7-6 on its ninth attempt in the shootout.
The McCallie star could have easily had another goal in the title match, too, as he was tripped in the box early in the second half with no penalty awarded. Hilger finished the season with eight goals and five assists, but his contributions aren’t completely conveyed by those numbers.
“If we had played Brooks in the same position he was last year, he would have scored 15 to 20 goals,” McCallie coach Chris Cushenbery said. “He is twice as good as he was last year, and he was without question the best player on the field in the state championship game. His stats (for the season) don’t jump out at you because he played holding midfield and he was the only holder, which meant he couldn’t consistently go up (the field).”
The Blue Tornado’s other two all-state selections this year were junior defender Darius Otchere and junior midfielder/striker Alejandro Dominguez.
Otchere’s awareness, on-ball skills, one-on-one play, strength, speed and shiftiness made him one of the best defenders in the state for the second straight season. McCallie allowed just 20 goals in as many games despite having to start a freshman keeper for more than a third of the season with senior Ryan Larrabee, a 2024 TSWA all-state selection, out due to a broken hand.
“Darius’ development has been spectacular,” Cushenbery said. “He is a complete player. He’s a lockdown defender with elite speed and strength, but he’s also a first-class playmaker in possession. He and Brooks Hilger were co-region player of the year. Center backs don’t ever win that award. For him to win it shows his level. He is elite.”
Dominguez provided electricity for the Blue Tornado on both halves of the field, which included sharing the team lead of 14 goals with senior Ryan Rodriguez. The two talented goal scorers stepped right in for a Blue Tornado bunch who had to replace the players responsible for 43 of their 56 goals scored in an unbeaten 2024 season, during which Cushenbery’s team earned a No. 1 national ranking.
“After losing what we did last year, most predicted we were going to be just above a .500 team this year,” Cushenbery said. “I am so proud of what the guys did this year. We were the only team from the area to make it to the state title game, and we had the third-toughest strength of schedule in the country, according to MaxPreps.”
The McCallie trio were joined on the DII-AA all-state team by two players from Chattanooga Christian School, which advanced to the sectional round, falling one win short of the Spring Fling and the state semifinals for that classification.
CCS senior defender Urban Tucker was a tough assignment for the opposition as he was strong in the air and also dynamic on his throw-ins. He had eight goals and 16 assists through an undefeated regular season in which the Chargers went 15-0-1.
Meanwhile, junior forward Ethan Regis used his speed and ball-striking ability to lead the Chargers with 19 goals — which he accumulated through their 15-game winning streak — while adding a half-dozen assists.
Other TSWA all-state selections from the Chattanooga area were Boyd Buchanan senior Andrew Pollard (21 goals) in Division II-A and Chattanooga Prep junior Adrick Hall (34 goals) in Class A.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.
TSWA ALL-STATE BOYS’ SOCCER 2025
Names of Chattanooga-area selections in bold
Class A
F: Adrick Hall, Chattanooga Prep, Jr.; Brandon Ramirez, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.; Tristian Ramirez, Independence Academy, So. MF: Adam Atkinson, Lakeland Prep, So.; Jossemar Marcos, Madison Academic, Sr.; Diego Pita, STEM Prep, Sr.; Yonathan Valdez, Pigeon Forge, Sr. D: Caden Brooks, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.; Stiven Colbert, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.; Darwin Gomez, Pigeon Forge, Jr. GK: Edgar Benetiz, STEM Prep, Sr.; Edwin Ramirez, Independence Academy, Sr.
Class AA
F: Angel Fuentes, Station Camp, Jr.; Cameron Harp, South-Doyle, Jr.; Christian Sentz, Giles County, Sr. MF: Yefri Banegas Sosa, Fulton, Sr.; Ryan Hendon, Station Camp, Jr.; Roger Oseguera Cruz, South-Doyle, Jr.; Diego Silva, David Crockett, Sr. D: Denis Reina Padilla, Fulton, Sr.; Finn Straussfogel, South-Doyle, Jr.; Will Williams, Station Camp, Sr. GK: Jonah Mitchell, South-Doyle, Sr.; Holden Preston, Station Camp, Jr.
Class AAA
F: Ben Brophy, Hardin Valley, Sr.; Aiden Pierpoint, Page, Jr.; Maddox Terwilliger, Bartlett, Sr. MF: Tristiano Alfano, Franklin, Sr.; Sonny French, Hendersonville, Jr.; Frankie Manrod, Hardin Valley, Sr.; Arturo Ramirez, Bartlett, Jr. D: Chase Brakman, Franklin, Sr.; Tyler Kose, Ravenwood, Sr.; Lincoln Unger, Farragut, Jr. GK: Adam Leonard, Hardin Valley, Sr.; Logan Nelson, Bearden, Sr.
Division II-A
F: Felipe Evans, Knoxville Grace, Sr.; Andrew Pollard, Boyd Buchanan, Sr.; Colby Stokely, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Jr. MF: Vitor Campista, Bell Buckle Webb, So.; Diego Dourado, Knoxville Grace, Jr.; Nadji Ghandour, Lausanne Collegiate, Sr.; Pedro Ungarello, Knoxville Grace, Sr. D: Sam Dyer, Lausanne Collegiate, Sr.; Deron Ferguson, Bell Buckle Webb, Sr.; Carson Lee, Knoxville Grace, Sr. GK: Stephen Sampson, Knoxville Grace, Sr.; Hunter Tolleson, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.
Division II-AA
F: Alejandro Dominguez, McCallie, Jr.; Camden Holiday, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr.; Ethan Regis, Chattanooga Christian, Jr. MF: Brooks Hilger, McCallie, So.; Hayden Mulrooney, Christian Brothers, Jr.; Terrance Reynolds, Ensworth, Jr.; Bo Robbins, Montgomery Bell Academy, Jr. D: Sayan Dalai, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.; Darius Otchere, McCallie, Jr.; Urban Tucker, Chattanooga Christian, Sr. GK: Graham Smith, Ensworth, Sr.; Hayes Weller, Montgomery Bell Academy, Jr.