Eight Cougars named to All-Conference team; Seven earn All-Region

Eight members of the Barton Community College men's soccer team were recently selected to the 2013 Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference All-Conference team with seven landing on the All-Region VI team.  The Cougars placed six on the conference first team with two additional players landing on the second team, while four landed on the region first team with three on the second. The eight selections follow an 11-5-1 season under first-year Head Coach Kewley, as the Cougars won their second straight conference championship sharing the honor with Coffeyville Community College.  Both Barton and Coffeyville's seasons came to an abrupt end getting upset in the Region VI semifinals.  The championship crown was also the eighth title in twelve years the Cougars were eligible for the title.

Earning first team conference and region selections were sophomores Ebu Camara, Jovanny Bonilla, Dinafor Kori, and Mauricio Vargas.  Earning first team conference honors were Hector Mata and Juan Correa, the lone freshman Barton selection.   Landing on the conference's second team were sophomores Mariano Gelso and Carter Way, with Way also adding second team region honors.

1st Team All-Conference and All-Region Selections:

Jovanny Bonilla
Perhaps the Cougars' most improved player from the 2012, Jovanny Bonilla's dribbling and passing skills made for being a constant threat to the defense.  With great speed and fantastic work rate, Bonilla read the game making a difference in the Cougar attack in becoming a great all-around player.

Ebu Camara
A 4-time first team selection combining both the conference and region honors, Camara was a special soccer talent.  At 6'1", Ebu Camara's combination of skillful dribbling coupled with blazing speed made a constant threat to any defense.  Carrying the offense at times this season, Camara led the Cougars with five game winning goals, as well as, led the team with six assists.  The top goal scorer for the Cougars the past two seasons, Camara tied Sam McCrillis with the team lead his freshman season with eighteen.  Adding fifteen additional goals during his sophomore season, Camara's career mark fell one shy of Ellis' top mark of thirty-four set in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.  Camara also finished his Barton career just outside the top ten in career points with ten, bringing his total points to seventy-six, the fourth best achievement in Barton history.

Dinafor Kori
Another Cougar who improved vastly from his freshman season, Dinafor Kori anchored the Cougar defense playing numerous positions on the field utilizing his great speed, strength, and defensive skills.  Primarily a center-back, Kori possessed solid ball skills making him tough to handle in one-on-one situations.  From his defensive position, Kori's three assists tied three other Cougars for second-most as he set up numerous offensive attacks.

Mauricio Vargas
A first team all-conference selection his freshman season, Mauricio Vargas was the Cougars starting goalkeeper in each game the past two seasons. Vargas' shot saving ability is second to none with domination in the penalty box coming up with countless big saves time after time.  Vargas was not only a defensive leader on the field but also led by example both on and off the field.  Named the conference goalkeeper of the week six times this season and ten total in his two-year career, Vargas ranks as one of the top four goalkeepers in Barton history.

1st Team All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Region Selections:
Juan Correa
Another player with fantastic ball skills, freshman midfielder Juan Correa had a huge impact at Barton ranking second on the team with seven goals and sixteen assists.  Correa's excellent ball skills made many defenders look foolish at various times seeing everything on the field to be a constant threat to any defense, as well as, a very capable defender.  

Hector Mata
Midfielder Hector Mata had great season utilizing his silky ball skills and great passing ability to make a difference in the Cougar offense this year.   Mata vastly improved his defensive skills and work rate from his freshman year developing in a solid all-around player. 

2nd Team All-Conference and All-Region Selection:
Carter Way
A first team conference and second team selection his freshman season, defender Carter Way was quietly one of the unsung top performers for the Cougars this year.  An excellent two way player, Way not only played great defense but was also a constant threat from the offensive end.  The ability to play any position on the field doing a lot of work not evident in a stat sheet, Way's three assists tied three other Cougars for second-most on the team.  

2nd Team All-Conference Selection:
Mariana Gelso
Another unsung and overlooked performer for the Cougars this year was team captain Mariano Gelso.  A repeat second team conference selection, the sophomore midfielder was an unselfish leader on the field willing to do anything for the team.  Possessing excellent ball handling and passing skills, Gelso finished tied for second most assists on the team with three while his four goals and eleven points ranked third.

A complete list of the KJCCC All-Conference and All-Region team can be found at www.kjccc.org.