Crimson Bears boys earn top all-conference soccer honors

Klas Stolpe
May 22
2 min read

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jesper Bennetsen, junior Sam Mazon first team

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jesper Bennetsen (8) defends a Chugiak player at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Bennetsen earned Railbelt Conference first-team honors this week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent).

By Klas Stolpe

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer team earned numerous Railbelt Conference awards this week. RBC coaches vote on the honors and cannot vote for their own players.

JDHS senior Jesper Bennetsen and junior Sam Mazon were selected to the first team All-Conference.

JDHS junior Sam Mazon (10) splits Colony defenders at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Friday, May 8, 2026. Mazon earned Railbelt Conference first-team honors this week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent).

JDHS senior defender/midfielder Elliot Welch and sophomore defender/midfielder Bryce Haygood were selected to the second team and senior John Melancon was chosen for a Good Sport Award.

West Valley senior midfielder/forward Koen Aitken was selected Most Valuable Player and West Valley’s Damon Crutcher the Coach of the Year.

First team all-conference: JDHS - sr Jesper Bennetsen, so Sam Mazon;

WV - sr Koen Aitken, sr midfielder Quinn Willies, jr forward Django Gianakopolous, sr defender Adom Lassey; Colony - sr midfielder Axel Simeck, sr midfielder Blake Carveth, jr defender Mason Carveth; Wasilla - so midfielder Ashton Bair, sr midfielder Kolby Shumway, so striker Haden Richardson; Lathrop - sr midfielder Nelson Wappett, sr midfielder Lucas Naber.

JDHS senior Elliot Welch (36) strikes a shot against Chugiak at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park pitch on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Welch earned Railbelt Conference 2nd team honors this week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent).

Second team all-conference: JDHS - sr Elliot Welch, so Bryce Haygood; WV - sr midfielder Pete Hilpert, jr defender Cole Stumpf, so midfielder Jonas Wilhelm; COL - so defender Knut Haugland, sr midfielder Alex King; WAS - so Kolt Russell, jr midfielder Zane Kroon, so Niclas Ritschel.

Honorable mention: COL - sr forward Kris Belanger, jr keeper Aiden Fisher; WAS - jr Jason Bowen; LATH - sr forward Elijah Hoop, jr defender Jake Tansy.

Good Sport Awards: JDHS sr John Melancon, WV sr Pete Hilpert, COL sr defender Tre Brewster, WAS so keeper Bo Hale, LATH sr Nelson Wappett.

2026 RBC boys team results: 1st WV; 2nd COL; 3rd JDHS; 4th WAS; 5th LATH.