By ALDO AMATO / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY — After a standout season playing defender for Oak Mountain, Christian Adkins is the Shelby County Reporter boys’ soccer Player of the Year.
“It means a lot to me and my family,” Adkins said. “This honor truly shows that hard work and dedication pays off.”
Although the defender position is not the most glamorous as far as goal-scoring goes, it was most likely the most crucial position on the Eagles squad this year with Adkins manning it. During the 11-12 season, Adkins set up four goals on assists while also scoring 7 goals of his own, including two game winning ones.
Adkins said that his goal as a team captain was to put his team in the best position to win, whether that meant setting his teammates up or taking shots on goal.
“As a defender, you control the team and how they play,” he said. “But when I go forward a lot, I try to make the most of it.”
Adkins said mentorship he received by two people in his life played a key role in his success on the field.
“A former player at Oak Mountain, David Jackson, really helped in my development,” he said. “We’d work out and train together so he was sort of like an older brother to me.”
Adkins said that his father Ernie, a former goalkeeper who holds a saves record at Liberty University, helped with the mentality aspect of his game.
“My father taught me the mentality of it all, especially playing center-mid,” he said. “If you show heart, good things will happen.”
Good things have certainly happed for Adkins. He recently committed to play collegiately for the University of West Alabama. He will be part the Tigers inaugural men’s soccer team.
Adkins said that he cannot wait to suit up for the Tigers next year, but also understands it will be a challenge.
“I think it’s going to be great because I’m going to be playing the sport I love,” he said. “I’ll also get to play alongside my club mates so that’s going to be great. It’s going to be a faster level of play so that’s something I’ll have to adjust to.”
As far as improvements go for this year’s player of the year go, Adkins said he would like to take more chances in the future.
“I need to improve my speed of play and take more chances,” he said. “You don’t want to leave any opportunities wasted.”

2012 ALL-COUNTY BOYS SOCCER

G – Josh Carpenter, CHS, Jr.
D – Christian Adkins, OMHS, Sr.
D – Hudson Carr, SPHS, Jr.
D – Chandler Stroupe, OMHS, Jr.
M – Jacob Ramsey, THS, Sr.
M – Hunter Smith, BCS, Sr.
M – Jeffrey Stanford, WOM, Sr.
M – Ryan Tapley, PHS, Jr.
F – Brandt Mace, OMHS, Sr.
F – Stephan Nkom, ISS, Sr.
F – Jacob Taggart, SPHS, Jr.

Honorable mention: OMHS: Wes Sandlin, Danny La Rota, Tyler Aderholt and Brad Louis; PHS: Karsten Hicks, Diego Lopez and Andres Melendez; SPHS: Tyler Cook, Spencer Jack and Raul Olvera; THS: Jacob Marasckin, Austin Bunch and Luke McKinney; BCS: Kyle Paul, Jordan Box and Kyle Kimel; CHS: Jacob Brooks, Taylor Martindale and Eric King; ISS: Cole Wilson, Jake Shuford and Reeves Duggan; CHS: Jecsan Sanchez, Irvin Alverenga and Vi Tran; WOM: Whitten Green, Jake Doggett and Garrett Smith.