photo by: Nick Henthorn

Wheeling Park’s Tresz McLeod celebrates a goal with teammates during a game against Morgantown this season. McLeod was honored as the WVHSSCA Boys AAA Player of the Year this past Saturday.

WHEELING – This Thanksgiving, the Wheeling Park Patriots were thankful for a trio of new trophies in their case.

The Patriots did well this past weekend at the West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association Banquet, held on Saturday at Glenville State University, capturing both the girls and boys Player of the Year awards, and the boys soccer Coach of the Year award.

Park senior Tresz McLeod was named the WVHSSCA Boys AAA Player of the Year, winning the award in back-to-back years, while his coach, Mario Julian, won his fifth AAA Coach of the Year award.

Patriot junior Julia Dunaway was named the WVHSSCA Girls AAA Player of the Year to cap her breakout campaign.

For McLeod and Julian, it was a special evening between coach and player before McLeod embarked on a new journey to George Mason University, where he will play collegiately.

“There’s no question, it was great to be at the banquet together and to receive those two biggest honors that the state has to offer,” Julian said. “We were very appreciative, and enjoyed the time at the banquet. The four years went by really quick, coaching Tresz. Having that opportunity is a coach’s dream.”

Julian last won Coach of the Year in 2022.

“The journey with him has been great since our freshman year,” McLeod said. “He’s always believed in me since I was little- he told me that I was going to be the next No. 9, the next Coleman Meredith because that’s who I looked up to. He’s always been there for me, I’m lucky to have him as a coach. I was so happy he got Coach of the Year because he deserves it.”

McLeod’s second straight Player of the Year award was the cherry on top of a prolific high school career that has seen him become the all-time leader in goals scored at his school.

“Because he has the goal record, I think you could call him the best player to be at Wheeling Park,” Julian said. “There’s a couple others who are right up there with him.”

It is only the second time in the last 25 years that there has been a back-to-back winner. McLeod scored 39 goals and tallied 18 assists this season.

“To win it back-to-back really means everything to me,” McLeod said. “What I did last year and what I did this year, I don’t think too many people could do what I did this year. I’m just grateful for the recognition that all the coaches have given me my whole career. The hard work and the effort that I put into soccer, and my coaches and teammates pushing me, that’s what got me this award.”

“He’s not about the accolades and things- he wanted a state championship, first and foremost, and I know from speaking with him that he’s very disappointed that we fell a little bit short this year,” Julian said. “In the same token, he was well-deserving of this honor. He has an incredible talent level.”

Julian’s fifth coach of the year award comes after the Patriots advanced to the state semifinals.

“It’s very nice that the other coaches across the state think that our program and our players are really good, and think that I do a good job organizing that and putting together a solid team out there that competes every day,” Julian said.

While it was the closing of a chapter for the boys, it was just the start for the Patriots girls team, who saw Julia Dunaway explode onto the scene this year with 33 goals and 12 assists to take home the girls Player of the Year award.

“Something I said back in the beginning of the year- I think the position change really helped her excel in a different area,” Wheeling Park head coach Tom Smith said of Dunaway. “She played in different parts of the field, both defense and offense, but primarily this year she was on offense, and she had 33 goals and 12 assists. But the bigger part was she made all the players around her better. A lot of the younger girls were able to look up to her as a role model and they were able to use their skills to help Julia be more offensive-minded for us.”

Dunaway moved from a defensive center back as a sophomore to more of an attacking forward this year. In a year where Wheeling Park was experiencing more than its fair share of roster turnover, Dunaway’s presence was a major factor in Wheeling Park’s 15-5-1 season.

“To be able to revolve your team around a player and have someone as a go-to- when things aren’t going so great everyone had someone to look to,” Smith said.

Even still, the Patriots senior was taken by surprise at the recognition.

“I think she was shocked by it,” Smith said. “She’s confident but she’s also humble and doesn’t take anything for granted. I think she was honored to receive it and surprised at the same time, but that just goes to show how all of West Virginia thinks as highly of her as we do here in Wheeling.”

With yet another year ahead of her, Smith is looking forward to seeing what’s in-store from his star.

“Next year she’s going to be one of only three seniors, and the other seniors are goal-keepers. She’s going to have a heavier workload next year with being the only senior field player,” Smith said. “We’ll be young, but we should be okay with Julia’s leadership.”