photo by: Nick Henthorn

Wheeling Park’s Tresz McLeod, pictured during a home game against Buckhannon-Upshur High School this past season, was selected as the W.Va. Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2024-25 boys soccer season.

WHEELING — Wheeling Park’s recently-graduated Tresz McLeod can put one more feather in his cap before heading off to play collegiately at George Mason University.

Mcleod was named the 2024-25 Gatorade West Virginia Boys Soccer Player of the Year, being recognized for an award which has been given annually since 1985.

The Gatorade Player of the Year Award seeks “to recognize the nation’s most elite high school student athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character,” as stated on the Gatorade Player of the Year Awards website.

McLeod checks all the boxes.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior forward and midfielder scored 39 goals and passed for 18 assists this past season, leading the Patriots (20-4) to the Class AAA state semifinals. The 2024 West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association Class AAA Player of the Year, McLeod was a four-time First Team All-State selection.

A two-time United Soccer Coaches High School All-Mid-Atlantic Region honoree, he concluded his prep soccer career with 118 goals and 60 assists.

“Tresz was an absolute beast,” Morgantown High School head coach Sam Snyder said.

“He’s one of the most dangerous players we’ve had in West Virginia. He was also a phenomenal leader and played both sides of the ball with electric tenacity.”

Off the field, McLeod has made an impact in his community. A self-taught barber, he has cut hair for friends and family, volunteered with the Greater Soup Kitchen of Wheeling and the Ohio County Relay for Life, and served as a teen mentor, youth soccer coach, and active member of his church’s youth group.

Despite being diagnosed with a learning disability in third grade, McLeod has excelled academically, maintaining a 3.98 GPA. He has committed to play soccer at George Mason University this coming fall.

Each state is honored with a Gatorade Player of the Year, with the 50 winners making up the pool for one National Player of the Year, to be selected at a later date. Each Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact organization. To date, the program has awarded over $5.6 million in grants to more than 2,000 organizations nationwide.

McLeod is the third player from Wheeling Park High School to win the award. Other winners include Vinny Crumrine (2006-2007) and Ken Zinsky (1991-1992, 1990-1991).