He continued to work and came back with a strong junior season last year. But Fitch wasn’t satisfied and kept working and kept hustling. And in his senior year, he put together an outstanding campaign.

Fitch ended the year with 21 goals, tied with teammate Alex Citrino for the team high, and 10 assists, and was incredibly talented on the pitch. He could get by the most skilled defenders with his speed, and he had great vision to see teammates get in position.

He could score, or dish out an assist and watch teammates flourish.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Micaiah Fitch (5) competes in a high school boy's soccer game against Loyalsock on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

Wrap all of that together, and you have an outstanding player. All of that helped Fitch become the Sun-Gazette Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Fitch is the first player from the Northern Tier to earn the honor. Runners-up included Williamsport’s Brayden Ungard, Lewisburg’s Viktor Permyashkin and Montgomery’s Dylan Sherman.

“He has a strong foot and I think he’s gifted in what he does in his role with the ball at his foot. He’s dangerous. He can put the ball in the frame,” Wellsboro coach Todd Fitch said. “As his coach, I think he’s very dangerous. As his dad, I’m just really proud of his resilience and how he’s bounced back. Just had a great junior and senior season.”

Fitch earned Northern Tier League Offensive Player of the Year honors this season in addition to being a first-team forward. Fitch averaged 1.1 goals per game and constantly was a threat every game. Defenses knew they had to limit the talented senior, but that was easier said than done in reality.

“It’s not easy when you’re the son of the coach. It’s hard to get away from the critique and criticism of the coach’s voice even when away from the field,” coach Fitch said. “In spite of that, Micaiah bounced back after missing his sophomore season because of a back injury and performed well during his junior and senior seasons finishing his varsity career with 37 goals and 24 assists.”

Fitch is the type of player who can break a game open from various spots on the field. Against Montoursville in the playoffs, Fitch drilled a shot off a corner kick. Against Milton, the senior was able to send a great pass inside to Citrino, who would then score.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Wellsboro's Micaiah Fitch (5) competes in a high school boy's soccer game against Loyalsock on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.

It’s a microcosm of what Fitch is able to do on a field, and most teams never had an answer to slow his abilities down.

“When he gets the ball and he collects that ball, he gets it out of his feet so quick, whether it’s a shot or going for the assist,” coach Fitch said.

Fitch brought a lot to the program, reaching 37 goals for his career and 24 assists, but more than that, he helped become a standout that younger players can look up to. He helped the program remain successful these past four years and leaves big shoes to fill next fall.

“As his coach, I think he’s very dangerous. As his dad, I’m just really proud of his resilience and how he’s bounced back,” coach Fitch said.

No doubt Wellsboro fans were proud of that resiliency and his comeback seasons these last two years as well.

UNDERCLASSMAN OF THE YEAR — Brayden Ungard, Williamsport, sophomore

Ungard was named a first-team HAC-I all-star this year, earned first-team Sun-Gazette honors and was also a runner-up for Player of the Year honors.

He did all of that as just a sophomore. That speaks to the skill and talent he has on the field. Ungard was Williamsport’s leading goal scorer this year with 14 and was a huge reason the Millionaires had the success they did as a team offensively.

Expect Ungard to get even better as a junior.

COACH OF THE YEAR — Steve Ertel, Loyalsock

After a 5-12-1 campaign in 2023, some may have thought Loyalsock would be in a bit of a rebuilding year this season. But coach Steve Ertel knew his Lancers had talent and knew they could improve upon that.

Loyalsock did exactly that under Ertel. Loyalsock went 10-6-4, and reached the District 4 quarterfinals for the sixth time in seven seasons and posted the most wins since 2019. That earned Ertel the Sun-Gazette Boys Soccer Coach of the Year honor. He’s the first coach from Loyalsock to earn the honor.

Loyalsock clicked at the right time this year late in the season, and that’s a testament to Ertel’s coaching and getting his players to believe in what he saw and the team’s strengths.

FIRST TEAM

DYLAN SHERMAN, MONTGOMERY, FORWARD

Sherman stepped up big time for the Red Raiders this season. He led Montgomery with 16 goals scored with nine assists, and was a huge scoring threat alongside Dylan Hill that helped open up the offense and create chances even when he wasn’t scoring. Sherman helped the Red Raiders reach the playoffs for a second consecutive season and was a first-team Mid-Penn all-star selection at forward as a sophomore this year.

BRAYDEN UNGARD, WILLIAMSPORT, FORWARD

A runner-up for Player of the Year honors, Ungard was a catalyst for the Millionaires offense and was a big part of why Williamsport got to the District 2-4 Class AAAA playoffs this year. Ungard led Williamsport with 14 goals scored, the only Millionaire to record double-digit goals, and had three assists.

JACK BREINING, JERSEY SHORE, FORWARD

The Bulldogs may not have had the best season in terms of wins, but Breining did everything he could each game to ensure that Jersey Shore had a chance to win. Breining, a senior, led Shore with 14 goals scored, averaging nearly one per game, and dished out five assists. Breining was a second-team HAC-I all-star this fall.

ALEX CITRINO, WELLSBORO, FORWARD

If it wasn’t teammate Micaiah Fitch scoring for Wellsboro, it was Citrino. The Green Hornet, a senior, was always a threat to score each game and showed why as he ended with 21 goals — tying Fitch for the team high — and dished out a team-high 14 assists. Citrino was also named NTL Offensive Player of the Year.

ISAAC AYRES, LEWISBURG, MIDFIELD

Ayres was a first-team HAC-I forward this year and the junior was a huge offensive asset for Lewisburg. The Green Dragon scored 15 goals this past fall — second on the team behind only teammate Viktor Permyashkin — and dished out four assists.

EVAN ANDERSOn, LOYALSOCK, MIDFIELD

Anderson was a big reason that the Lancers won 10 games this year and peaked near the end of the season to reach the playoffs. Anderson scored 17 goals and dished out six assists — both team highs for Loyalsock — and was a HAC-II first-team all-star selection at midfield. Anderson was a senior, and no doubt leaves big shoes to fill next fall.

VIKTOR PERMYASHKIN, LEWISBURG, MIDFIELD

Anytime Permyashkin was on the field, he was a threat to score a goal. The junior Green Dragon had a lot of speed and used his talent to his advantage, leading Lewisburg in both goals (17) and assists (16) as the Green Dragons claimed the District 4 Class AA title. Permyashkin was an all-state selection this year at midfield and a HAC-I first-team all-star.

QUINN WINSLOW, MONTOURSVILLE, MIDFIELD

Winslow was speedy and used that speed to his advantage just about every game. The junior Warrior led Montoursville in goals scored with 12 — tied with teammate CJ Lucas — and dished out a team-high 13 assists. Winslow was a first-team HAC-II midfielder.

PARKER JOHNSON, WILLIAMSPORT, DEFENDER

Johnson was a second-team HAC-I all-star this year at defender, and was a huge part of Williamsport’s success. Johnson routinely made things difficult for any opposing forward or midfielder who was attempting to score, and the Millionaires rarely gave up good looks at the goal.

ALEX GILMORE, LEWISBURG, DEFENDER

Lewisburg prides itself on unbelievably sound defense. It’s the Green Dragons’ bread and butter every single fall, and the 2024 season was no exception at all. Gilmore was a huge reason for that defensive success as the Green Dragon was a second-team HAC-I all-star.

BRAYDEN MCCOURT, MONTOURSVILLE, DEFENDER

Montoursville went 13-6 this year, reaching the District 4 Class AA playoffs and allowed just 20 goals the entire season. McCourt helped anchor Montoursville’s back line and prevent teams from breaking through. McCourt was a key reason that teams only fired 97 shots against Montoursville.

MARINO CARDELLO, LEWISBURG, DEFENDER

When you’re as solid defensively as a team like Lewisburg, you have two first-team area defenders. Cardello was just as solid as Gilmore on the backline for Lewisburg and Cardello earned third-team HAC-I honors at defender this year. Cardello was a big reason that Lewisburg allowed just 10 goals all year long and just 88 shots throughout 22 games.

JONAH STROBEL, MILTON, GOALIE

Strobel was a HAC-I first-team goalie this year and became an all-state selection as well for the Black Panthers. Strobel was an extremely talented keeper and recorded 104 saves this season, 5.5 per game. Teams never had an easy chance at scoring against Strobel, and he showed it game after game.

SECOND TEAM

F–Brady Stetter, North Penn-Liberty

F–Logan Harris, South Williamsport

F–Bryce Winslow, Montoursville

F–Brycen Savoy, Loyalsock

M–Lucas Cuneo, Wellsboro

M–Sam Haddon, Hughesville

M–Riley Gulden-Luthi, Lewisburg

M–Gavin Grieco, Loyalsock

D–Aidan Gross, Lewisburg

D–Isaiah Brinker, Central Mountain

D–Micah Vickery, Wellsboro

D–Quynn Hartman, Hughesville

GK–Gabe Pawling, Lewisburg and Connor Lang, Loyalsock

HONORABLE MENTION

(in alphabetical order)

Isaac Balza, Williamsport, M; Tucker Blasi, Sullivan County, F; Rylan Bowers, Jersey Shore, D; Lincoln Breon, Central Mountain, F; Evan Brittain, Williamsport, M; Tarell Brown, Williamsport, F; Braego Cieslukowski, Warrior Run, GK; Griffin Confer, Central Mountain, M; Cole Cooper, Central Mountain, M; Alton Counsil, Central Mountain; Trent DeLong, Milton, M; Jake Edmonds, Loyalsock, D; Kade Ficks, Milton, F; Sean Frey, Montoursville, M; Breylen Guerrero, Jersey Shore, D; Carson Harris, South Williamsport; Jake Harris, Milton, D; Caleb Hartsock, Loyalsock, D; Gavin Hawley, Montoursville, M: Dylan Hensler, Jersey Shore, M; Dylan Hill, Montgomery, M;Connor Hofstrom, Williamsport, M; Cohen Hoover, Lewisburg, F; Gavin Hunter, Warrior Run, F; Conor Irwin, Montgomery; Mike Kemock, Warrior Run, D; Ori Kennel, Warrior Run, M; Christopher Koschak, Sullivan County, M; Joel Langdon, Milton, F; Ryan Lingg, Loyalsock, D; CJ Lucas, Montoursville, F; Wesley Johnson, Loyalsock, D; Evan Ogden, South Williamsport, M; Jacob Mackenzi, Hughesville, M; Bodie Moyer, Muncy, GK; David Seeling, Wellsboro, M; Shaw Simpson, Montoursville, D; Jared Sivers, Warrior Run, D; James Stephens, Hughesville, M; Damaj Stewart-Williams, Montgomery, D; Ethan Strain, Sullivan County; Tayton Strange, N.P.-Liberty, M; Tobin Strouse, Milton, F; Cade Swartzentruber, Milton, D; Tadd Ungard, Williamsport, D; Deakon Valentine, N.P.-Liberty, GK; Adynn Wheeland, N.P.-Liberty, F; Cooper Wilkins, Warrior Run, M; Michael Yoas, South Williamsport, D.